New soccer fields to be world-class

SUNY Fredonia has begun the first phase of a $3.3 million project to upgrade the athletic fields. The improvements will include a new natural grass playing field for the men’s and women’s soccer teams, an artificial turf field for varsity practices, club teams and intramural competitions, improved bleacher seating for 1,000 spectators, lights for night games and enhanced drainage that will allow the team to host NCAA competitions.

The refurbished athletic complex will also include a new scoreboard, and outdoor storage and concession facilities. The latter will be added next year. The new fields, stadium, lights and scoreboard, will all be ready for use by winter.

The new soccer fields were designed by Clough, Harbour and Associates, LLC, an engineering firm with 25 offices located throughout the United States. The athletic branch of the corporation, CHA Sports, has worked on such high-profile athletic projects as the Soccer Complex in South Germantown, Md., the Princess Anne Athletic Complex in Virginia Beach, Va. and the Richmond Strikers Soccer Complex in Richmond, Va.

The official groundbreaking for the SUNY Fredonia project is Wednesday, July 5. Preliminary work, including Schematic Design and Design Development of the new fields, on-site soil tests and approval of the project budget by the SUNY Construction Fund is already complete.

In less than a decade, SUNY Fredonia has constructed a natatorium, built a softball stadium, renovated Ludwig Field for the varsity baseball team, installed new dasher boards and rink floor for ice hockey and resurfaced the university’s outdoor track. These efforts, along with the multimillion-dollar soccer project, offer Athletic Director Gregory Prechtl, and SUNY Fredonia athletes ample evidence of the university’s dedication to intercollegiate sports.

Fredonia's soccer fields are also used by community soccer leagues.