New soccer fields and stadium debut at games

A campus and community celebration is planned Friday, Sept. 7, to commemorate the first home soccer games at SUNY Fredonia’s new 1,500-seat University Stadium, just constructed this year along with two new soccer/lacrosse fields.

The Fredonia State women will play the first official game on the grass field vs. Medaille College as part of the eight-team Blue Devil Days Inn Classic. Scheduled kickoff is 5 p.m. Later that evening, the Blue Devil men will meet Penn State Behrend in the first official night game at the stadium. Scheduled game time is 7:30 p.m.

The tournament will conclude Sept. 8 with games in women's and men's divisions.

Opening ceremonies will include music, games of skill, a children's party bounce house, giveaways, and a pre-game ceremony involving President Dr. Dennis L. Hefner. Former coaches and other dignitaries are also expected to participate. Fredonia State graduate and Buffalo sportscaster Kevin Sylvester, '95 has agreed to serve as master of ceremonies.

The Fredonia State cheerleaders and the university pep band have also been invited to take part in festivities.

With groundbreaking held during the summer of 2006, Phase 1 of University Stadium took less than one year to complete. It includes grandstand seating for 1,500 at the grass field with additional room for seating at the adjacent artificial turf field. Both fields are lighted, which will enable the soccer teams to play night games; the men have six and the women two on the 2007 schedule.

Only one other home night game has been played in Fredonia State soccer history -- Oct. 21, 1961 vs.Geneseo at the Cardinal Mindszenty athletic field.

The new facility has already been the site of four regular-season home games, all by the women’s lacrosse team, during the spring on the artificial turf field. Plans also call for the facility to be used by the club teams and the university intramural program.

Phase 2 of the project is expected to include two team dressing rooms, officials' rooms, public restrooms, a concession stand, a press box, new signage, and an entranceway adjacent to Ring Road. Construction could begin as early as next spring so that the facility is completed by fall 2008.