Aurora University to unveil new sports stadium

When the Aurora University Spartans women's soccer team opens its season tonight, the players will be performing on a new $3.7 million field.

The new stadium is the first step in a roughly $30 million, three-phase renovation project the school is undertaking based on a master plan developed in 2003.

Begun in May, the project includes the artificial turf football and soccer field, a 600-seat grandstand, sports information center and restrooms.

Tom Hammond, vice president for administration, said most of the work on the stadium was completed this summer, allowing Spartan soccer and football teams to practice on the field since Aug. 14.

"I've heard nothing but good remarks from happy players and pleased coaches," Hammond said. "The football players practiced first and coach said they had some sore legs because the field is new and a little bouncy. They just have to get used to the turf."

The university, known for its strong soccer program, has been working on retooling its football program. Hammond said the new facility should help with recruiting.

"I suspect it certainly won't hurt but I'm probably the wrong guy to ask," he said. "The anticipation is actually that the facility lifts pride in the programs and with our non-athletes as well. It shows them we care about meeting the needs of all our students; not just the academics or just the athletics."

A Spartan Plaza is planned between Alumni Hall and the stadium, creating a new venue for alumni and friends to gather.

Hammond said the university also is proud of the "green practices" and recycling that went into the project.

"That's really an initiative our students want to see and are pushing," Hammond said. "It's important to everyone at the university that we reduce our carbon footprint as much as possible."

The existing field's bleachers were donated to Aurora Christian High School and the city was able to make use of roughly 1,000 cubic yards of surplus topsoil. Other surplus materials were taken to a local recycling plant.

In the first game on the new turf, the Spartan women's soccer team will host Carroll University at 5:30 p.m. The football Spartans will make their debut on the field at 1 p.m. Sept. 20 when they host Illinois Wesleyan.

The second phase of the project, an $8.5 million addition to Alumni Hall, is slated to begin in late winter or early next spring. Alumni Hall currently houses the Thornton Gymnasium, coaching offices and the university's main dining facilities. The expansion will add several classrooms, faculty offices and one large lecture hall.

The third and final phase of the project is the construction of a new library and student commons center. That phase, Hammond said, is dependent on funding from contributions and donations and is several years away from being built.