RIT breaks ground on new Tiger Stadium

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Students, faculty, staff and friends of the RIT Athletic Department gathered this morning to celebrate the official groundbreaking of the new Tiger Stadium, a $30 million, 38,828-square-foot facility that will provide a state-of-the-art, modern home for the men's and women's lacrosse and men's and women's soccer programs.
 
Speakers included RIT President Dr. David C. Munson, Senior Vice President-Student Affairs Dr. Sandy Johnson, and Executive Director of Athletics Jacqueline Nicholson. Sophomore men's lacrosse player Connor Flanagan also offered comments on behalf of the student-athletes.
 
"Tiger Stadium represents far more than just a structure of steel and concrete. It embodies the spirit of our community, the dedication of our student-athletes, and the commitment of our university to excellence in all endeavors," said Munson. "As we look ahead to the completion of Tiger Stadium, let us embrace this moment as a testament to the spirit of innovation and progress that defines RIT. Together, we will continue to push the boundaries of excellence and create a brighter future for our university and our community."
 
The facility will seat 1,180, with additional capacity in the hospitality room, along with standing room. Amenities for the new stadium include team locker rooms; a training room with two large hot and cold tubs, taping tables, and exam tables; media suite; concession area; hospitality room with glass viewing wall; and an outdoor concourse.
 
"This achievement marks a pivotal moment in our journey to revitalize our athletic facilities and provide unparalleled experiences for our student-athletes, campus community, alumni, and the vibrant Rochester community," said Nicholson. "Tiger Stadium will stand as a premier outdoor venue, distinguished by its size and configuration. It will elevate our athletic program, setting us apart from our competitors and leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come."
 
Expected to be completed in the fall of 2025, the new stadium is the latest in a series of enhancements to RIT's athletic facilities. The first phase of the multi-million-dollar improvements saw the relocation of the outdoor track facility and the introduction of new all-weather artificial turf fields for the baseball and softball teams, in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, new artificial turf on Doug May Field, scoreboards, and lighting at the current venue set the stage for the new Tiger Stadium.
 
Added Johnson, "Tiger Stadium is one of many improvements to our athletic facilities, and it stands as a testament to our unwavering dedication to providing our student-athletes with the finest resources and facilities to excel both on and off the field. This stadium is a testament to our shared values of perseverance, teamwork, and the relentless pursuit of excellence."
 
Flanegan, who is one of nearly 700 student-athletes at RIT, said that the new stadium helps RIT solidify itself as a top Division III sports program.
 
"This facility will allow RIT to not only have a better home for athletes to practice, recover, and spend time together, but to recruit players to ensure our athletic program's success in the future," he said. "This new state-of-the-art facility will give our athletes the premier experience they deserve." 
 
New Tiger Stadium Amenities:

• Seating capacity: 1,180 seats plus additional capacity in the hospitality room along with standing room.
• Square footage: Approximately 38,828 square feet (including the seating area).
• Locker Rooms: Team locker rooms (men's and women's) for men's lacrosse and women's lacrosse, as well as men's soccer and women's soccer.
• Training Room: this includes two large hot/cold tubs, taping tables, and exam tables.
• Media Suite: Facilities to accommodate news media and broadcast, which includes RIT Athletics Communications and RIT Sport Network.
• Concessions: located on main concourse level.
• Hospitality Room: Located in the center of the stadium, above the concourse level. The room provides a full wall of gas overlooking the playing field. It will have various types of seating to accommodate multiple uses (E.g., game day use, special event use.)
• Cost: Approximately $30 million, funded by RIT bonding.
• Outdoor Concourse: The partially covered concourse will be an area for mobile concessions, swag tables, and a main connection point between the entrance and stadium seating.
• Architects and Contractors: LaBella Associates is the local architect of record, with support in the design process by Populous. Pike Construction Services is the construction management company.
• Construction Timeline: Approximately 18 months with completion in fall of 2025.

Gallery: (4-18-2024) Tiger Stadium Images