Sept. 20, 2006
Saint Mary's Stadium Renovation Photo Gallery
Moraga, CA - Saint Mary's Director of Athletics and Recreational Sports Mark Orr is pleased to announce that the new playing surface in Saint Mary's Stadium is ready for play. After three months of waiting, the first game on the new field will be played on Wednesday, September 20. The women's soccer team will get to play first on the new surface when the Gaels take on San Jose State beginning at 4 p.m.
"With all the changes being made to our athletic facilities, its an exciting time to be at Saint Mary's," said Mark Orr. "Saint Mary's Stadium is one of the best venues for soccer and lacrosse on the West Coast, and having a state-of-art playing surface in the stadium will make games more enjoyable for the student-athletes and exciting for our fans."
Saint Mary's Stadium is the home competition field for the men and women's soccer teams and the women's lacrosse team. All the remaining home against for both the men and women's soccer teams will be played in Saint Mary's Stadium. The SMC men's soccer team will play their first game on the new field on Friday, September 22 when the Gaels open their West Coast Conference schedule against the No. 11 ranked San Francisco Dons at 4 p.m.
Associate Director of Athletics for Game Operations Steve Jacoby said, "I'm ecstatic that our student-athletes have a great facility with an outstanding playing surface to compete on. With this renovation to the field, Saint Mary's Stadium is now one of the best soccer facilities on the West Coast."
Sand Channel Greens was hired to install the drainage system and the playing surface. Sand Channel Greens has been responsible for many drainage systems for many golf courses and baseball and football stadiums.
Jacoby added, "I am extremely grateful to SMC President Br. Ronald Gallagher, Vice President for Finance Pete Michell, and Executive Director of the Physical Plant Joe Kehoe for their full support of this project. As excited as I am to conclude this project, I look forward to future projects to enhance this facility."
The original surface, which had not been altered since it was installed in 1973, was removed along with four inches of soil. The irrigation system was reconfigured to allow for controlled watering stations and then the laser grading was done to create a level-playing surface, more suited for soccer and lacrosse. The project began in late June and the surface was completed when a two-inch sand base and the hybrid bermuda turf was rolled onto the field in late August.
