Chestnut Hill, Mass. (2-22-16)—Boston College Athletics Director Brad Bates announced plans today for three projects to enhance intercollegiate, intramural and club sports at Boston College:a recreational center, athletics playing fields, and an athletics field house.
The initiatives, an investment of approximately $200 million, result from a multi-year assessment and planning effort regarding BC Athletics, as well as focused fundraising with alumni and friends of Boston College.
The recreational center, a 240,000 square-foot facility that will replace the Flynn Recreation Complex and be located at the site of Edmonds Hall on Thomas More Drive, will benefit all BC students, faculty and staff. Approved by the City of Boston in 2009 as part of the University’s Institutional Master Plan (IMP), the project will begin this summer after permits have been obtained. The center, made possible by a lead gift from Trustee Margot Connell and her family, will require two years for construction.
The University will also seek permitting for new baseball, softball and intramural fields on the Brighton Campus, which were also approved in the 2009 IMP.
Bates said that fundraising for both projects will continue throughout the process.
In addition, Bates stated that the University will begin discussions with Boston city officials regarding construction of an athletics field house that would be located adjacent to Alumni Stadium. This indoor facility, to be funded through private gifts, would provide much-needed space for varsity football and other field sports, as well as campus recreation, club sports, and intramurals.
Additional information about the new recreational complex, playing fields and athletics field house will be made available to the Boston College Allston-Brighton Community Task Force and local residents in a pre-filing meeting.
“These new facilities will provide benefits for all BC students and student-athletes,” said Bates. “We need the financial support of all of our alumni who have benefitted from their BC education to provide opportunities for the next generation of BC students. The athletics field house sets an example of what we can do when our alumni and friends offer their support for our athletics initiatives.
“We are excited for the future of BC Athletics.”
So it's been 5 months since this announcement. Any updates on the demolition of Edmonds and the construction of the new plex? How are the permits coming along for the new baseball and softball fields? How are those "discussions" going with the city officials? I haven't heard anything about any of this since February, but that's understandable. Bates has been pretty busy rolling out the new Twitter handles and overseeing the video of a guy sitting alone in a bar watching a BC game.
