May 18, 2012

BOSTON - New Balance Field took its next step to becoming a reality on Thursday, as Boston University held a groundbreaking ceremony for the state-of-the-art field hockey facility at the Babcock Street parking lot.

The lot, which will soon be a busy work site, was filled with members of the BU community and local dignitaries to commemorate the beginning of construction later this spring.

Speaking at the event was Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, Boston University President Dr. Robert Brown, Executive Vice President of New Balance John Withee and BU Director of Athletics Mike Lynch. After some brief remarks, the speakers posed with shovels as part of the ceremonial ground breaking.

The new 110,000 square-foot field, with seating for 500, will be built above the current site of the Babcock Street parking lot at the corner of Babcock and Ashford Streets. In addition, a new parking garage will be built beneath the field that will provide approximately 350 parking spaces. The facility will provide BU's nationally ranked field hockey team with a new on-campus facility after playing `home' games off-campus since the 2001 season.

With the development of New Balance Field, athletic field space on BU's campus effectively doubles. New Balance donated $3 million towards the estimated $24 million dollar project. The field is slated for use in the fall of 2013.