July 26, 2012
At No. 7 in this year's Terrier Twelve is the exciting announcement that occurred in February when Boston University finalized plans for a new state-of-the-art field hockey complex and added two new varsity programs.
Made possible in part by a $3 million gift from Boston-based New Balance, the 110,000 square-foot field will be named New Balance Field and will provide BU's nationally ranked field hockey team with a new on-campus facility. The team has played its `home' games off campus since the 2001 season.
Along with the development of New Balance Field, which virtually doublesthe amount of field space on campus, BU announced the addition of women's lightweight rowing beginning with the 2012-13 season and that men's lacrosse will elevate from a club sport to varsity status beginning with the 2013-14 season. Men's lacrosse will play home games on Nickerson Field, while women's lightweight rowing will call the DeWolfe Boathouse home.
BU named Yale assistant coach Ryan Polley as head coach of the men's lacrosse program, while Malcolm Doldron, previously an assistant coach for the women's rowing program, was tabbed as the first head coach of women's lightweight rowing.
This marks the first time the roster of sports at BU has expanded since 2004, when women's ice hockey was added, and brings the total number of sports offered to 25, 11 men's sports and 14 women's sports.
The new field, with seating for 1,000, will be built above the current site of the Babcock Street parking lot at the corner of Babcock and Ashford Streets. The space beneath the field will provide approximately 350 parking spaces. The total cost of the parking structure and the field is estimated to be $24 million.
"This is another giant step forward for our program, with strategic investments in programs that are vital to the continued development of our department and the enhanced national visibility of the BU Athletics' brand," said BU Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Mike Lynch. "We are thrilled with this development and wish to thank all those who are helping to bring it to fruition."
The Terrier Twelve
No. 8 - Men's Ice Hockey Posts 23 Wins, Qualifies for NCAAs
No. 9 - Women's Lacrosse Wins Sixth AE Regular-Season Title
No. 10 - Field Hockey Finishes Season Ranked 13th
No. 11 - Men's Soccer Claims AE Regular Season Title
No. 12 - Men's Crew Concludes Postseason Run on Grand Note
