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There are 30 comments on New Sports Field Coming to West Campus

    1. The enormous parking lot will be converted to the field and the lot will go underground. That’s my take on it anyway. The tree-lined above ground parking is adjacent to the Star Market parking lot if my assumption is correct.

      Parking while this is being built will be painful, that lot is gigantic and frequently filled.

  1. Congratulations on an excellent use for that space, and for brining in one of the most popular NCAA sports to the varsity level!

    When designing the parking facility, please, please consider putting in bus parking bays for the times when the area is over-run by parking demand for track meets that happen at the TTC at the same time as basketball games.

  2. My hope is that BU Athletics will aim to partner with the neighborhood public schools and community centers, such as the Gardner Elementary School, Jackson Mann Community, Center, the West End House Boys & Girls Club and Brighton High School. Inner city students will benefit to exposure and sports clinics on lacrosse and field hockey. I’m glad to read that New Balance continues to be involved with the Brighton community and BU.

  3. Does this mean they’re finally going to give the BU Bands an actual band room instead of the garage they’re demolishing in that “a rather unsightly parcel on campus ” we had my entire time at BU?

  4. It is amazing how much Mike Lynch has done for BU ever since he arrived on campus. This man is a visionary and will go down as one of the most important people to have ever stepped foot on campus. Amazing.

  5. This is such a great addition to the campus — the undergraduate experience has long taken a back set to research and graduate programs, and we have the rankings to prove it. Athletics are a selling point for so many prospective students at the undergraduate level and further investment in facilities is not only important, it’s imperative. This will lead to more competitive applicants, and an overall more interesting and dynamic undergraduate program.

  6. Wow! Much needed. Now tell me that they’re going to put a bubble over it in the winter like Harvard and I think MIT do, and I’ll have died and gone to heaven. We’ve had all too many club sports practices from 9-11pm on Nickerson in February with our waterbottles frozen over by the end.

  7. This is great news. Since I have graduated (’07), BU has taken enormous strides academically and athletically. A major Northeast university should not be without a varsity men’s lacrosse team… this is wonderful to see.

  8. So can we spend ridiculous amounts of money on a proper building for the band, and a practice field that isn’t a cracked concrete roof? I’d like that better, actually.

      1. Don’t think in terms like that. Instead, point out that New Balance seems to be footing the bill. What should we do? Turn them down saying it’s the band’s turn now?

        1. lol. I’m fairly confident that neither the band nor a varsity lacrosse team directly increase revenue much. If anything, the lacrosse team will cost more than revenue due to scholarships and an increase in coaching salary. However, both the band and the lacrosse team will indirectly increase alumni support and increase student satisfaction. My guess would be a higher value for the band since they enhance the spectator experience for games that BU students actually go to (mens hockey and mens basketball).

  9. While a new lacrosse field is interesting, it seems more of a gimmick than a need. BU needs an acceptable performance space so badly it’s a bit embarrassing and seriously detracts from the experience of music students as well as the audience. The Tsai Center is an acoustical nightmare and hasn’t seen any effort from BU to improve the sound or build a space that would be far superior. The consequences on the music students are large and prospectives find it highly unattractive. With BU’s funding, faculty, and commitment, the School of Music could become one of the finest in the nation. Until this potential is realized by the top dogs in administration and a serious effort is put forth to further renovate facilities for the arts, the music school will remain in a state of mediocrity.

  10. How about some more art and performance space? BU keeps asserting its support for the arts, but I have yet to see anything physical put in place to back that initiative at all.

    1. I know they are working on a capital campaign for CFA. I’m sure if they got a sponsorship or level of support like they got for this field it would help speed the process along.

    1. BU just spent millions revitalizing Comm Ave, building StuVi2, and building an entire new east campus area. Those were pressing issues, the university addressed them, and I am confident that they will continue addressing others.

    2. I agree. The money could be going elsewhere. How about keeping tuition down. I am perfectly happy without that new field, and I would say 90% of BU is happy without that new field, but all are unhappy about the tuition hikes.

    3. I’m guessing you either don’t play sports at BU, or play for one of the three varsity sports that get prime practice times, whichever days you choose. There are so many underappreciated club teams that get practice once or twice a week for only 45 minutes. WIth a school the size of BU, we really need another field space. Having one is just ridiculous.

  11. I’m just going to point out that there are walls on the 3rd floor of the CFA that are “fixed” with construction paper. We did a show on the entire School of Theatre side of the floor last quarter, it was probably the first time those walls (not related to the construction paper ones) have been painted/sanded/fixed at all in years. BU just doesn’t pay any attention at all to the CFA building, let alone giving us adequate funding to maintain our programs.
    Also, when’s the last time you saw Dean Elmore or anyone from that office promoting or attending a Performance or art display? Yet they’re at almost every hockey game…

    1. A tad bit bitter? Hockey is all BU has when you consider the national sports scene. The biggest donors and most loyal alumni attend the games. I think it’s more important for a dean/president/school official to attend a hockey game then some recital/show. Hockey is a huge marketing tool for the university. I’m sorry to break the news to you, but CFA isn’t.

      Get your facts straight. Athletics is separately funded through ticket revenue and donations (I’d estimate it’s close to 95% donations, maybe more). They are NOT getting handouts from the University. Mike Lynch (the AD), along with the help of the varsity coaches, has led that department to new heights it has never reached before. He has built relationships with alums (both former athletes and avid fans), which has translated into an increase of donations. The Athletic Department has earned every cent it is spending on this project, along with every cent it spent on past projects.

      As a donor, it’s your choice as to where your money is to be directed. As a former varsity student-athlete, my money will always be directed to the Athletic Dept, and I am proud to say that. In this case, $24M in donations were pledged to the Athletic Dept at the sole discretion of the donor.

      Maybe the CFA should take follow what the Athletic Department has done and start taking some initiative and responsibility instead of sitting around, being jealous of the fruits of the labor of someone else and constantly complaining. No one likes a chronic complainer.

  12. I am from Boston, went to BU undergrad and dental. I love the fact that New Balance is a Boston based company and taking care of their own. Just another reason to support New Balance instead of the other shoe brands who only care about advertising and ripping people off

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