CAMPAIGN UPDATE

In February 2022, Gilmour announced an ambitious $6.5 million campaign to complete the renovation of and additions to our athletic facilities. What began in 2019 as a three-phase renovation project for Weber Stadium has expanded, by necessity, to encompass other critical athletic facility improvements beyond Weber Stadium. The resulting “Campaign for Lancer Athletics” includes a host of projects that will make our athletic facilities safer and more competitive; allow us to use our facilities more efficiently; and provide community amenities for parking and an improved fan experience.

ADVANCEMENT CORNER

Our Gilmour community has responded generously to our appeal with donations over $2 million, almost 30% of our goal! We are grateful for this support, which has allowed us to begin to move forward on some of the campaign priorities.

As we celebrate our milestones, such as installing lights at Weber Stadium, we are ever-mindful of the challenge of completing the task ahead. It is only through the continued support of our community that this will be accomplished. We encourage you to consider where you may help us. Many naming and sponsorship opportunities remain.

Gilmour student section

Weber Stadium Lighting

On August 19, Gilmour history was made when a game was played in Weber Stadium for the first time under permanent field lights. The energy-efficient LED light systems at the top of four 90’ towers provide controlled light on the field without glare or spill impacting the surrounding area, preserving the night sky and addressing concerns that residents in the surrounding neighborhood have had about having lights there. As an additional courtesy to our neighbors to the north, we have planted 25 spruce trees as a sound buffer. A special VIP reception for donors was held the preceding evening for a “sneak-peak” of the lights and to thank them for their generosity. The new lights allow us more flexibility in our athletic schedule for practices and games, with teams able to play at night. This fall, football, boys and girls soccer, and boys and girls cross country hosted a combined 18 home games under the lights. “Friday Night Lights” has certainly brought the fans out, with students, parents and alumni filling the stands to cheer on the Lancers! Other improvements to Weber Stadium, including upgrades to both grandstands, security fencing around the entire stadium and expanded parking east of the Floyd E. Stefanski Ice Center are necessary to ensure a safe, comfortable and secure facility for our student-athletes and families. Fundraising continues for all of these projects.

While not part of the original plan for this campaign, special contributions from soccer and lacrosse families made it possible to renovate two rooms in the old Weber Stadium building to create a boys and girls locker room for the teams to use during practices and games.

Another project sure to improve the fan experience will be the new Alumni Pavilion, to be located just across from the main entrance to Weber and Sharnsky Stadiums. This new building will provide a covered, open-air gathering space for alumni, Lancer fans and community events. The design of the pavilion is being finalized with construction expected to be completed next year.

Scan this QR code to watch the exciting moment the lights were turned on for the first time at the VIP reception.

CEll Tower

While the original intention was to install cell towers atop two of the new light poles in Weber Stadium, delays in finalizing the specifications and design from the cell service providers necessitated a change in plans and the decision was made to move forward on the lights and install a free-standing cell tower elsewhere on campus as soon as possible. Improving cell service is a key component of our safety and security plan for the campus.

Softball Field Complex

The design of the softball field complex has been completed, and the facility will include artificial turf infield and outfield, dugouts, bullpens, a batting cage, a grandstand and a scoreboard. The complex will be constructed next to the new tennis courts where there is currently a grass soccer practice field.

This past spring the plans were sent out for a direct bid solicitation to contractors able to perform the applicable work. Three contractors submitted bids for review and the two lowest bids were brought in for further discussion of the project with the understanding that final contracts would not be awarded until the necessary funds have been raised. Originally budgeted at $1.5 million, costs of materials and labors have increased the expected cost to $1.8 million.

Generous donors have already procured many of the sponsorship and naming opportunities for the complex, but several remain.

Multisport Grass Practice Field

Plans are underway for a new multisport grass field to be built on a new site east of the planned softball complex. The new field will be regulation sized and graded for better drainage, allowing for a safer and more usable surface. It will also have a north-south orientation instead of the east-west orientation of the current field, eliminating the disadvantage of playing into the sun. The new field will also continue to provide Gilmour’s athletic teams more flexibility for practice schedules.

Stefanski Ice Center Improvements

Enthusiasm for the improvements in the Rink 2 arena remains high and participation among the hockey community is strong, with $700,000 in donations raised to date. An anonymous $100,000 challenge has added to the excitement and accelerated giving! Hockey alumni are engaged in a fevered competition by class, making donations to join the “1997 Club,” a nod to the year the hockey program was launched at Gilmour.

By making some adjustments to the original plans, the new locker room in the “cage” area of the arena will now be able to house two locker rooms, a big advantage for our growing hockey program! The locker rooms will also include “dry rooms” for equipment, and shower and bathroom amenities.

Above the locker rooms will be a second-floor viewing room overlooking Rink 2. A balcony seating area will provide fans an opportunity to get even closer to the action. The viewing room can also be used for pre-and post-game gatherings for the hockey community.

Figgie Field House

Built almost 40 years ago, the Figgie Field House is one of the most heavily used athletic spaces on campus. In addition to basketball and volleyball practices and games, the space is also used for physical education class, community activities, and indoor practice for other sports, including baseball, softball and lacrosse. Gilmour also brings in auxiliary revenue by renting the space to other organizations. The floor will be completely resurfaced with a new synthetic floor, providing a safe surface for the variety of sports and activities that will use the space for years to come.

Athletic Roadway Improvements

The last major project for this campaign is to widen and improve the roadway leading to the outdoor athletic facilities. This will include pedestrian pathways and improved lighting, providing for a safer avenue of passage at all times, especially during evening games. These improvements will take place after all other major construction in the area is completed.

Historic August 19 football game under the lights

ADVANCEMENT CORNER

When realized, these improvements will enhance and expand our athletic facilities indoors and out, to match the caliber of our student-athletes and support their dedication and competitive spirit. Every gift, no matter the size, will help see this campaign through to completion. To make a donation, or learn more about this project, please contact Ray Murphy at (440) 473-8089 or murphyr@gilmour.org.