Soccer at Hope College
just gained some major prestige. With a lead donation of $3 million
from alumni The David and Carol Van Andel Foundation, a $5.3 million
stadium is now in the works.
Crews broke ground last Monday at the current soccer field on Fairbanks Avenue, Holland.
"It's a prominent and exciting location," says David Bolt, project architect with GMB Architects & Engineers. "The college sees soccer as such a developing sport that they want to foster its growth at Hope."
Seating capacity at the new stadium –
named Van Andel Soccer Stadium – will grow from a 400-person bleacher
setup to accommodate 1,400 fans, and will include stadium-style seating.
Construction involves the redevelopment
of nearly five acres and includes a training center, restrooms, locker
rooms and team areas, concessions and a press box. The field surface
will be state-of-the-art artificial turf made specifically for soccer.
"The fiber used and the construction of
the fibers is what makes it unique," says Tim Gerrits, GMB landscape
architect. The "grass" fibers stand up and make it ideal for rolling a
soccer ball.
One of the prominent features of Van
Andel Soccer Stadium will be lighting for night games. Hope College
spokesman Tom Renner said the school anticipates night games to be a
popular draw.
“The lead donor approached the school
with the idea of making a donation for a soccer stadium about a year
ago,” Renner says. "We spent the rest of the year raising funds for the
balance and we're nearly there."
Construction should wrap up in October.
Soccer season begins in September. Hope's soccer teams could get to
play a few games on their new field before the season is over.
Source: David Bolt, GMB Architects & Engineers; Tim Gerrits, GMB Architects & Engineers; Tom Renner, Hope College
Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at deborah@rapidgrowthmedia.com.
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