Thursday, May 3, 2012 (Newton, Massachusetts) - With the final home game at Mount Ida Athletic Stadium wrapped up with the men’s lacrosse team capturing their second straight Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) title win last two Sunday’s ago, it was time for Mount Ida President Lance Carluccio and the Athletic Department to break ground on the construction of a new artificial turf stadium. Thursday afternoon before the 23rd Annual Athletic Banquet, the College broke ground to start the project set to be finished before the start of the 2012 fall season.
“This field has been discussed and dreamed about for a long time and it is amazing that this day is finally here,” said Mount Ida College Athletic Director Matthew Burke. “Mount Ida will have one of the best Division III facilities in our area. Our athletes deserve the best, and they will finally have the best.”
Newton Mayor Setti Warren was in attendance to see through the ceremony speaking to students, parents and many other Mount Ida supporters in the crowd. Mount Ida Board of Trustees Chair Michael Burns and Trustee Barry Wagner helped aid in the ground breaking as well.
“This facility will serve as a gathering spot for our students, staff and faculty and a point of pride for the entire college and community,” said Burke. “Our student-athletes will benefit by having fewer class conflicts, the elimination of rainouts and reschedules because of inclement weather, a safer and more consistent field to practice and play on, but most importantly a place to call home and a place to make new memories, score countless goals and touchdowns and of course win countless conference championships.”
In addition to the new turf field, Mount Ida plans to develop its existing practice field into a regulation-sized grass playing surface that will expand the playing field options for the school's varsity, club and intramural sports. That field is expected to be ready by fall 2013.