Finnesey Field is a multi-use sports facility on the Saint Joseph's University campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which opened in 1929 and was originally planned to be the centerpiece to a 70,000 seat football stadium in the natural bowl of the campus.
In 1960, both the original grandstand and hillside seating were eliminated for the construction of Villiger (now Post) Building/Bluett Theater. That construction necessitated raising the field's level some five feet above its earlier location. In 1990, the facility's usage was greatly expanded with the installation of artificial turf. That expansion continued in 1994 when lights were added. During the summer of 2001, the Field received a facelift when new turf was installed. More recently, bleachers were built into the hill closest to Barbelin Hall.
During the summer of 2008, the field was resurfaced with a FIFA approved surface called TigerTurf, and the track was completely resurfaced. The field will play host to men's and women's soccer and men's and women's lacrosse. The women's field hockey team played its last season on Finnesey Field in 2007. They open on a new playing surface on the Maguire Campus in 2009.
Overall, the site has seen 1,053 games entering the 2008-09 academic year, and SJU teams put together a total record of 493-518-42 in 79 years.
Famous quotes containing the word field:
“The birds their quire apply; airs, vernal airs,
Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune
The trembling leaves, while universal Pan,
Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance,
Led on th’ eternal Spring.”
—John Milton (1608–1674)