Athletic facilities on deck for improvements

Plans to upgrade RIT’s outdoor athletic facilities continue to unfold.

The first phase of the department’s multimillion dollar stadium project is scheduled to begin this year with the relocation of the outdoor track across the street from its current location in front of Gordon Field House with an upgraded synthetic running surface. The baseball and softball fields are also slated to be upgraded to all-weather artificial turf fields.

Future phases include the instal­lation of a state-of-the-art artificial turf field as well as the construction of a full stadium complex featuring locker rooms, training facilities, and concessions, as well as a press box and premium suite accommodations.

RIT has two Division I teams—men’s hockey and women’s hockey—and 22 Division III teams that compete in the Liberty League. In addition, thousands of students participate in club and intramural sports.

RIT’s student-athletes continue to lead in the classroom. They had an overall GPA of 3.45 last academic year; 135 athletes had a perfect 4.0 in the spring 2020 semester.

“These plans are an extension of RIT’s continuous and sustained efforts over the years, which included the Gordon Field House, the Gene Polisseni Center, and the Ritter Arena Extension project, and much more,” said Lou Spiotti Jr., executive director of Intercollegiate Athletics. “RIT and RIT Athletics have a very exciting and bright future.”