With the 2008-2009 school year commencing, Sacred Heart University's Campus Field has been given a facelift and will be the newly, redesigned home of the Pioneers' outdoor athletic teams.

With ten collegiate Division I athletic teams that play outdoors, the new facilities come just in time to kick off the new school year and seasons.

It seems as if the new field was needed in order to support the growing success of the university's athletic program.

The old facility, originally erected in 1993, was comprised of a synthetic artificial grass surface known as FieldTurf, an eight-lane red surfaced track that surrounds the turf field, along with a stadium that could accommodate 2-thousand fans.

In 1997, Sacred Heart University renovated Campus Field, adding four lighting structures and 15-hundred additional seats, bringing the seating capacity now up to 35-hundred. Due to a residential ordinance, the lights could only be a certain height, in order to not disturb the surrounding residents of Fairfield County.

The turf conditions were detrimental to the overall performance of the teams, and also played a large role in increasing injuries amongst athletes.

It was evident that in order to kick off the 2008-2009 athletic seasons the right way, the only solution was to replace the turf.

Shortly after the end of the 2007-2008 school year, construction began on Sacred Heart's Campus Field, as the old turf field was removed and lighting structures were taken down.

Once the surface had been cleared, it was time to begin the transformation by putting in the new turf, laying down the foundation for the new track, and erecting the new lights.

"The turf was wearing down to the point where replacing it became critical," said Don Cook, Sacred Heart Athletic Director. "Many athletes commented during summer training camp how much more forgiving the new surface was on their legs, making day-to-day workouts and related recovery from pre-season aches and pains easier," said Cook.

One team in particular that has already seen early success from the implementation of the new turf field and lights is the football team. Kicking off the 2008-2009 season with a 2-0 home record, the football team is very excited about their new facilities.

"It's great to have the new field; the new turf is awesome," said junior Stephen Gerhard.

"As more and more teams at SHU are coming around and doing big things, like the men's lacrosse team; it feels great to know that the school recognizes the need for top of the line facilities."

On Aug. 30, the football team made Sacred Heart history by playing the first collegiate football competition under the new lights at Campus Field.

"There's something about playing at night under the lights that makes the atmosphere pretty special," said Gerhard.

"I couldn't wait to get out there for the first night game and play ball."

The lights on Campus Field are an addition that students have been anticipating.

"The lights will help us lengthen the day during the shortened Eastern standard time months, which will make practices and games easier to conduct just by having the extra time to run them," said Cook.

While the lights will be used for NCAA sanctioned athletic competitions, they will also serve a dual-purpose, as many other organizations will benefit from their implementation.

"A lighted facility will provide needed time to conduct practices and events for an expanded club sport and intramural program, as well a lighted facility for band and dance team practices," said Cook.

With the new turf field, lights, and track updates, it is clear that Sacred Heart recognizes the obligation is owed to the athletic program and other organizations on campus in order to support their overall success and achievement.

"The upgrades at the Campus Field site (turf, track and lights) will serve us very well; clearly great examples of the University's commitment to athletics at all levels."