The wait is almost over for LSU sport clubs looking for more field space and better playing surfaces.
The new club sports complex being built on the corner of River and Gourrier roads is set to open in the fall of 2005. The facility includes three multi-purpose fields, a gated parking lot and a support building equipped with showers, meeting rooms and storage for club sports to use.
Sport clubs have been waiting for these fields for a couple of years. But Associate Director of Recreational Sports Mike Giles said two major setbacks to the project have slowed construction.
“It was originally set to open fall of ‘03,” Giles said. “We had some problems in the bidding process. Then it was supposed to open in the fall of ‘04 but we had problems with the budget. I have had absolutely no luck on this project.”
However, Giles said he does not forsee any more major setbacks — save one. They do not have a playing surface.
“The only thing that’s really left to hold us back is the growth of the grass,” Giles said. “We can’t officially go in and start growing grass until the growing season, which begins late April or early May.”
Once the grass is planted, Giles said it will need to be given a chance to grow over the summer in order for the complex to be fully operational in the fall.
Outdoor sport clubs have been shuffled around in the past, making use of the Natatorium fields and Special Olympic Pool for practices. Using these fields has been a problem for sport clubs, particularly in the fall when those fields are also used as parking lots during football games.
Giles said the new complex will alleviate these problems for club teams.
“[Sport clubs have] never had a home,” Giles said. “The primary use of that field complex is club sports.”
The fields are large enough to accomodate club sports from rugby — which uses the largest sized field — to smaller field sports like ultimate frisbee and lacrosse.
Giles said the fields should greatly benefit the sport clubs in everything from recruiting new members to hosting tournaments and events.
Giles said the facility could also be used for intramural sports or other community events. But the complex is designed specifically for the needs of club sports and Giles said they have top priority.
“Once this project is done and finished, my hope is that those clubs are proud of what we have built,” Giles said. “This will be a complex that our club sports will be proud to call home. They’ll want to show off their facilities.”