By Danielle Schipani
70% of Funding Secured To Date
WEST LONG BRANCH – The Zoning Board unanimously approved the construction of the $15 million Monmouth University Stadium on Nov. 19, allowing the project that will seat 4,200 fans to proceed.
The new stadium, to be built on the site of the current field, will be utilized by more than half of the university’s 535 NCAA Division I student-athletes. In addition to the football team, the men’s and women’s lacrosse and track and field programs will call Monmouth Stadium home.
The plans include more than 800 chair-back seats, a multimedia center, an updated press box, new concession areas, an expanded ticket office, and permanent restroom facilities. Construction of the project could begin after the final home game of the 2016 football season, provided the remaining funds are raised and all necessary approvals and building permits are received. Private donors to date have raised more than 70 percent of the funds.
“The impact of this project will be felt by a broad constituency,” said Monmouth University President Paul R. Brown PhD. “Beyond the obvious benefit to our current and future student athletes, the Monmouth Stadium will offer an enhanced fan experience for alumni and friends in the community, as well as a boost to the local economy that will come along with the opportunities to host regional and national competitions, in addition to league play.”
The project will bring a bowl-like look and feel to Kessler Field with seats that stretch from goal line to goal line, housed in a brick structure designed to complement the University’s Multipurpose Activity Center (MAC).
“Our student-athletes have enjoyed continued success and national recognition,” said Marilyn McNeil, vice president and director of athletics. “The Monmouth Stadium will be a showcase for that success and a training ground for what we hope to accomplish in the future.”
Kamau Dumas, a defensive back on the Monmouth University football team, explained how the stadium is likely to help the team as it will urge more people to attend games since the stadium will provide a more comfortable space for fans. More attendees lead to an energized environment, which he says encourages the players. “We’ve had problems with fans standing around due to the limited capacity that the current field allows. With the new stadium, we can eliminate that problem because it can hold a higher capacity,” he said.
Opinions from the student body on the stadium announcement have been both positive and negative. “I think the stadium will definitely be a positive for the football team because it makes the games seem bigger. By having a bigger stage to play on raises the bar so to speak and will give the team more confidence,” said Kenny Magner, computer science student at Monmouth University. He also pointed out that the university as a whole will benefit from the stadium being built, as it will draw more attention to the sports programs.
Magner also discussed how, as a fan, he is excited to attend a game at the new stadium. “Even though I’m not on any of the teams, as a fan I feel accomplished when a Monmouth team does something big, like the basketball team beating UCLA last week. So having the football team getting to play in an awesome new stadium just gets me excited to watch them play even more,” he said.
Antonio James Scavo, music industry student and sophomore at the university, described some possible negative outcomes of the new stadium, one of them being the issue of parking. He explained that the university already struggles with having enough parking for students and faculty. Scavo worries that this will only worsen after the stadium is built. He also believes that the stadium will not get the Monmouth community more involved with sporting events. “The truth is, while it might get some people to come to games at first, people will soon lose interest in our decent football team,” he said.
Richard Felicetti, sophomore phycology and history major, described how the football games now are not very entertaining and believes the new stadium will improve the atmosphere of the football games. “Now that there’s a new stadium, I feel like the turnout will be much greater and people will really get into the games. We are slowly getting a more elite team year after year, and a new stadium will most definitely give the team more exposure,” he said.
Monmouth is expected to open the 2017 football season with a home game against Lafayette College on Sept. 2.
