The University of Utah is making changes in order to help accommodate housing for new students. As a result, the soccer field has already been directly affected.
The soccer field, housing the successful NCAA team, will soon be replaced by new dorms. The Ute field is expected to find a new home near the softball field by summer 2019.
The size of the field will continue to be the same regulation size. There will be bigger and better-facilitated improvements added to the new field with more room for fans to cheer from. “The soccer stadium has been slated for relocation near the softball stadium since the 2008 Campus Master Plan which dedicated the center of campus as multiuse green and playspace,” said Shireen Ghorbani, associate director of Communications. “There will be two phases to the move. Phase 1 is the relocation of the field and preparing for play next season. Phase 2 will be the construction of a stadium that will include improved seating, a sound system, restrooms, locker rooms and possibly concessions. A lacrosse practice field will also be installed next to the soccer field.”
The new dorms are expected to house about 1,000 beds and will occupy most of the former Ute soccer field’s space in the fall of 2020. The new space is designed to encourage students to deepen their engagement with the U through major categories of living options.
The communities being planned to help deepen student engagement are:
- A U Health-Health & Wellness wing, with a core focus on Interprofessional Education as well as increasing access to health professions for underrepresented students
- A Technology Initiatives wing, focusing on increasing the number of students in the science, technology, engineering and math [STEM] disciplines, particularly historically marginalized students
- Community Engagement, focusing on connections with the Bennion Service Center, advocacy/activism, and service
- First Year Honors communities
Construction is expected to take up a portion of parking lot 22. Lot 22 was closed off to parking as of Nov. 15. Due to limited parking, Lot 19 (the surface lot south of the Institute garage) opened up for additional U parking.
Although current statements about the progress of the field construction haven’t been released to the public, one was made. Ghorbani assures, “Former Athletics director Chris Hill made an announcement via Facebook in June 2017. The details outlined in his video have evolved since the video was made.”
Housing and Residential Education, however, has provided a link to help keep everyone up to date on what the construction impacts will look like for those who park in Lot 22. That information can be found here.
The Athletics Department could not be reached for further information regarding the upcoming changes over the new fields. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
c.robles@dailyutahchronicle.com
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