New Sports Complex Just Around the Corner

Operations are moving forward in order to have the Green Knights ready to contest in the brand new Donald J. Schneider Outdoor Athletics Complex just south of the St. Norbert campus. According to Director of Fundraising for Athletics Don Maslinski, the college currently has the bid out to have the site excavated by Thanksgiving and to be ready by spring. The excavation work in November, which also includes the laying of utilities, would mean opening up construction in spring 2010. Although he stated that the total completion of the complex would take 15 months, the college looks to have the majority of the project including the 400-meter polyurethane track, multipurpose athletic field, and stands completed by fall semester 2010. There will also be two practice fields included on the 23 usable acres. These fields will be marked for various sports including football, soccer and lacrosse.

Holding a total of 2,500 seats in the stadium itself, the complex also contains a perimeter and pavilions that will be available for spectators. This way, Maslinski says that fans will be able to stand behind a fence and around the pavilion and watch from a different perspective or catch a closer glimpse of the action. It also brings the total available capacity to about 3,500 spectators.

The new complex will host numerous sports for the 20 percent of undergraduates that participate, but will also act as a landmark for the college. Posted up on the south end of campus, it will be located in West De Pere, on Lost Dauphin Road and just north of Scheuring Road.

There currently are plans to have a lighted water retention pond welcoming those entering the campus adjacent to the complex. This move will really make the college feel together and balance its campus from both ends as it stretches the Fox River.

Making sure it stays coordinated with the college, plans are to have brick buildings with concrete banding similar to the campus structures already in place. Maslinski also commented on there being talks for a contemplation area somewhere in the complex, similar to those scattered around the campus in various venues. It will also have lighting for the football field and track, which makes it possible for SNC sports to compete at night or even host events for alternative occasions.

Those participating and those in athletic training will also find delight as the designers have incorporated an equipment room, full size training room, and hydrotherapy room. This will make extreme strides from the current training room which often is cramped with athletes and thus making the SNC trainer's job more difficult.

Schneider Sports Complex will present a great way for soccer, football, lacrosse and other sports to compete on a well-updated surface. It will also provide the sports to compete closer to the SNC campus as it is just within walking distance. Over at Minahan Stadium, SNC soccer has practiced and competed but now will be able to do so much closer. The Cloud Field practice area, which is currently used by SNC football, will be used for one more year as the complex nears completion.

St. Norbert football also holds a winning percentage of .679 at Minahan and looks to continue this tradition at Schneider Complex. Their final appearance at Minahan Stadium will be Saturday, Oct. 31 at 1 p.m.

Additionally, athletes of SNC have not only succeeded in their sport but also in the classroom, as they equal or better the college's four-year graduation rate of 71 percent.

As far as the completion of the complex to where SNC athletics will be participating, "It is my hope that we will be ready for that first football game (in 2010)," said Maslinski.