[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/alumni_field01.jpg” caption=”Alumni Field is now open at McMaster. Photo credit: Cameron Dunlop”]McMaster University's new Alumni Field began serving the McMaster and surrounding community this past weekend. The new artificial soft surface will play host to the Canadian Football
League (CFL) Hamilton Tiger Cats Training Camp from May 24 to June 2, 2006.

The development of the field was made possible through a generous donation from the McMaster Alumni Association. With over 125,000 alumni living in 125 countries, the McMaster Alumni Association holds the mission of supporting McMaster University, involving alumni and current students, recognizing alumni achievements, communicating with and providing services and benefits for alumni.

Gary Collins '90, president of the McMaster Alumni Association commented that the association is proud to support this project, which will serve the needs of thousands of McMaster students each year. The venue will also be available for rent to community partners, and will provide another venue to support the City of Hamilton sport tourism strategy.

Formerly known as the Intramural Field, Alumni Field is located behind the Smith gymnasium in the Ivor Wynne Centre on the McMaster University Main Campus. The field will be the competitive venue for McMaster lacrosse and field hockey, intramural and club programs and in 2006 the practice venue for McMaster football. Alumni Field will be landscaped and fenced during late summer. A wireless score clock will be affixed to the north Ivor Wynne Centre wall before the start of the fall term.

“Alumni Field will be available for programming a minimum of nine months of the year,” says Therese Quigley, director of Athletics and Recreation. “Regardless of weather it will provide ideal conditions for training and competition for our McMaster and community sport programs.”

Quigley is grateful to project contributors. “We would like to thank all who worked to meet this aggressive timeline despite the challenges of wet weather conditions.”

McMaster will begin construction on the new $13 million, Ronald V. Joyce Stadium in June. The stadium is scheduled to open in Fall 2007. McMaster football will play all home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium in 2006 as was announced in February 2005.