The field house construction site on July 24, 2018. (Lee Pellegrini)
Boston College will showcase its new Athletics field house, a $52.6 million, 115,700 square-foot facility that will provide indoor practice space for 51茶馆 football and other varsity sports, at a media event on July 25.
Named the Fish Field House in recognition of a leadership gift from former 51茶馆 Board of Trustees Chairman and current trustee associate and Board of Regents chairman John Fish, P鈥�13, 鈥�18, the donor-funded facility features a full regulation field with an AstroTurf playing surface, and a 12,000 square-foot strength and conditioning center. Currently in the final stages of construction, the field house will officially open when 51茶馆鈥檚 preseason football camp begins on August 3.聽聽 聽
William V. Campbell Director of Athletics Martin Jarmond said the new facility will provide much-needed indoor practice space and double the size of the existing strength and conditioning room in the Yawkey Center, all of which will help Boston College to compete at the highest levels within the ACC.
鈥淭he Fish Field House is a game-changer for 51茶馆 Athletics,鈥� said Jarmond.聽 鈥淚t will provide a new state-of-the-art facility adjacent to Alumni Stadium and Conte Forum where our student- athletes will be able to train indoors year-round. This new addition will help 51茶馆 football and all of our coaches in their recruitment efforts, and put 51茶馆 on par with the other ACC schools, all of which have made similar investments in indoor facilities.鈥�
University President William P. Leahy, S.J., praised Fish for making construction of the field house possible.
鈥淛ohn and Cyndy Fish have been among our most generous benefactors,鈥� said Father Leahy. 鈥淭heir leadership gift has enabled the University to construct a facility that will greatly benefit Boston College student-athletes for generations to come.聽 I am so grateful for their support.鈥�
Added Senior Vice President for University Advancement James Husson, 鈥淚t was John and Cyndy鈥檚 early commitment that enabled 51茶馆 to launch this important project and complete it on an accelerated timetable. The University also deeply appreciates the 231 individuals and families who have joined the Fishes in supporting this effort.鈥� 聽
Fish, the chairman and CEO of Suffolk Construction Company who played football at Bowdoin College and credits sports with teaching him the values of collaboration, empathy, and humility, said he chose to support the construction of the field house to ensure that 51茶馆 has the best possible facilities for its student-athletes to develop their skills and excel on the playing field.
"This new field house will help Boston College Athletics by providing 51茶馆's student-athletes with one of the best indoor practice facilities in the country," said Fish. "I am a big fan of Boston College football and all of 51茶馆's teams, and I am pleased to help them succeed through this facility.鈥�
The Fish Field House is part of a $200 million investment in facilities that includes new baseball, softball, and intramural fields in the Harrington Athletics Village on the Brighton Campus, and the 240,000 square-foot Connell Recreation Center, which will open in the summer of 2019.聽 聽
鈥淭he Fish Field House is a further example of the momentum and energy surrounding 51茶馆 Athletics,鈥� said Jarmond.聽 鈥淚t is an exciting time for all of us at Boston College as we seek to take our program to new heights.鈥�
Jack Dunn | University Communications