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Ridley Athletic Complex

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Coordinates: 39°20′13″N 76°39′09″W / 39.33694°N 76.65250°W / 39.33694; -76.65250
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Ridley Athletic Complex
Stand of the complex during a match in 2014
Map
Address2221 W Cold Spring Ln
Baltimore, MD
United States
Coordinates39°20′13″N 76°39′09″W / 39.33694°N 76.65250°W / 39.33694; -76.65250
OwnerLoyola University
OperatorLoyola University Athletics
TypeStadium
Capacity6,000[1]
SurfaceSportexe Momentum artificial turf
Current use
Construction
Broke ground2006
OpenedMarch 13, 2010; 14 years ago (March 13, 2010)
Construction cost$62 million USD
Tenants
Website
loyolagreyhounds.com/ridley-complex

Ridley Athletics Complex is a stadium owned and operated by Loyola University Maryland. It is located 1.5 mi (2.4 km) west of the main campus in Baltimore, Maryland, on a 71 acres (28.7 ha) parcel of land at the southwest corner of the intersection of the Jones Falls Expressway and Coldspring Lane in the Woodberry neighborhood.[2] At a total cost of US$62 million, it was the largest capital project in Loyola's history.[3]

Named after Rev. Harold Ridley, S.J. at the request of an anonymous donor whose $5 million contribution was the most from an individual to the university,[4][5] the complex consists of a 6,000-seat stadium for Loyola Greyhounds men's and women's soccer and lacrosse, an additional field for its men's rugby union club and eight courts for men's and women's tennis.

History

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The idea for the athletic complex originated in a 1995 conversation between Ridley, Loyola's president at the time, and athletic director Joe Boylan. Land for the smart-growth project was purchased in 1998, with 21 acres (8.5 ha) previously owned by LifeBridge Health and the other 50 acres (20.2 ha) by the city.[6]

The project was stalled for years as the university faced opposition from Woodberry residents, mainly over environmental concerns since the parcel was once a landfill. Eventually the land underwent environmental remediation with the installation of geomembranes to prevent groundwater contamination and a collection system that captured gases from leaking into the atmosphere. Additionally 29 acres (12 ha) of the site were placed in forest conservation easements.[7] Construction of the complex finally began in the spring of 2006.[5]

The opening event at the Ridley was a friendly match on March 10, 2010, between the Loyola Greyhounds men's soccer team and Crystal Palace Baltimore in a fundraiser to benefit Catholic Relief Services' Haitian earthquake recovery efforts.[8] The Greyhounds won 4–3.[9] Its first intercollegiate contest there, a 3–1 loss to William & Mary, was played six months later on September 7.[10] Palace hosted a regular-season game that summer on August 18, a 2–0 defeat to the Rochester Rhinos.[11]

The official dedication ceremony for the whole complex was performed prior to the Loyola men's lacrosse home opener against Duke University on March 13, 2010. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Archbishop Edwin O'Brien and Loyola President Rev. Brian F. Linnane, S.J. led the celebration.[12] The Greyhounds lost to the Blue Devils 8–5 in front of a sellout crowd.[13] Women's sports premiered on March 16 with Loyola defeating Rutgers 18–6 in lacrosse.[14] The first contest at the facility for the Greyhounds' women's soccer squad resulted in a 3–2 victory over Towson on August 21.[15]

The Ridley was the site of the 2010 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Men's and Women's Soccer Championships.[6] Between the host school's two teams, only the men qualified.[16][17] They lost to Saint Peter's College 2–1 in two overtime periods in the semifinals on November 12.[18] Two days later, the Peacocks defeated Iona College 2–1 for the championship.[19] Siena College won the women's title one week earlier on November 7 with a 1–0 overtime victory over Canisius College.[20]

The Greyhounds men's lacrosse team had an 18–1 overall record en route to its first-ever national championship in 2012.[21] Its only defeat was a 10–9 overtime decision to Johns Hopkins at the Ridley on April 28.[22]

The Baltimore Bohemians played all of its home matches during the 2013 season at the Ridley.[23]

Features

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The centerpiece of the complex is J. Richard Awalt Field, named after the president of The Century Corporation who was a member of the Class of 1950 at Loyola College and a major factor in the facility's advancement.[24] A 6,000-seat double-decked grandstand running the length of the field is situated along one side. The two decks are separated by a promenade with concession and merchandise stands, public restrooms and stairs that connect both levels. Overlooking the seating areas are press boxes and luxury suites. Eight sets of light standards, four on each side spread evenly apart, illuminate the stadium for nighttime events.[2][25] A pair of video scoreboards featuring light-emitting diode technology were installed by Daktronics.[26] The playing surface is Sportexe Momentum artificial turf.[2]

The auxiliary practice field immediately to the south is named the Sean Lugano Memorial Field, in memory of the 1995 Loyola graduate and one-time captain of the university's men's rugby union team who died in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. Lugano's family and friends raised over $1 million to name the field in his honor. It is the home of the "Loyola Rugby Football Club". The playing surface is the same as the one at Awalt Field.[5] A seasonal Air Dome covering the field to provide indoor practice space during the winter was dedicated on January 17, 2018.[27]

The McClure Tennis Center, which consists of eight lighted courts, opened on April 11, 2015. Financed by a $3.2 million gift from an anonymous donor, it is named for Rick McClure, the university's men's and women's tennis coach since 1979 who had been inducted in Loyola's hall of fame in November 2003.[28][29]

References

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  1. ^ "Reverend Harold Ridley, S.J., Athletic Complex". Loyola Greyhounds Athletics. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c About the Ridley Athletic Complex. Loyola University Maryland.
  3. ^ Van Valkenburg, Kevin (March 13, 2010). "Loyola to open new lacrosse, soccer facility today". The Baltimore Sun.
  4. ^ "Gifts to Loyola University". Loyola Catalogues. Archived from the original on 2012-07-09.
  5. ^ a b c "Loyola To Celebrate Ridley Athletic Complex Opening March 13". Loyola University Maryland Athletics. February 1, 2010.
  6. ^ a b "Loyola to Host 2010 MAAC Soccer Championships at Rev. Harold Ridley, S.J. Intercollegiate Athletic Complex". Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. December 16, 2008.
  7. ^ Jackson, Angela (September 25, 2008). "Loyola College Announces New Stadium Completion Date". WBAL Radio. Archived from the original on July 20, 2012.
  8. ^ "Men's Soccer Hosts Crystal Palace In Charity Friendly". Loyola University Maryland Athletics. March 2, 2010.
  9. ^ "Men's Soccer Wins First Match At Ridley". Loyola University Maryland Athletics. March 10, 2010.
  10. ^ "William And Mary Downs Men's Soccer, 3–1". Loyola University Maryland Athletics. September 7, 2010.
  11. ^ "Rochester Defeats Palace Baltimore 2–0". Crystal Palace Baltimore. August 18, 2010.
  12. ^ "Greyhounds New Home Dedicated to Rev. Harold Ridley, S.J." Loyola University Maryland Athletics. March 13, 2010.
  13. ^ "Men's Lax Drops 8–5 Decision to Duke in Ridley Opener". Loyola University Maryland Athletics. March 13, 2010.
  14. ^ "Loyola Wins Ridley Opener With Fast Start Against Rutgers". Loyola University Maryland Athletics. March 16, 2010.
  15. ^ "Schiro Scores Two In Women's Soccer Opening Win". Loyola University Maryland Athletics. August 21, 2010.
  16. ^ "Field Set for 2010 Chick-fil-A MAAC Men's Soccer Championship". MAAC Sports. November 10, 2010.
  17. ^ "Pairings Set for 2010 Chick-fil-A MAAC Women's Soccer Championship". MAAC Sports. November 3, 2010.
  18. ^ "Saint Peter's Edges Men's Soccer in MAAC Semifinals". Loyola University Maryland Athletics. November 12, 2010.
  19. ^ "Saint Peter's Wins 2010 Chick-fil-A MAAC Men's Soccer Championship". MAAC Sports. November 14, 2010.
  20. ^ "Siena Wins 2010 MAAC Women's Soccer Title". MAAC Sports. November 7, 2010.
  21. ^ "NCAA CHAMPS! Loyola Wins First NCAA Lacrosse Title, 9–3, Over Terps," Loyola University Maryland Athletics, Monday, May 28, 2012.
  22. ^ "Last Second Overtime Goal Lifts No. 10 Hopkins Over No. 1 Men's Lax," Loyola University Maryland Athletics, Saturday, April 28, 2012.
  23. ^ "Bohemians Head To Loyola University," Baltimore Bohemians press release, Monday, January 28, 2013.
  24. ^ "Carroll Medal to J. Richard Awalt, '50". Loyola University Maryland Commencement 2008. Archived from the original on 2010-03-10.
  25. ^ "Ridley Athletic Complex (construction updates)". Loyola University Maryland Athletics.
  26. ^ "Loyola's Intercollegiate Athletic Complex to Feature Daktronics Video and Scoring". Daktronics Inc. August 5, 2009. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012.
  27. ^ Buettner, Rita. "Inside the Dome," Loyola University Maryland, Friday, April 6, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  28. ^ Lee, Edward. "Loyola Maryland announces construction of tennis center in honor of coach Rick McClure," The Baltimore Sun, Thursday, September 25, 2014.
  29. ^ "Tennis Teams Split With Bison As Loyola Opens McClure Tennis Center," Loyola University Maryland Athletics, Saturday, April 11, 2015.
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