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Baseball Office of University Communications

QU Secures $4 Million Investment to Renovate QU Stadium

Quincy University announced plans to completely renovate historic QU Stadium—home of QU baseball and future home of QU football—with a $4 million investment by PFIC, a California-based developer of facilities for colleges and universities such as University of Massachusetts, University of Houston, Bucknell University, and University of Connecticut. The renovations are to begin immediately and are slated for completion by fall 2015. Quincy University President Dr. Robert Gervasi stated that the improved facilities will benefit not only the players on the field, but also the university as a whole as well as the entire Quincy region.

"QU prides itself in excellence in education and in all aspects. Therefore, we must be competitive in attracting student athletes," Gervasi says. "The expansion of QU athletics will increase overall enrollment, creating a more vibrant campus experience. We envision QU Stadium to be a destination for large scale events appealing to the entire Quincy Region."
 


QU plans to recruit a total of 90 to 100 additional student athletes by way of expanded football and baseball rosters as well as the addition of the first ever men's and women's lacrosse teams. Once coaching staffs are hired and players are recruited, women's and men's lacrosse will become the 17th and 18th NCAA sports at Quincy University (women's swimming will become the 16th beginning in 2015-16). Women's lacrosse will begin in 2017-18 with men's lacrosse the following year. Both are spring sports.

Renovations for QU Stadium include synthetic turf surfaces for football and baseball (infield only). The football field will also receive replaced bleachers, luxury suites, and a new press box. The project also encompasses new locker rooms, coaches' offices, meeting rooms, and training facilities for student athletes.

"This investment will have a profound impact on the University going forward and our students will be the biggest beneficiaries as we continue to provide them an exceptional college experience," Athletic Director Marty Bell says. "A strong athletic department and first-class facilities open the door to not only talented and driven prospective student-athletes, but also the recruitment and retention of the general student body with the atmosphere and pride that comes with playing in state-of-the-art facilities."


Naming and sponsorship opportunities are available at multiple levels for new and renovated facilities in and around the stadium (locker rooms, press box, suites, fields, etc.). For more information, contact the Office of University Advancement at 217-228-5227.

For the past four seasons, QU's football team hosted its home games at Quincy's Flinn Stadium through an agreement between QU and Quincy High School. Once stadium renovations are complete in 2015, the team will return to its original on-campus facility at 18th and Sycamore.

"This major investment will have a profound impact on our campus, in our community and in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, and it shows the University's deep commitment to athletics and our program," Football Coach Tom Pajic says. "It will change the future of Quincy University for years to come."

The team, in its third year under Coach Pajic, finished the 2014 season at 6-5—its first winning season since 2008.

"[A renovated QU Stadium] speaks volumes to the high school coaches and prospective student-athletes across the Midwest that QU Football, at the Division II level, is a tremendous opportunity for them," Pajic says.

The west side of QU Stadium has served as the home of QU's baseball team for over 50 years as well as the home field of the Prospect League Quincy Gems each summer since 1996. The ongoing renovations are not expected to affect either team's 2015 season.

"Having this facility upgrade will ensure every student athlete in our program has a chance to develop, succeed and has a great experience here at QU," Head Baseball Coach, Josh Rabe says. "This upgrade gives us a recruitment tool that few have. We cannot wait to show this facility off to potential student athletes looking for a place to call home." He adds that the school's JV squad will be able to play 30-35 games with the upgraded facility.

In four seasons under Coach Rabe, the Hawks are 120-86 with one GLVC Championship in 2011. The Hawks finished as tournament runner-up in 2014 with an overall record of 30-26.

Initially "Q-Stadium", the facility was built in 1938 as part of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Works Project Administration for an estimated cost of $116,203. In 1984, Quincy College purchased the stadium from the city for one dollar.



Founded in 1860 by Franciscan friars, Quincy University (www.quincy.edu) is a Catholic, co-educational, residential university offering undergraduate, graduate, and adult education programs that integrate liberal arts, active learning, practical experience, and Franciscan values. Quincy University's intercollegiate sports are members of the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference for men and women. For more information, please contact the Quincy University office of communications by calling (217) 228-5275.
 
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