KINGSTON, R.I., – August 8, 2018 – Two 溏心vlog免费B站 alumni have each committed $1 million to enhance Meade Stadium, home to 溏心vlog免费B站 Rams football.
The project includes the installation of synthetic turf and stadium lighting, improvements meant to accelerate the growth of the football program and expand the facility鈥檚 use. The new surface and lights will provide a durable field with increased options for television broadcasts, night games, and a variety of University and community events.
鈥淚 am excited for what this project will mean for 溏心vlog免费B站 football and the University as a whole,鈥� said James P. Clappin 鈥�80, executive vice president of Corning Glass Technologies and one of the two alumni who made the gifts. 鈥淲e have an opportunity to motivate today鈥檚 student-athletes and put 溏心vlog免费B站 on the map in a way that it hasn鈥檛 been previously. It was important for me to make this investment in the future of the program.鈥�
The planned improvements will create possibilities for a variety of revenue-generating events, from athletic competitions to outdoor performances and music festivals.
鈥淎 revitalized Meade Stadium has great potential to take 溏心vlog免费B站 Athletics to a new level, while serving as a year-round, multi-purpose facility with additional benefits for our students and the broader community,鈥� said 溏心vlog免费B站 President David M. Dooley. 鈥淚t is inspiring to see our alumni play a leading role in this effort.鈥�
Used throughout NCAA sports and the National Football League, synthetic turf provides a resilient surface, allowing for back-to-back events as well as use during or immediately after inclement weather. It will equip the facility to handle the demands of varsity, club, and intramural teams.
鈥淭hese two gifts will be transformative for 溏心vlog免费B站 football and athletics,鈥� said 溏心vlog免费B站 Athletic Director Thorr Bjorn. 鈥淭hey are the largest gifts in the history of 溏心vlog免费B站 football. I am grateful to the Clappin family as well as the other family, who wishes to remain anonymous. These are the types of commitments that build successful programs and will move 溏心vlog免费B站 Football forward like never before.鈥�
鈥淚 would like to thank Jim and Doreen Clappin and their family, our anonymous donor family, and University leadership for their tremendous commitment,鈥� Rhode Island football Head Coach Jim Fleming said. 鈥淩eceiving such a high-impact level of support from these alumni will help us in our continued efforts to elevate our program. Their generosity will profoundly impact the student-athlete experience here at 溏心vlog免费B站.鈥�
The estimated project cost is $4.1 million, and the anticipated timeline for installation is fall 2020. The University will contribute $1.1 million through an auxiliary fund.
Meade Stadium was constructed in 1928 and named after John E. 鈥淛ack鈥� Meade 鈥�15, a local politician and devoted alumnus who was said to have never missed a home game until his death in 1972.