Holy Cross Holds Groundbreaking for Linda Johnson Smith Soccer Stadium

WORCESTER, Mass. – A new soccer stadium being built at the College of the Holy Cross will be named The Linda Johnson Smith Soccer Stadium, it was announced yesterday at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Located behind the Hart Center, construction of the soccer stadium began in early spring. A state-of-the-art soccer stadium was deemed necessary to support a nationally recognized Division I soccer program, and to continue the success both the men’s and women’s teams have enjoyed in recent seasons.

Linda Johnson Smith is wife and business partner of Park B. Smith ’54, and both are leading contributors to the major fundraising campaign for construction of the stadium.

The stadium will feature a top-quality grass field, and permanently installed aluminum stands seating approximately 1,250 spectators. Surrounded by a fence, with an attractive entrance where tickets can be sold and collected, the facility will include a press box at the top of the bleachers, with space for the public address announcer, media and a VIP section. The stadium will also have sufficient lighting for night games, as well as a large scoreboard.

The facility will primarily be used by the varsity programs, but could also be used to host regional events.

The cost of the facility is in excess of $2 million. The money is being raised through a fund raising campaign, as part of the Lift High the Cross Campaign, which seeks to enhance Holy Cross’ place among the nation’s premier liberal arts colleges.

In addition to the Smiths, major contributors in attendance at the groundbreaking were: Michael Greene ’84; Sean ’76 and Cathy ’77 O’Neil; Tim Egan ’77; and Chris ’80 and Cathy ’80 Collins.

The stadium will be the first new playing facility on campus since the debut of the lighted artificial turf field and running track in 1988.