The place where Queen’s becomes community
The winning touchdown, the three-pointer at the buzzer, the game-tying run, the overtime goal, the heart-pounding push over the finish line.
As an athlete or as a fan, every Queen’s student has experienced the rush of Tricolour pride and the spontaneous roar of the Oil Thigh cheer that comes after a victory.
In the stands, at the field, court-side, poolside and lakeside — this is where the people of Queen’s become a community. This is where we experience some of life’s greatest lessons.
Since 1921, students have gathered, bonded and cheered in Queen’s most iconic sport venue — George Richardson Memorial Stadium.
For almost a century, Richardson Stadium has been the literal and figurative rallying point for Queen’s students and alumni. But a stadium designed as a temporary structure and built when Queen’s enrolment was fewer than 2,000 no longer meets the needs of the Queen’s community - today’s athletes, coaches and spectators, including a student body 25,000-strong and more than 140,000 alumni.
Queen’s size, reputation and tradition of excellence demand that Richardson be revitalized.
Continuing commitment to student athletes
Helping our students succeed means investing not only in programs, coaching, training and scholarships; Queen’s is equally committed to ensure tomorrow’s student-athletes have the facilities to support their athletic pursuits and achievements.
Since 2009, the university has invested in three new outdoor turf fields: Tindall and Nixon Fields on main campus and the new West Campus Field support a wide range of varsity sports, including football, field hockey, lacrosse, rugby and soccer and well as numerous intramural and local community activities.
With the leadership and support of our alumni, we’re now turning our attention to our crown jewel — Richardson Stadium.
Queen’s has a bold vision to rebuild and revitalize Richardson Stadium as one of the finest outdoor turf stadiums in the country; the largest such venue between Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto; and a regional hub for outdoor sport. Working closely with Queen’s alumni, we will unveil in 2016 a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose facility.
Situated on the site of the current stadium at Johnson Street and Sir John A. Macdonald Boulevard, the new Richardson Stadium will be a first-class 10,000-seat outdoor field stadium that combines the best of Queen’s traditions and vision of the future.
The stadium’s main features include:
- an artificial turf field;
- state-of-the-art scoreboard with Jumbotron video screen;
- spacious, fully-equipped athlete service areas, including strength and conditioning and athletic therapy areas, together with classrooms and private study and meeting rooms;
- modern stadium seating beginning at six-feet elevation for improved sight-lines and including private boxes and accessibility;
- coaching offices;
- rentable meeting spaces and a 200-seat banquet room; and
- enhanced lighting, on the field and off.
Richardson Stadium and the surrounding grounds will also allow for future expansion, including the possible addition of an arena.
