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As construction crews put the finishing touches on the revitalized Richardson Stadium, members of the media were offered an inside look at the new facility's amenities for fans and community members alike. Starting on the east concourse, attendees poured through the gates and were greeted by a breathtaking view of the new stadium. The concourse, which wraps around the entire stadium, will feature concession stands, entertainment and even a family zone - complete with face painters and other family-friendly entertainment - on the northeast side. 

Continuing down to field level, media were able to check out the state-of-the-art artificial turf. Aside from football, men's and women's soccer, field hockey and lacrosse will call Richardson Stadium home - with numerous community sports teams making use of the space as well. Representatives of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Athletics and Recreation discussed the sound and light engineering of the new stadium, done to minimize disruptions to the community and the stadium's neighbours.

To conclude the tour, media were shown the new press box facilities. Considerably more spacious than the previous press box, the facilities offer improved audio/visual connections, high speed internet, improved sightlines and amenities for media.

Richardson Stadium will celebrate its grand opening on Sept 17, as the Gaels football team takes on the Western Mustangs. Plans for the revitalization were kicked off in March 2014 with the announcement of a $10 million pledge to the stadium project from Queen’s alumnus and former Gael Stu Lang and his wife Kim. That announcement was followed by news of a $5 million contribution from the Richardson Foundation. Other donors came forward to contribute to the project, bringing the total amount raised to more than $17 million, with the university contributing $3 million for infrastructure support.

The construction of the 8,500 seat stadium was a priority within Queen’s Initiative Campaign, which concluded this year in concert with the university's 175th anniversary celebrations. It is one of a number of efforts undertaken by ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ to enhance its athletics and recreation facilities to promote the health and wellness of all students.