Athletics still trying to raise funds to build

The athletics department is developing plans for a new athletic facility that will benefit the… The athletics department is developing plans for a new athletic facility that will benefit the men’s and women’s soccer, track and field and tennis programs — all of which call off-campus facilities home.

The men’s baseball and women’s softball fields need major renovations as well, according to Athletics Director Jeff Long.

“Our goal is to raise $25 million for facilities,” Long said.

Besides raising the funds, Pitt has to decide where it is to build the new facilities. Suggested sites are behind Trees Hall or possibly in the South Side, near the football practice facility.

When asked about the land behind Trees Hall, Long said that the University did not own that land at this point, but is interested in obtaining it.

As it stands now, the men’s and women’s soccer teams have to travel to Founders Field, which is 20 minutes north of Oakland, barring traffic. This makes it hard for the team to gain support from students, because it’s hard for students to make the trek up to Founders Field.

Both teams practice on campus, in the outfields of the baseball and softball fields. An on-campus facility would allow both teams to practice on their actual fields, and allow for the renovations to the baseball and softball fields.

The construction of a new facility and renovation of fields would help Pitt coaches recruit, since one thing that prospects take into account is the state of the venue they will be playing in. The Petersen Events Center has been helpful for the basketball programs, and new facilities might similarly serve other sports programs.

Men’s baseball coach Joe Jordano said in an interview over the summer that it would be nice to have a new, renovated field, but Trees Field does not bother him.

“It takes a special kid to play at Trees Field,” Jordano said on June 30. “It takes a blue-collar, hard-nose, tough kid to play down there.”

The plans for the soccer venue would also be used for track and field practice.