INTERCOLLEGIATE 4.6 ATHLETICS 4.6.1 VISION AND PRINCIPLES 4.6.2 PRIORITIES CHAPTER 4 INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS High Point Solutions Stadium 298 RUTGERSIMAGE COURTESY 2030 PHYSICAL OF BEN SOLOMON, MASTER RUTGERS PLAN Ι JUNEATHLETICS 18, 2015 4.6 Intercollegiate Athletics Planning for Rutgers University Intercollegiate Athletics bell that hangs in the cupola of Old Queens, originally Baseball has occurred within the context of its entrance to the rung to mark the change of classes, has now taken on Basketball (Men’s and Women’s) Big Ten conference, as well as the broader framework a more symbolic meaning and is rung only on special Cross Country (Men’s and Women’s) of the Rutgers University physical master plan. Also occasions – including athletic achievements; the term known as the Scarlet Knights, Rutgers Athletics “the bells must ring” has become a common phrase Field Hockey competes at the NCAA Division I level and became during home football games. Rutgers team have Football the newest member of the Big Ten Conference in earned multiple championships, including six recent Golf (Men’s and Women’s) November of 2013. This move to the Big Ten has post-season bowl game victories. planning and facility implications. For Rutgers Gymnastics Athletics, the master plan proposes a vision focused on EXISTING RUTGERS ATHLETIC VENUES Lacrosse (Men’s and Women’s) enhanced accommodation of each sport; rationalizing Rowing space relationships, adjacencies, and efficiencies; Currently, Athletics precincts are adjacent to the and improving the overall fan experience. The result district cores at Busch and Livingston. As proposed Soccer (Men’s and Women’s) in Rutgers 2030, Athletics will continue to occupy its is a proposed framework that can accommodate Softball changing priorities, funding sources, and phasing. current precincts, but will have improved pedestrian, vehicular, and Rutgers bus connections, to better link Swimming & Diving these areas to the campus. The master plan aims to Tennis HISTORY AND TRADITION provide easy vehicular access to competition venues Track and Field (Men’s and Women’s) Rutgers University is known as the Birthplace of for spectators and visitors from Route 18, as well as college football, having hosted and won the first ever better pedestrian access for members of the Rutgers Volleyball collegiate football game in 1869, as “the Queensmen” community. Wrestling of Queens College. Since then, Queens College has transformed into Rutgers University, and has continued Rutgers Athletics offers 24 men’s and women’s sports, to build an athletic program based in a tradition of including: excellence in the classroom and in competition. The 299 CHAPTER 4 INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS Scarlet Knight fans at a Rutgers University football home game 300 RUTGERSIMAGE COURTESY 2030 PHYSICAL OF BEN SOLOMON, MASTER RUTGERS PLAN Ι JUNEATHLETICS 18, 2015 4.6.1 Vision and Principles Rutgers University has a variety of practice and Specific to Intercollegiate Athletics at the Rutgers Prioritize flexibility in sequencing – The process performance venues that support each program. These University–New Brunswick campus, Rutgers 2030 of upgrading existing facilities or providing new facilities are primarily distributed between the Busch builds upon recent efforts completed by the University facilities should involve careful planning to avoid and Livingston districts of the Rutgers University–- to enhance its facilities and grounds for the twenty-four temporary construction and minimize disruption to New Brunswick campus, with a small presence on Division I athletics teams and for Scarlet Knight fans, teams and their operations. College Avenue. Busch is currently home to High Point and provides an updated overview of priorities for Optimize access – Projects are proposed to Solutions Stadium, the Hale Center, and the Rutgers Athletics, aligning these priorities with available funding have functions that support athletics operations Golf Course. Busch also hosts competition venues streams. In conjunction with University Administration and the larger campus community, for example, for soccer at Yurcak Field, and tennis at the Tennis and the Athletics Department, the physical master providing easily accessible parking or event Complex east of the stadium. Livingston is home to plan identifies the following vision and principles to spaces that will be used by both Athletics and other the Rutgers Athletic Center, the Bauer Track and Field/ guide these priorities for Intercollegiate Athletics: campus groups, including visitors and academic Field Hockey Complex, Bainton Field, and the Rutgers departments. Rutgers 2030 identifies opportunities Address existing deficiencies – Rutgers is Softball Complex. to take advantage of spaces readily available to be committed to providing and enhancing facilities An initiative of the master plan at both Busch and repurposed for Athletics use, in many instances that support greater opportunities under Title IX Livingston is to eliminate overlaps between varsity identifying areas to be renovated in lieu of building and best practices under the National Collegiate space and recreational space. Currently, volleyball new facilities for Athletics use. Athletic Association (NCAA) and Big Ten and wrestling have practice and competition facilities Conference. This plan provides a framework that at the College Avenue Gym, while gymnastics has its Rutgers 2030 recommends consolidating the majority allows a long term vision to be established, and for practice facility at the Livingston Recreation Center. of varsity sports to Busch and Livingston, in order to long term investments and fundraising efforts to be By creating dedicated practice facilities for all varsity enhance the athletics experience for both athletes and realigned or put in place. teams, previously shared spaces can be available fans and to maximize operational efficiencies. The exclusively for recreational users. The master plan Capitalize on parallel investments – Proposed planning framework maintains optimal adjacencies aims to improve and enhance athletic facilities projects are encouraged to capitalize on currently in place and proposes to relocate several both qualitatively and spatially by expanding and available funding streams through incorporation teams when funding becomes available. Specific reorganizing existing programs to create the best of complementary functions other than athletics, projects are described in the following pages. experience for students, student-athletes, spectators whenever possible. and staff. 301 CHAPTER 4 INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS E LIVINGSTON 2030 NS LAN SUTTO CL IF P RE SC OD LN 3 ROAD 4 ROAD 3 4 HOSPITAL ROAD HOSPITAL ROCKAFELLAR ROAD ROCKAFELLAR KILMER AVE 5 6 13 ROAD 2 KILMER RD 11 2 3 10 D A O R 10 9 8 10 1 METLARS LANE METLARS 7 12 POSTAL PLAZA AVENUE E ROAD 1 STREET 1603 AVENUE E 1 Multi-use facility and integrated parking CEDAR LANE 2 Scarlet Knight Park 3 Rutgers Tennis Complex R O AD 4 Bainton Field / Gruninger Baseball 3 Complex D 5 Rutgers Softball complex R 6 Baseball/Softball Practice Facility E S U O H E R 7 Bauer Track and Field Complex A 8 RAC renovation and expansion W 9 Gathering/event space 10 Major pedestrian path 11 Expanded wetland 12 Hotel and Conference Center 13 Livingston Recreation Center GE RID N B TO NRUTGERSGS 2030 PHYSICAL MASTER PLAN Ι JUNE 18, 2015 302 LIVI CH- BUS N SCALE 1” = 600’ 0 200 400 800 4.6.2 Priorities LIVINGSTON ATHLETICS providing a central location for informal gatherings, as Scarlet Knight Park – The master plan proposes DISTRICT well as staging for athletics competitions and events. a reorganization of the facilities in the northern part of Livingston athletics district. Currently comprised Specific to Athletics, the following projects are of two multi-purpose fields, a softball complex, identified as priorities: The area west of the Livingston academic core, Bainton Field Baseball Complex and Bauer Track bounded by Avenue E to the south, Metlars Lane to Louis Brown Athletic Center (RAC) Multi- & Field/Field Hockey Complex, some of the the west, Suttons Lane to the north and Hospital Road Use Facility and Integrated Parking Facility facilities are partially located in environmentally to the east is the athletics precinct, named the Scarlet – The proposed RAC Multi-Use Facility will satisfy sensitive areas. The new design proposes the Knight Park in the Athletics Master Plan completed program needs for Rutgers basketball program, implementation, over time, of a high quality in 2008. It is home to baseball, softball, field hockey, and other varsity teams currently accommodated practice and competition venues with optimal track and field teams. The Louis Brown Athletic Center, in recreation facilities. The new Multi-Use Facility, orientation for competition, connected by a central also known as the RAC, is home to the men’s and attached to the RAC, will be home to men’s and pedestrian spine and adjacent access from on women’s basketball teams. This park is bordered to women’s basketball, gymnastics, wrestling and Hospital Road. The newly configured complex will the north by large parking lots, and are separated from volleyball. These programs will have state-of- provide a distinctive and unique experience for other activities occurring at the Livingston core. the-art locker rooms, practice venues, strength student athletes, staff and spectators, with close and conditioning and sport medicine suites, proximity to surface parking. Tennis and soccer