Aug. 6, 2009

PHILADELPHIA - Home to Saint Joseph's men's and women's track and field squads, the track at Finnesey Field is currently being renovated and resurfaced for the upcoming school year. The track is undergoing a face lift; replacing the removal of the old, rubber surface and adding a new rubberized track that is better suited for all-season use by SJU student-athletes.

GALLERY

Originally constructed for football and opened in 1929 with plans for an eventual 70,000-seat stadium, the field has undergone numerous changes over the years.

In 1960, both the original grandstand and hillside seating were eliminated for the construction of Villiger (now Post) Hall/Bluett Theater. That construction necessitated raising the field's level some five feet above its earlier location. In 1990 the facility's usage was greatly expanded with the installation of artificial turf. That expansion continued in 1994 when lights were added.

Bleachers were built into the hill closest to Barbelin Hall during the summer of 2003. In addition to the track and field team, Finnesey Field is currently the home of SJU men's and women's soccer and both men's and women's lacrosse.

Previously, it played host to the football, baseball and softball teams.