New baseball program, Sports Center highlight Alfred's $30 million project. What to know

Neal Simon, Hornell Evening Tribune
·4 min read

All systems are go for a major upgrade to Alfred University athletic programs with the recent approval by the school's Board of Trustees of the $30 million Saxon Hill Sports Complex.

Saxon Hill will be built on land atop Jericho Hill, about three miles south of the Allegany County campus.

The complex will include a sports center, a baseball diamond, track and field facilities, a rugby field and dual two-tier press box. More than 400 parking spaces will also be available.

University officials said the project will expand Alfred University’s intercollegiate athletics offerings, while "significantly increasing student enrollment and supporting student retention efforts."

Timeline, financing for Saxon Hill Sports Complex

An artist’s rendering of the baseball press box at Saxon Hill Sports Complex.
An artist’s rendering of the baseball press box at Saxon Hill Sports Complex.

The university said the project will go to bid over the winter, with bids awarded in the spring. Construction will begin soon after and take approximately 16 months.

The architectural firm of Clark, Patterson and Lee (CPL), with architects from the Olean office, provided design services for the project.

“Alfred University is grateful for the support our Board of Trustees and our generous donors have shown for the Saxon Hill Sports Complex,” said Mark Zupan, University president. “Once completed, this project will enhance our intercollegiate athletics and extracurricular offerings and help us attract and retain students.”

Much of the project cost will be supported by philanthropy. Deb Steward, associate vice president for Student Experience, Athletics and Recreation, said the university has met a Board of Trustees requirement of an initial philanthropic investment of $10 million.

“We are grateful for the support of our lead donors who have put us over the threshold which allows us to move forward with the project,” Steward said.

Architectural rendition of the recently approved $30 million Saxon Hill Sports Complex for Alfred University.
Architectural rendition of the recently approved $30 million Saxon Hill Sports Complex for Alfred University.

Athletics Department staff — including coaches and administrators — had input on project details, officials said.

“We are already starting to build energy around the project,” Steward said, noting that coaches are using architectural renderings and project descriptions on recruiting visits.

“This demonstrates to our recruits that athletics is an integral part of Alfred University."

When the complex is in place, the university expects to have fewer early morning and late-night practices for its student athletes. The facility is also expected to bolster Alfred's club and intramural offerings.

More: Student 'fighting for his life' in coma after assault on campus, says Alfred State president

Project will allow Alfred University to add baseball, other offerings

An artist’s rendering of the press box at Saxon Hill Sports Complex, which will serve the rugby field and track.
An artist’s rendering of the press box at Saxon Hill Sports Complex, which will serve the rugby field and track.

Saxon Hill will utilize about 41 acres for the complex. Here's some details on key aspects:

  • Saxon Sports Center: Home and visitor locker rooms; athletic training room; offices; assembly space where alumni, parents and families can gather for tailgate functions; restrooms; media room.

  • Baseball field: Lighted, synthetic turf field with scoreboard; bullpens and dugouts. A two-tier press box will have restrooms, a concession stand, and team room on the first floor; the second floor will include game day operations and public address space, coaches’ offices, and a media/meeting room. The Saxon intercollegiate baseball team will begin play next spring, playing home games at local ballparks until the Saxon Hill field is ready for use for the spring 2026 season.

  • Track and field facilities: Lighted 400-meter eight-lane track with jump and throw areas; video scoreboard. The infield of the track will be a multi-purpose synthetic turf field which will be used as the home to the future intercollegiate field hockey team (anticipated to begin competition in fall 2025) and as a practice facility for football, men’s and women’s lacrosse, and men’s and women’s soccer.

  • Rugby field: Lighted, natural grass field with scoreboard. The women’s rugby team will celebrate its inaugural season as an intercollegiate sport in 2024-25 and the men’s rugby team will also be housed under the athletic department. Currently, both women’s and men’s rugby teams have re-ignited as club teams.

  • Dual two-tier press box: One side faces the track and multi-purpose field, the other faces the rugby field. The first floor will house concessions and restrooms; the second floor will include a press box and VIP suite. Grandstand seating will be available for each venue.

Once completed, Saxon Hill will complement nearby existing sports and recreational facilities located in the area atop Jericho Hill. These include the Bromeley-Daggett Equestrian Center at Maris Cuneo Equine Park, home to Alfred University’s world-class equestrian program, and Foster Lake, which provides the campus community with numerous recreational and co-curricular opportunities.

Alfred University athletics teams compete at the NCAA Division III level.

Follow Neal Simon on Twitter @HornellTribNeal. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Alfred University gives go-ahead for new $30 million sports complex