This summer, Marcial Field, better known on campus as “the Bowl,” got a long-awaited second life. Home to Blair’s lacrosse and field hockey teams in the 1980s and 1990s, the field continued to see regular use through the late 2010s before divots and years of wear and tear gradually made it more difficult for athletes to play on safely. Over time, Blair’s teams migrated to other fields, and the Bowl quietly slipped out of regular use for athletics. Now, after being regraded and transformed with a FieldTurf surface, it’s ready to welcome Buccaneers back.
Director of Athletics Paul Clavel ’88 explains that the idea to resurface the Bowl began with the desire to bring energy back to that part of campus. A proud member of the Class of 1988, he remembers the afternoons when students and parents gathered on the hillsides, stretching out blankets and grabbing a snack to watch games. “Soon, they’ll be able to do that again,” he says.
The move to turf also supports a broader trend in national athletics. “At the college level,” Mr. Clavel explains, “we’re seeing a preference for turf in lacrosse and field hockey, especially. When the ball hits the ground on a turf field, it rolls true,” he says. “That’s why most field hockey competition now takes place on turf.”
With the new surface, Blair’s field hockey and lacrosse teams will have a new home. Should it be needed, “It’ll be large enough for soccer games as well,” notes Mr. Clavel. The new turf field joins Hampshire Field and Blair’s premier natural-grass soccer field, Underwood, along with several lower-level grass fields.
The Bowl’s central location on campus makes it an easy place for students to stop by and cheer their friends on in games. Flanked by Mason, Freeman and Annie Halls, the field is adjacent to the inviting outdoor patio at the Center for Health and Well-Being. A new courtyard with a firepit between Mason and Freeman further enhances the space, which is designed to bring the community together. Students will once again be able to meet up with friends and take in the action from the sides. “It’s the perfect place to watch games,” Mr. Clavel says.
Importantly, while the playing field is now expanded and level, the Bowl itself retains its signature shape. The tree-lined hillsides will continue to provide an excellent vantage point for spectators and, as Director of Facilities Dave Schmitt confirms, “The Soap Slide will still be held in the Bowl!”
The renovations to the Bowl join a series of other campus improvements. Alongside the field, Phase II of renovations to Mason and Freeman dorms took place this summer. Built in 1966, the dorms received exterior renovations last year, including new windows, bathrooms and modernized facades of limestone, stone and brick. This summer, the work continued inside. Drop ceilings have been replaced with sheetrock, all new trim, warm wood accents and bright lighting. With complementary decor, the two dorms have preserved all the best parts of the original structure–the open floor plan and central atrium that naturally bring students together.
Another project completed this summer was the first floor of Hoffman House’s conversion into a residential dormitory, just in time to welcome a new class of students. The site of Blair’s former Health Center now features eight new dorm rooms and a faculty apartment.
To Mr. Clavel, who lived in Mason as a dorm head in the early 2000s, these are welcome changes. “Oh, who can forget that cinder block,” he laughs, recalling the look and feel of Mason Hall. But, beyond the cosmetic improvements, he sees projects like these as a balance between honoring the traditions that define Blair and improving spaces for today’s students. “We always think about balancing tradition while trying to move our facilities forward,” Mr. Clavel notes. “I’m grateful for the people who have supported this project and always keeping the needs of all of our teams in mind.” And, with the Bowl back in use, one of campus’ most recognizable spaces is once again at the center of student life.
If you would like to support the Mason, Freeman and Bowl renovation or contribute to the continued growth of Blair’s facilities and programs, please contact Chief Advancement Officer Craig Hall at (908) 362-2032 or hallc@blair.edu.