CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The public is invited to celebrate the grand opening of the new Queens University of Charlotte Sports Complex Saturday, Sept. 26, 1:30-6:30. The complex is at Marion Diehl Park, 2229 Tyvola Road.
The 65-acre facility was created through an unusual public-private partnership. Queens is working with the Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation to manage the site.
“We are thrilled to have such a wonderful facility for our great Royals teams, and also to be able to share it with the community,” said Jeannie King, director of athletics. “It's a beautiful place in which to showcase our athletes' talents.”
The complex includes a field house with a press box and a welcome center. The field house has training rooms and locker rooms for men's and women's teams. The welcome center is home to Royals athletics staff offices and has meeting spaces and a catering kitchen.
The competition soccer and lacrosse field is made of synthetic field turf. Queens leases the field to athletic teams in the community and spaces in the Welcome Center also is available for rental for meetings and special events including wedding receptions.
The second phase of the sports complex build out will feature a tennis center, grandstand, baseball field and softball field.
Saturday's grand opening celebration will be family friendly, with a carnival games area. Queens' soccer teams will play home games against Limestone College at 2 p.m. (women) and 4:30 p.m. (men.)
Parking at the complex will be limited, so visitors are encouraged to park on Queens' main campus and take the free shuttle over. The shuttle pick up will be at the clock tower on Roswell Avenue.
The Royals Athletics homepage is http://www.queensathletics.com/.
Some recent Royals athletics highlights:
Spring 2009
Two National Champions
Three All-Americans
One NCAA Team Appearance
Two NCAA Individual Appearances
Southeast Region Men's Track Athlete of the Year
Southeast Region Women's Track Athlete of the Year
Two Women's Softball NCAA Southeast Regional All-Tournament Team Selections
One Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II Southeast Region Team Selection
One Women's Lacrosse Coach's Association (IWLCA) South Region Team Selection
Men's Lacrosse Conference Co-Champions
Women's Golf Conference Coach of the Year
Men's Tennis Freshman of the Year
One Conference Player of the Year
24 All-Conference Selections
11 All-Tournament Team Selections
One Conference Tournament MVP
Six Conference Players of the Week
Winter 2008
One National Champion
One All-American
Two Individual NCAA Appearances
Southeast Region Men's Runner of the Year
Southeast Region Women's Runner of the Year
Southeast Region Men's Track Coach of the Year
One ESPN the Magazine Academic All-Region
Men's Basketball Freshman of the Year
One All-Conference Selection
Two Conference Players of the Week
Fall 2008
One All-American
One NCAA Team Appearance
One NCAA Individual Appearance
Southeast Region Men's Cross Country Champions
Southeast Region Male Runner and Coach of the Year
Four All-Region Male Cross Country Runners
One All-Region Female Cross Country Runner
Women's Soccer Regular Season Co-Champions
Women's Soccer Conference Coach of the Year
Two ESPN the Magazine Academic Awards
One NSCCIA All-State Member
Four Conference Players of the Week
Seven All-Conference Selections
Two All-Tournament Selections
