GRANTHAM, Pa. – On Saturday morning, Messiah University announced A Warmer Welcome Campaign to enhance our outdoor athletic facilities at the Starry Athletic Complex. The Campaign is set to include a new concession and hospitality facility that will serve Messiah’s entire outdoor athletic complex, expanded and enhanced new seating for lacrosse and softball fans, and improved dugout areas for the baseball field. The $5.5 million fundraising effort was announced on Homecoming with a reception at Orchard Hill.

Ground is expected to be broken in the Fall of 2023 with an anticipated completion date in the Spring or Summer of 2024. 

At the center of the project is the Stadium East Building that will be located between Anderson and Shoemaker Fields at the site where the flag court currently stands. The two-story build will feature a concession area, restrooms, a community space for indoor tailgating events, and much-needed locker rooms for home and visiting teams. Dedicated spaces for game officials and athletic training staff will also be included. The building will be accessible on both levels, with entrances on the Anderson Field side as well as the field-level of Shoemaker Field. Renderings of the Stadium East Building and the blueprints for both floors are included in the photo slideshow below.

At the Lacrosse Turf, additional seating and a press box will replace the current movable bleachers on the west-side of the field. These permanent bleachers will be just a short walk down the path from the Stadium East Building with restrooms, concessions, and tailgating space. Renderings of the new lacrosse seating and press box are included in the photo slideshow below.

Also included in the project will be additional seating for the Softball Field and improved dugouts at the Baseball Field. Both the softball and baseball elements of this project will have final renderings released in the coming months.

Why This Project? Why Now?

In short, as a University with 35 NCAA Division III championships, the caliber of our current facilities does not reflect the caliber of the remarkable accomplishments and success of Messiah Athletics and falls short of Messiah’s commitment to outstanding campus hospitality. Addressing this challenge and enhancing our athletic facilities and hospitality will greatly complement our ongoing efforts to promote institutional pride and spirit within our entire Falcon community—and to recruit student athletes to Messiah University during campus tours, summer camps and individual athlete visits.

How Your Support Can Help

Be part of the Messiah team of alumni, parents and friends that is providing support for a welcoming atmosphere for our athletes, students, fans and campus visitors. We are currently working to raise $5.5 million to fund this much-needed project and ask for your help in continuing the Messiah Athletics legacy of “Pursuing athletic excellence. Developing Christian character.”

More Information and to Support

• To learn more or to give online, visit messiah.edu/warmerwelcome or GoMessiah.com/warmerwelcome.
• To discuss naming opportunities for this project, contact John Zeigler at 717-796-1800 ext. 7282 or jzeigler@messiah.edu.