Thanks to generous donations from Queen’s alumni, the university is set to build a new two-story Pavilion for Richardson Stadium that will provide enhanced amenities for student-athletes, coaches, alumni, spectators, and community members. This new addition will be the final piece of a redevelopment project to rejuvenate the stadium that started in 2016.
Queen’s announced and celebrated the gifts behind the project during an online event on April 15. More than 300 donors contributed over $11 million to make the Pavilion possible, with the lead gift coming from Stu, Sc’74, and Kim Lang, Artsci’76.
“This is a special day that has been several years in the making. Both Kim and I are so proud to be able to attend this announcement and to help see this amazing vision through to its conclusion,” said Stu Lang, a former Canadian Football League player who also played for the Gaels as an undergraduate at Queen’s. “However, we are only two of more than 300 donors and alumni who have come together, like a great sports team with a common goal. I think I can safely speak on behalf of all past and present football Gaels when I say that this Pavilion will be a point of pride for Queen’s University, and something that brings all of us together as a community.”
Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane also thanked alumni and donors for helping to further boost Richardson Stadium’s reputation as one of the top university stadiums in the country.
“We are proud that our donors and alumni came together – especially at a time when the global pandemic was keeping us all apart – to complete such an important project,” said Principal Deane during the April 15 online announcement. “The Pavilion is the final piece in the creation of a stadium experience that will position Queen’s as a premier destination for student-athletes and fans alike.”
Queen’s Vice-Principal (Advancement) Karen Bertrand, Artsci’94, feels the Pavilion announcement is great news as sports has a way of bringing the community together.
“We are grateful for the vision, leadership and generosity of Stu and Kim Lang, the Red Banner Society Committee, and all the alumni, teams, and community members that have contributed to the Pavilion,” said Bertrand. “It will be a place where, at long last, we will be able to gather together again and cheer on our student-athletes. Until that day, we know the Pavilion will be filled with the spirit of Queen’s.”
The addition of the Pavilion, expected to be completed in the spring of 2023, will provide coaches and athletes with modern preparation spaces as well as athletic therapy and hydrotherapy facilities. It will also create a new team locker room for football that has direct field access.
The new facilities will enable more varsity teams, especially women’s teams, to use Richardson Stadium and help athletics programs attract and retain top student-athletes.
The upgraded amenities will also include dedicated game-day gathering spaces for alumni and alumni events. For spectators, the Pavilion will connect the entire stadium at the concourse level and provide the permanent home of the Gaels Club, which will offer concessions as well as an elevated viewing area. It will also create a new prominent entrance that will serve as the gateway to the stadium.
The continued philanthropic support of the alumni community is a very special reason why Queen’s has outstanding university athletics facilities,” says Leslie Dal Cin, Executive Director, Athletics and Recreation. “I want to thank all our donors for inspiring our student-athletes, providing them with fantastic training and competition environments and the support and resources necessary to perform at their best on the field of play, in the classroom and in their post-university professional careers – the impact is very much a difference maker.”
Kingston community members will benefit as well, as the Pavilion will provide increased access to Richardson Stadium for participants in programs such as the Junior Gaels. The Junior Gaels encourages youth in the Kingston area to excel in both academics and athletics by connecting them with Queen’s student-athletes who serve as mentors for youth in a variety of sports, including soccer, football, and volleyball.
This story originally appeared in the Queen’s Gazette.
