The University of Tampa lacrosse team will play its first match on the Naimoli Family Athletic and Intramural Complex following its dedication on Friday.
The dedication will begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by a speech from President Vaughn and other community leaders.
Vince Naimoli, along with other special guests, will be honored with an on-field dedication.
The former owner of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays was the lead donor to the new field.As a business leader, philanthropist, and entrepreneur, Naimoli has been honored with various awards from the bay area including the first Bridging the Bay Award in 1996. Naimoli was also honored with another dedication of a baseball complex from his alma mater, Farleigh Dickerson University.
The new field will support UTs intramural program and the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams and soccer teams. The stadium seats almost 2, 000 spectators and the interior incorporate team meeting rooms, concessions, and media and guest boxes.
The front plaza features open green spaces for tailgating, 200 parking spaces and a ticket booth.
The synthetic playing surface of the 90,000 square-foot field allows students to use the field year-round. The field is lined to accommodate different sports and can be converted to three vertical fields for practices.
The complex also features a one-acre park to the west of the field.
The dedication will begin at 7:25 p.m. on Friday followed by UT’s men’s lacrosse game against Rollins College.
The game and the dedication will be free and open to the public.
Victoria Cirello can be reached at victoria.cirello@spartans.ut.edu