Student Recreation Complex debut is a record-setter

Friday’s California State University, Stanislaus Student Recreation Complex Grand Opening drew an audience to the new stadium that put CSU Stanislaus in the national record books.

The attendance of 1,876 during the women's soccer match against UC San Diego is the second-highest in NCAA Division II since the NCAA started keeping track of attendance figures in 1998. Nearly 1,800 people were on hand in the earlier men’s match that the host Warriors won on a goal in the final minute of play.

The Grand Opening celebration included CSU Stanislaus men’s and women’s soccer matches against UC San Diego, tours of the fitness center, food, face painting, and a variety of halftime and between-game entertainment. Associated Students, Inc. hosted a student-body BBQ, and athletes from local junior high schools participated in a 4x100-meter relay.

During an afternoon ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the new Fitness Center next to the stadium, CSU Stanislaus President Ham Shirvani applauded CSU Stanislaus for approving the fee increase in a May 2006 vote that financed the $16.1 million facility.

Proclamations were presented to President Shirvani and student leaders from the cities of Turlock and Modesto, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors, Dennis Cardoza and George Radanovich of the U.S. House of Representatives, and State Senator Dave Cogdill.

The Student Recreation Complex, which opened in late August, also features a 2,300-seat lighted soccer stadium, the Al Brenda all-weather track, and lighted intramural sports fields.

For more on the Warriors’ success in their new stadium, check out the CSU Stanislaus Athletics Web site at http://www.warriorathletics.com/. Additional photos and information are also on the Student Recreation Center Web site at www.csustan.edu/src.