Benet Academy Stadium Modernization: Bringing the Tradition Back Home
Significant Upgrade from Current Conditions:
Benet Academy began operating as a high school in 1956, and the current stadium and athletic fields are essentially relics of that era. The current conditions are inconsistent with the considerable improvements made to Benedictine University and numerous other local schools over the decades. Renewing the property with a new stadium will significantly improve campus life.
The Specific Improvements:
The proposed site plan for the multi-phased improvement of the stadium and athletic fields has been thoughtfully designed. Benet will use building materials that maintain an appealing visual aesthetic along Maple Avenue.
This preexisting portion of campus, which dates back to the 1960s, will be improved from its current condition. The renewed stadium will deploy modern technologies for lighting, sound systems, and playing surfaces.
To ensure the investment is designed and built to benefit future generations of Redwings and the community, numerous studies and technical reviews have been completed by experts and submitted to the Village of Lisle. The modernization of the stadium and athletic fields to current standards is a significant improvement compared to the current conditions, which are inconsistent with peer facilities across the region.
Hosting Sporting Events on Campus Improves Safety & The Student Experience: As result of current conditions, for more than 20 years, Benet has been undertaking a series of workarounds, including hosting some “home” competitions off campus at rented facilities across DuPage County. Improving the campus so that Benet can host all its athletic competitions on the school’s property reduces these safety risks and is consistent with the historic operations of the campus. It is atypical to have to host events off-property. As a result of being off-campus, fans, teachers, friends and families may be unable to stop by events and show their support for students as they compete throughout the season.
Traveling for “Home Games” Takes Time & Detracts From Academics: For sports that cannot be hosted at home, Benet student athletes spend their entire season “on the road.” The increased travel times for all competitions takes away from the opportunities for student athletes to focus on their academic performance.
Crossing Maple Avenue For Games at Benedictine University: Some competitions that cannot be hosted on campus are played at neighboring Benedictine University when facilities are available for rent by Benet. This arrangement requires student-athletes, marching bands, cheerleaders, and others to walk across Maple Avenue, disrupting traffic and creating a safety risk. However, Benet is not a party or signatory to the agreement between the Village of Lisle and Benedictine University. Benet does not have rights or preferences to use facilities at Benedictine’s Sport Complex and some requests cannot be accommodated by the University due to scheduling conflicts.
Technical & Expert Reviews and Studies Submitted to Lisle: To ensure that the improvements are constructed in accordance with all applicable rules, regulations, and ordinances, numerous studies and technical documents have been completed by experts and submitted to the Village of Lisle for review, including review by the Village’s third-party consultants. These studies are public and part of the information available to the public as part of Lisle’s Planning & Zoning Commission review and Village Board consideration of the proposal.