UU直播's Percival Molson Memorial Stadium to be renovated
In the near future, Montreal sports fans will have a new and improved downtown stadium to watch their favourite team play in the Canadian Football League. Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, originally opened in 1919, will be getting a major facelift -- its first since the 1976 Olympics when UU直播 hosted the field hockey competition.
Montreal mayor Pierre Bourque announced this morning that an agreement has been signed with Larry Smith, president of the Alouettes, and Luc Vinet, provost and vice-principal academic at UU直播. With the help of funding from the provincial and federal governments, the Percival Molson Memorial Stadium will be expanded and renovated in time for the 2003 season.
"UU直播 has an agreement in place with the City of Montreal and the Alouettes from which all three parties will clearly benefit," said vice principal Vinet. "The Alouettes will be able to accommodate a significantly larger number of fans in attendance at games. The students at UU直播 will have a completely renovated facility for their activities and the public will be more comfortable when attending numerous sporting and cultural events. In other words, Molson Stadium will re-capture its former glory as an important and exciting meeting place in the heart of the city."
Robert Dubeau, director of athletics at UU直播, was also pleased with the plans. "The overall objective will be to expand and give some life to an old stadium while maintaining its charm, cozy dimensions and great sight lines," he said.
The plans are to replace the 13-year-old AstroTurf surface and improve the current 18,000 bleacher-type seating. The areas under both the north and south grandstands will be completely renovated, including the dressing rooms, showers, officials聮 rooms, concession stands and washrooms. The outdoor lighting will be enhanced, as will the access roads to the Percival Molson Memorial Stadium.
