General | 12/10/2018 3:08:00 PM

 
MONTREAL -- Serving the McGill community since 1939, the McGill Athletics Complex currently welcomes over 3,600 visitors daily. Its diverse offering of facilities, including a double gymnasium, pool, fieldhouse (with an indoor track and tennis courts), squash courts, fitness centre, six activity rooms, four outdoor tennis courts and three outdoor fields (including Percival Molson Stadium), accommodates thriving varsity, intramural and recreational programs designed to enhance the McGill experience.
 
The facility opens before the crack of dawn and closes well after sunset. Its  busy 12-month schedule of events and activities facilitates the needs of everyone from toddlers and students to Olympians.
 
Two examples of recent facility improvement projects are the creation of new private workout pods and support of a City of Montreal project to transform Rutherford Park into a modern facility where McGillians can toss a frisbee, play a game of intramural soccer, or enjoy a picnic lunch on a beautiful fall day.
 
Other areas that have benefited from significant enhancements include:
 

• Forbes Field, a favourite hangout of intramural athletes (soccer, spikeball, ultimate disc and flag football) and residents of Upper Residence, now has new turf and improved landscaping.The outdoor tennis courts also have a new playing surface and two basketball nets were installed for hoops lovers.
• The Macdonald Campus features a newly-installed an outdoor gym, sand volleyball court and "Paddle Mac" – a recreational paddling centre that rents out kayaks, canoes and paddle boards, the only one of its kind on a Canadian university campus.

While Athletics & Recreation continually looks to upgrade its facilities, ongoing maintenance is important.  Currently the unit spends $1.5 million per year on repairs, maintenance, cleaning and upgrades to help ensure that facilities meet the needs of its clientele. 
 
The student body has recognized the importance of facility expansion and improvement through their repeated support of the Athletics Facility Improvement Fee. McGill University has understood the importance of this investment, and has continued to match the students' financial commitment. 

"By having a well-defined strategy to maintain and enhance our sporting facilities, we make sure they remain attractive, safe and inclusive for the McGill community to practice sports and physical activity," said Marc Gélinas, Executive Director of Athletics & Recreation at the university. 
 
"Our facilities also serve as a gathering place for the broader McGill community and a valuable investment in building community pride.''
 
 
Plans to improve McGill's athletics facilities for the next generation of students, athletes, and community members:

• Upgrading the men and women's locker rooms
• Modernizing the ventilation and ice-making systems at McConnell Arena
• Resurfacing the track and multi-purpose courts in the Tomlinson Fieldhouse
• Creating a second lounge for students to study, relax and socialize
• Adding much-needed air conditioning to the gyms and fieldhouse
• Renovating the Macdonald Campus Fitness Centre and Studio including air-conditioning, new flooring and structural improvements
• Repurposing the remaining two Macdonald Campus outdoor tennis courts into multi-purpose courts for ball hockey and fitness classes

 
 
McGill Athletics Complex – by the numbers

• 4,000 intramural participants competing in 10 sports
• 700 participants in our lunchtime staff fitness program
• 11,000 McGill students are members of the Fitness Centre
• 120+ home varsity games
• 21,600 fans attending our games in 2017-2018
• 50+ special events, including everything from charity gatherings to film shoots
• 1,700 participants in our recreational program
• 1,200 kids participate in our McGill sports summer camp