Football

��Ƶ Breaks Ground on First On-Campus Football Field

msk23@calvin.edu — Thu, 22 May 2025 13:39:51 +0000

��Ƶ Breaks Ground on First On-Campus Football Field msk23@calvin.edu Thu, 05/22/2025 - 09:39

��Ƶ has officially broken ground on its first-ever on-campus football and lacrosse field, marking a major milestone in the continued development of its football and lacrosse programs and enhancing the overall student experience. The multi-phase project would ultimately result in a full stadium, with each phase beginning only after full funding is secured. Phase One construction is now underway, made possible by the generous support of Calvin donors.

“This is a major step forward for our university,” said Greg Elzinga, president of ��Ƶ. “Bringing football to campus and enhancing lacrosse is about much more than just building a field—it’s about building community. The energy, tradition, and spirit that come with having home games on campus will benefit every student, every fan, and the entire Calvin experience.”

Phase One: Field Construction Begins

Phase One establishes the new lighted turf field that will be used for practice and sets the foundation for the stadium’s future. The field will feature:

AstroTurf turf, lined for football and men’s and women’s lacrosse
Musco LED lighting for high-impact visibility
Backstop netting (40’ x 40’ behind goal posts; 20’ along the remainder of the end zone) for both football and lacrosse
Scoreboard and play clocks to support practice and drills—destined to become a secondary scoreboard in later phases
Maintenance and emergency vehicle access via a dedicated pathway

"This field is the beginning of something transformational,” said Jim Timmer, director of athletics. “It's not just a place to practice—it’s the start of a long-term vision that reflects our commitment to excellence in athletics, facilities, and student experience. Every piece is intentionally planned, and we’re excited to share what’s next.”

While the turf field is being used for practices during the 2025 season, Calvin will play its home games in the newly opened on-campus soccer stadium, which will be temporarily configured to host football games. This keeps the program embedded in campus life while Phase Two is developed.

Phase Two: Game Day Comes to Campus

With fundraising efforts now underway, Phase Two will bring the game-day atmosphere to life, including:

Seating for approximately 3,500 spectators, including 540 chairback seats and 520 visiting team seats
An upper concourse with standing room overlooking the field and a lower concourse behind the south end zone
Press box space for home/visiting coaches, media, A/V, and game management
Full perimeter fencing and continued access for emergency/maintenance vehicles

“We’re creating a home-field atmosphere that recruits will want to play in, students will love to cheer from, and alumni will be proud of,” said Trent Figg, head football coach. “It’s more than football—it’s about building champions on and off the field, and this facility helps us do that.”

Future Phases: Building for the Long Term

While Phases One and Two bring immediate transformation, future phases of the project include:

Additional restrooms and fan amenities
A multipurpose space for team meetings and hospitality
Locker rooms for officials
A ticket booth, concessions, and storage areas

Each phase will be funded before construction begins, ensuring the university builds sustainably and responsibly.

“Every shovel in the ground represents a step toward a future where football is fully woven into the Calvin campus experience,” said Timmer. “We’re grateful to our donors, excited for our students, and looking forward to welcoming the community to our field very soon.”

Thu, 05/22/2025 - 12:00

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New Traditions and Spaces Highlight Homecoming & Family Weekend

msk23@calvin.edu — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 19:14:27 +0000

New Traditions and Spaces Highlight Homecoming & Family Weekend msk23@calvin.edu Tue, 10/01/2024 - 15:14

On Friday, October 4 and Saturday, October 5, ��Ƶ welcomes alumni, families, and the broader community to its Grand Rapids campus for Homecoming & Family Weekend.

The weekend is full of familiar traditions like the Calvin Classic 5K & Youth Run, the Fall Music Festival, and the Grand Prix Bed Races. And this year, Calvin is set to kick off some new traditions, including the university’s first-ever Homecoming football game.

“We are excited to celebrate longstanding traditions at Calvin, while welcoming in a new hallmark staple of our future homecoming celebrations,” said Jeff Haverdink, executive director of alumni & family engagement. “We are beginning a whole new chapter of what it looks like to celebrate homecoming at Calvin, and we are excited to give our alums yet another reason to come back to campus to see all of the exciting things happening here.”

Calvin has quite the lineup of events planned. On Friday, guests can enjoy the Grand Prix Bed Races, a cookout on the lawn outside Knollcrest Dining Hall, the Calvin Music Festival, and the first-ever cornhole tournament with $1,500 in cash prizes.

Saturday’s festivities include the Calvin Classic 5K & Youth Run, the inaugural homecoming football game, and a soccer doubleheader which includes the dedication of the new stadium. An on-campus farmer’s market and improv show round out the weekend festivities.

While the lineup of activities is impressive, what many guests will discover as they move around campus are the new spaces that have opened up in the past year, including the first phase of Commons Union, the new state-of-the-art soccer stadium, and the brand new track & field complex located on the far east side of campus, to name a few.

“If you haven’t been back to Calvin for a few months, you’ll want to come check out the campus and all the new and reimagined spaces,” said Haverdink. “The weather is looking great and I’m not sure there’s a better time of year to take in the beauty of our campus.”

Check out the full schedule of events at calvin.edu/homecoming.

Tue, 10/01/2024 - 12:00

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Football Team Awestruck By Locker Room Reveal

msk23@calvin.edu — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 01:00:56 +0000

Football Team Awestruck By Locker Room Reveal msk23@calvin.edu Tue, 08/13/2024 - 21:00

“Woah!”

“I like this. I like this.”

“Where’s my name?”

Great Anticipation

On Tuesday, August 13, 2024, dozens and dozens of football players rushed through the doors in great anticipation.

“Today, we woke up and it was like Christmas morning,” said Trent Figg, Calvin’s head football coach.

The gift the football team was taking all in had been delivered … and just on time.

“I think just this morning we got the occupancy permit,” said Jim Timmer, director of athletics at ��Ƶ.

The players of the inaugural ��Ƶ football team were taking in their new home.

“Let’s go baby, let’s go!”

“This is insane.”

Exceeding Expectations

The joyful and jaw-dropping expressions seen and heard from the players as they filed in clearly communicated they were not left wanting.

It's unreal,” said Winton Napier, a freshman offensive lineman from Twin Lake, Michigan (Whitehall High School). “This is incredible. Everything about this is top tier.”

“This blows me away, the way it came together with the graphics, the colors. We have great lighting and with the dark ceiling up there it gives it this really cool modern look,” said Paul VanderPloeg, a junior defensive back from Hudsonville, Michigan (Unity Christian High School). “I was blown away as soon as I entered the doors. Just so epic, and so intentional too.”

“This locker room is from a facilities standpoint as nice as you’ll find. Calvin has provided an incredible place for our players, for our student-athletes to call home,” said Figg.

Building Champions

“When Trent arrived on campus the energy that was already here for football increased ten-fold,” said Timmer. “I don’t think you put up a building like this without some confidence of where we are going at with the program.”

And the direction is clear: build champions.

“It says Champions really big on the wall,” said Figg. “In our program, we talk about being champions for life. When our kids graduate, we want them to walk out of our doors prepared to be a champion for the rest of their life. We talk about that in four areas, we talk about that on the field, in the classroom, in the community, and champions of their faith. We firmly believe that’s what it takes to build a well-rounded champion, and then you can talk about championships once you build individual champions.”

The inaugural football team will begin practicing on Thursday, which is 23 days from their Saturday, September 7 home opener against Oberlin College.

“We have 112 players that all reported to campus today. And I don’t know if I’ve ever been more excited for a fall camp,” said Figg.

Tue, 08/13/2024 - 12:00

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Football

������Ƶ Breaks Ground on First On-Campus Football Field

Phase One: Field Construction Begins

Phase Two: Game Day Comes to Campus

Future Phases: Building for the Long Term

New Traditions and Spaces Highlight Homecoming & Family Weekend

Football Team Awestruck By Locker Room Reveal

Great Anticipation

Exceeding Expectations

Building Champions

��Ƶ Breaks Ground on First On-Campus Football Field