Reviewed by: Lacey Spear
New soccer field expansion opens in time for AHSAA championships
City officials cut the ribbon Tuesday signifying the opening of the new Loretta P. Spencer Complex at John Hunt Park. The complex, named after former mayor Loretta Spencer is open just in time for Huntsville to host the AHSAA soccer championships.
The dedication was approved last year.
About the new soccer/sports complex
The $12 million, 20-acre championship-caliber sports facility will be used for all multipurpose field sports – soccer, lacrosse, ultimate Frisbee and more.
Two of the fields are synthetic turf and two are natural grass, which Gossett says complements the eight synthetic turf fields at nearby Merrimack Sports Complex. Here are few details about the newly-expanded Loretta P. Spencer Complex:
- Four championship multi-use fields
- NCAA-approved lighting
- Digital scoreboards
- Two press boxes
- Locker rooms
- Sound systems
- Plaza areas with shade sails and picnic facilities
- Expanded parking and stadium seating to accommodate up to 5,000 sports fans
“The whole premise of John Hunt Park is that we create world-class sports facilities to serve both championship-level tournaments and our residents. We already have sports teams in Huntsville signing up to play at the Loretta P. Spencer Sports Complex, and we look forward to having them enjoy these beautiful fields.”
Mayor Tommy Battle
Honoring Spencer at John Hunt Park
Spencer served as Huntsville’s mayor from 1996 to 2008, and it’s fitting that her tribute have something to do with sports. The Huntsville Sports Commission was established during her tenure.
“Forming the Sports Commission is one of the accomplishments I am proudest of. Constructing the fields was critical in allowing us to recruit our first state soccer tournament to Huntsville. The Commission has continued to work diligently to bring outside dollars into our community and put us on the map in the sports tourism industry.”
Former Huntsville mayor Loretta Spencer
Spencer began a master planning process to convert the City’s old airport into John Hunt Park, established the Huntsville Sports Commission and successfully recruited the first Alabama High School Athletic Association State Soccer Championship to Huntsville in 2001.
When Huntsville first landed the AHSAA State Soccer Championship 22 years ago, wrestling it away from a long run in Montgomery, the soccer complex at the old airport consisted of two mediocre fields and modest bleachers surrounded by an 8-foot chain link fence.
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