UMBC Athletic Facilities
THE RETRIEVER ACTIVITIES CENTER
RAC Arena Renovations
The Retriever Activities Center, a 5.6 million dollar addition to the former UMBC Field house, was completed in the fall of 1999. The "RAC" has a large multi-purpose gymnasium, a weight room, fitness studio, cardio balcony, locker rooms, the Matt Skalsky Student-Athlete Lounge, administrative offices, and a beautiful new lobby with ticket booths and a pro shop.
Moreover, the RAC has a large academic center, containing a dozen PC's with Ethernet connections for student-athletes to study in individual or group sessions. It also contains an office complex, with a boardroom and dining facility for UMBC's administrative staff and coaches.
THE RAC ARENA
Originally opened in 1973, the newly-named RAC Arena seats 4,024 for athletic events, and also hosted concerts for such artists as Stain'd, Good Charlotte and Bush over the last several years. The Arena had chair-back seats installed on the lower concourse and two state-of-the-art scoreboards were also added. One scoreboard has graphics display capabilities for showing highlights of the game and other promotional activities. The Arena floor is surrounded by a 1/10-mile running track and also houses the UMBC Athletic Hall of Fame.
The RAC Arena has hosted many prominent sporting events over the years, including an international volleyball match between the USA and Peru, numerous collegiate conference championships, and the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Association Championships in girls' basketball.
ON THE WAY: Several improvements will be made to the RAC Arena over the next three years. Funds have been approved for the addition of a men's/women's basketball and swimming locker room complex, a new training room, new strength and conditioning room and a media center at the east end of the Arena. A new lighting system will be added and the Retriever Club Room, with a skybox effect in relation to the court, will be completely refurbished.
UMBC STADIUM COMPLEX
The UMBC Stadium Complex is one of top facilities in the nation. UMBC Stadium (capacity 4,500) has 90,000 square feet of Deso-Turf (Holland), the safest artificial surface in the world, and it allows UMBC's outdoor teams to practice in all kinds of weather conditions. The men's and women's lacrosse teams and the field hockey team compete in the stadium, and it serves as a back-up playing area for soccer.
Also at the Stadium is UMBC's championship track and field complex, where the 1999 and 2001 NEC Championships were held. The Stadium was originally built in 1976, and lights were added in 1992. It features a locker room complex, complete training facilities, a new scoreboard and public address system, a refurbished press box, and two concession areas.
ON THE WAY to the Stadium Complex is a new locker room complex for the lacrosse teams and an additional concession area.
UMBC SOCCER STADIUM
UMBC Soccer Stadium was completed in the fall of 1998 and its addition gives the soccer teams the ability to practice or play on its lush grass surface. The field has a sprinkler system and is much larger than UMBC's former grass field, stretching 120 yards in length and 70 yards in width. The field, situated adjacent to the Stadium, features a press box, new scoreboard, and concession areas.
ON THE WAY: Funds have been approved to add lights, permanent seating (cap. 2500) and a Bermuda grass playing surface to the UMBC Soccer Stadium.
BASEBALL FACTORY FIELD AT UMBC/SOFTBALL DIAMOND
The baseball program's Alumni Field, located within the Stadium Complex, recently had permanent seating and a press box added behind home plate. The softball diamond, just beyond Alumni Field's right field fence, also had a press box added in 2001.
ON THE WAY: Funds have been approved to add lights, and refurbish the field, dugouts, and warning track areas for Alumni Field.
TENNIS CENTER
Currently, six tennis courts sit adjacent to the Retriever Activities Center.
ON THE WAY: A new, eight-to-nine court facility will replace the current facility. The enclosed center will feature lights and additional spectator seating.
AQUATIC FACILITIES
UMBC has one of the finest aquatic complexes in the Mid-Atlantic region. The indoor pool (Natatorium) was added to the RAC in 1977. It contains an eight-lane, 25-yard pool and separate diving well. Balcony seating is available for 1,000 spectators.
Adjacent to the Natatorium, the Outdoor Pool Complex was completed in 1996. The heated pool remains open from April through October. The complex features a scoreboard with an automatic timing system, deck furniture and a refreshment area. The facility served as the host site of the 1999 Eastern Zone Championships and the 2003 Speedo Champions Series.
