Boston University

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Nickerson Field 100-Year Celebration (Sept. 2015)

Most recently upgraded in July 2022, the surface at Nickerson Field is Geosurfaces GreenFields Ironturf with 2-inch rubber and sand infill. The blended system features woven, monofilament diamond fibers and isotropic XP slit film fibers, creating the most durable turf ever tested. A Brock SP-17 sports pad was placed underneath the turf to aid in increasing player safety to ranges found in natural grass surfaces. 
 
The surrounding four-lane track has been resurfaced and new netting has been installed in addition to landscape turf adjacent to the field to add additional training space. 

In 2016, a new 22.75 x 39.5 feet Daktronics 13 HD video board was installed, featuring a virtual customizable stat bar, and was valued at more than half a million dollars. 

Nickerson Field is a 9,871 seat, FIFA-approved facility. It has played host to the 2006 NCAA Women's Lacrosse Tournament, the Terriers' 2008 NCAA men's soccer first-round victory over Fairleigh Dickinson and three NCAA women's soccer first round games with the last one taking place in 2014. It also hosts the annual BU commencement ceremony.

Nickerson Field is a stadium rich in the tradition of Boston sports history. Once the home of the Boston Braves National League baseball club and the site where Babe Ruth signed his last professional contract, it was purchased by the University on July 29, 1953.

The site, on Harry Agganis Way just north of busy Commonwealth Avenue, has undergone sweeping modifications over the last 60 years. The stadium owes its present layout largely to the birth of the Boston Patriots of the infant American Football League. Orphans before they played their first game, the Patriots joined with the University and completely reconstructed the stadium at a cost of over $300,000.

Additional seating and lights were obtained, new sod put down and a modern press box added. The Patriots, here for three seasons, played the first American Football League game in history on Friday night, September 9, 1960 against the Denver Broncos.

Nickerson Field was also the site of another first in professional football in 1983, as the Boston Breakers played their home games here during the initial season of the United States Football League. Other sports franchises that have called Nickerson home include the Boston Breakers of the WUSA from 2001-03 and the Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse from 2004-06.

Originally providing a grass surface for the Boston Braves, Nickerson Field was one of the first collegiate facilities in 1968 to utilize Astroturf and then in 2001 had the distinction of becoming the first FIFA-certified field in the world with a modern infill-artificial turf. Fourteen years later, BU made the next advancement by changing the existing synthetic turf with GreenFields MX Trimension, utilizing a patented weaving technology.

After becoming just the second facility in the U.S. to utilize GreenFields MX Trimension, Nickerson Field underwent extensive testing to become one of 10 artificial fields in the U.S. to earn FIFA 2 Star certification. The honor is the highest one available around the world and is only given to fields that ensure the highest playing performance for professional-level soccer.

Other recent upgrades include renovations of the Kennel Club, which includes a team meeting room and a reception area that is utilized by family and friends before, during and after games. A throwing wall was also added next to the playing field to provide an extra practice space for the lacrosse teams.