BC HIGH ANNOUNCES $2.5M GIFT FROM ALUMNUS JOHN V. MURPHY ’67, P’98 TO BUILD NEW STADIUM AND ATHLETIC FACILITIES
Construction Set to Begin in June 2022 on New Grandstands,
Press Box, Ticketing/Concession Facilities, and Spectator Plaza with Courtyard
Boston, Mass. (March 1, 2022): On Monday morning, at a special “Signing Day” luncheon attended by Boston College High School student-athletes and coaches representing each of the school’s 20 sports teams, BC High President Grace Cotter Regan announced that the school has received a $2.5M gift from alumnus John V. Murphy ’67, P’98 to build a new stadium and athletic facilities on the campus, which will be named Murphy Family Stadium .
Thanks to the Murphy gift, which was presented to more than 50 student-athletes and coaches in Cadigan Hall, the new stadium will feature seating for 1,800 fans, including ADA-compliant ramps and stairs; a new press box with a state-of-the-art sound system; two new buildings to house permanent concession, ticketing, and restroom facilities; and a spectator plaza complete with a courtyard for students and fans to congregate in before and during athletic and school events.
The original facility, named for a local businessman, Anthony Viola, was constructed in 1975. To better serve the next generation of students, alumni, and parents, construction will begin on the new stadium in June 2022 and is projected to be complete by the end of the fall season. James Cotter ’55 Field and Cornelius Keohane ’51 Track, both of which have been renovated within the last five years, and J. Donald Monan, SJ, Park, which was completed in 2015 and is adjacent to the stadium, will remain untouched throughout construction.
“One of the guiding principles of Jesuit education is cura personalis, developing the whole person. Athletics are an important element of that mission. By providing new facilities we will be able to ensure that our students experience the best of BC High,” said John Murphy ’67, P’98. “I am particularly proud to be among three generations of Murphys whose lives were or are still enriched through their student-athlete experiences at BC High – my father, Jerry class of ’35 ; my brothers Jim, class of ‘61 and Rick, class of ’69 ; and my son Chris, class of ’98. I hope Murphy Family Stadium will stand in tribute to them in recognition of their past support of, and achievements in, BC High’s athletic programs.
“We are incredibly grateful for John’s generosity and his enduring commitment to BC High,” said BC High Vice President of Advancement Kelly DeGregorio. “This tremendous gift allows BC High to ensure that our student-athletes and their peers, families, and our community as a whole have the opportunity to enjoy athletic and school events in state-of-the-art facilities that support student wellness and success.”
Building a new stadium and athletic facilities is a primary component of Phase One of the comprehensive Campus Master Plan, announced earlier this month as part of BC High’s Vision 2026 Strategic Plan. Fundraising for the stadium project, which is estimated to be more than $4M is now underway.
“It is important that physical spaces on our campus – and this includes our athletic facilities and playing fields, which are an extension of the classroom and integral to our students’ personal growth and character formation – align with and complement our philosophical approach to teaching, coaching, and learning,” said President Regan. “Watching the joy and excitement on the faces of the BC High students and coaches in the audience today tells me that our new stadium and athletic facilities will have an immediate – and lasting – impact on our school community. John’s investment in the future of BC High will bring together generations of Eagles in a place that reflects the caliber of our storied athletic program, and I could not be more thankful to him and his family.”
Additional details about the construction of the new stadium, including initial stadium renderings, are available on the Campus Master Plan section of the BC High web site.