uOttawa News
Media Releases and Announcements
Gee-Gees bring university football to Ottawa’s West End
OTTAWA, August 14, 2012 — Today, the University of Ottawa and Beckwith Township announced that university football is coming to Beckwith Park, which will serve as the Gee-Gees' home field for the 2012 football season.
"The Beckwith Park field and facilities are among the best in Eastern Ontario,” said Luc Gélineau, director of University of Ottawa Sports Services. “More importantly, the community leaders’ enthusiasm for bringing the team to Beckwith has been overwhelming.”
Beckwith Township reeveRichard Kidd echoed the anticipation surrounding the Gee-Gees home schedule announcement. “We are very proud of the Beckwith Park facilities that we are able to provide to our residents. It is very exciting that our field of dreams will be the home of University of Ottawa football for 2012.”
Football fans are invited to a Gee-Gees training camp practice on Monday, August 27 at Beckwith Park. Further partnerships with the local football community will take place as the season progresses, including barbeques at the Gee-Gees games and proceeds from season ticket sales being partially donated to local football programs. “We really want to use this opportunity to promote and grow football in the surrounding communities,” said Gélineau.
Beckwith Park, located just west of Ottawa, normally offers bleacher seating for 400 spectators. Temporary bleacher units will be brought in to provide additional general admission seats, and sideline grass seating will also be available. Free shuttle buses from the uOttawa Minto Sports Complex will be available to fans on game day.
The synthetic turf field built by Beckwith Township in 2009 as an addition to its recreation complex was designed as a football-first venue. As area teams have discovered the field, it has developed a word of mouth reputation as a top-level community sport facility.
The home opener is set for Saturday, September 15, at 1 p.m. The Gee-Gees host the defending Vanier Cup champions, McMaster, kicking off a strong home schedule, which also includes the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, the Waterloo Warriors and the Western Mustangs. A full schedule and ticket information are available at www.geegees.ca.
