UC Track/Soccer Stadium to Bear Gettler Name

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The University of Cincinnati's renovated track and soccer sports complex has been named Gettler Stadium.

The UC Board of Trustees approved the naming of the facility in recognition of the gift by Ben and Dee Gettler of $1 million to the Richard E. Linder Varsity Village. 

"We are always pleased with somebody speaks well of the university," stated UC athletics director Bob Goin. "We are tremendously impressed when somebody commits resources to his or her alma mater. Ben's generosity enables us to further our efforts to provide the best possible sports venues to our student-athletes—facilities which may be shared with the campus community. His gift will help us satisfy the needs of our soccer and track programs."

Gettler Stadium, which will open in August, features the following:
• official-size soccer field with a new FieldTurf Pro playing surface
• eight-lane 400-meter track with a 10-lane straight-away
• permanent grandstand seating for 1,400
• concessions stands, restrooms and other spectator amenities
• two team rooms
• pressbox

Ben and Dee Gettler have had a long and distinguished history of support for UC, with their generosity touching a diversity of programs. Ben served as a member of the UC Board of Trustees from 1994-2003 and was chair of the Board, 2000-2002.

UC's soccer and track programs have achieved recent success. The men's track team won the Conference USA Outdoor Championships this spring, and David Payne and Chris Wineberg went on to earn All-American honors at the NCAA Track and Field Championships. The men's soccer team won the C-USA regular season title in 2003 and advanced to the NCAA Cup while the women's team was league champions and NCAA Cup participants in 2001 and 2002.