Rain, Rain, Go Away...

Even though the rain refused to cease, the Loyola faithful were not deterred and came out in droves to the grand opening of Ridley Athletic Complex. A sellout crowd of 6,000+ showed their support as they trudged through the rain to watch Loyola take on Duke Saturday. And even though the Greyhounds lost 8-5, they racked up a number of firsts: First Goal- Loyola (Finnerty); First Faceoff Win- Loyola (Schiavone) and First Sold-out Home Game at Ridley Athletic Complex- and sure not to be the last for decades to come.

Pictures of the day from Greyhounds' website

Raves for Ridley

Loyola University celebrated the grand opening of the new $62 million Ridley Athletic Complex Saturday.  Team Terry planned to be there for the ribbon-cutting and lacrosse match against Duke, but two thirds of the delegation were sidelined by a flooded basement and leaking roof.  It was left to Tweety to carry the standard for the Merry Marketeers.  She joined another 6,000 soaked souls for the festivities at the top of Television Hill.

We've only heard reports and seen pictures of the impressive complex, so we are eager to get Tweety's first person account.  As soon as she dries out, she's going to recount the activities of the day and the enthusiasm expressed by the University and community for this new facility.

We want to give a special shout out to Loyola and their athletic department for all the support given OSM when the World Cup bid first emerged.  Loyola was among the first to step up with the offer to participate as a host venue, even though their complex was not yet finished.  Their steadfast support was certainly a significant factor in our winning the bid.

Although the outcome of the game against Duke was disappointing and the weather was ghastly, nothing could dampen the spirit of the day.


This complex has been about 15 years (and countless community meetings) in planning and development, so we can understand the tremendous pride the school feels in bringing it to fruition.  It is not just a credit to the University, but also an iconic venue that will be part of Maryland's sports heritage for many years to come.