The largest crowd ever assembled at Shea Stadium to watch a soccer game turned out on Tuesday night to see the Chicago Fire beat the Columbus Crew 3-2. The game, a qualifying round for the 2008 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup game, was presented by The Butcher Block at Junction City. Both the Chicago Fire and Columbus are in the MLS Eastern Conference.

How wonderful that our beautiful soccer facility could be used to host this exciting game and that so many central Illinois fans got a chance to see professional soccer played right here at Bradley! While the photographer was airborne, he also got some great shots of all the construction taking place on campus. The photo above shows the excavation work being done in preparation for construction of the Men’s Basketball Practice Facility and the Athletic Performance Center. The structure to the right of that is the new parking deck. On the left side of the photo the new Markin Family Student Recreation Center is coming along nicely.

Although there’s a little mud on the ground, as new lampposts are being installed near the Visitor Center, this is a lovely time to visit this area of campus. Gorgeous flowers and bushes are blooming near the west entrance. This side of the center features another wonderful sculpture by one of our emeritus professors, Nita Sunderland. A crab apple tree next to the building offers profusions of colorful fruit and has its branches extended joyfully - as if reflecting the arms on the sculpture.

In the center’s entryway, visitors can view a detailed model of some of the transformations that will soon be happening on campus. The model offers cutaway views of the new recreation facilities, revealing the playing courts. The model also gives an idea of how the new Alumni Center will look.

Although it’s made of balsa wood, the model definitely generates excitement for these upcoming projects by showing how they will provide not only much-needed facilities but also a more beautiful campus. Once you see the model of the Men’s Basketball Practice Facility and the new arena where women’s basketball and volleyball will be played, you might be motivated to stop into the adjacent Bradley Bookstore and buy a new bright red “Braves” t-shirt.