Gannon University's fall sports teams will experience a new FieldTurf surface, an upgraded sound system, and a new scoreboard at McConnell Family Stadium when the 2022-23 athletic year opens.

The Golden Knights' multi-purpose, outdoor venue underwent major renovations during the summer and will be ready when fall teams begin practice.

The downtown stadium's most visible upgrade was the replacement of 167,000-square feet of FieldTurf. The Classic HD slit-film fiber is an industry leader. The field can drain more than 40 inches per hour. FieldTurf is the provider for several NFL teams, including the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, and Seattle Seahawks.

The football team, and men's and women's soccer teams will be the first Gannon teams to utilize the new surface.

The baseball and softball diamonds on the opposite sides of the stadium also have bright, new FieldTurf in place for their seasons in the spring. The women's lacrosse team will play on the field during the spring season as well.

Gannon also replaced the McConnell Family Stadium scoreboard with a new Daktronics model featuring enhanced, LED lighting.  

Finally, fans will enjoy an updated, single-source sound system that will provide listeners with a complete game experience. The new system provides full-range audio and focuses the sound on the playing field and on the fan areas.

Fans are invited to experience the new upgrades when the fall seasons open at McConnell Family Stadium. The women's soccer team is scheduled to play its home opener on Aug. 31, followed by the football team on Sept. 1, and the men's soccer team on Sept. 4.