Last week, Washington University acquired eight acres of land that was formally owned by the Christian Brothers College (CBC) in Clayton.

The University has not yet announced any developmental plans for the CBC land, but the land is expected to be used for intramural and club sport practices.

“We view this as an excellent long term investment,” said Steve Hoffner, assistant vice chancellor for real estate. “There will probably never be another time when over eight acres is available on one site this close to our Danforth Campus.”

The 8.2 acres of property houses several athletic facilities, including two outdoor tennis courts, a basketball gymnasium and a football field inscribed by an asphalt track. The site also includes 169,000 square feet of office space and classrooms. However, the University has not yet made any decisions regarding the intended use of these spaces.

Hoffner expects that the facilities will be put to use as soon as November, but the Athletic Department determines the final schedule of events.

For the intramural office, the University’s announcement comes as a relief because it is faced with the challenge of accommodating an increased number of intramural athletes. The intramural and club sport schedules have filled all open availability for field use, making it difficult for captains and coaches to add additional practices.

The concern over field space has existed for over 10 years, according to Lynn Imergoot, associate intramural director. The addition of softball as a varsity sport in 1999 only increased the need for space.

“[Space] has always been a concern, because if you want more facilities, it’s not like you have prairie land to use,” said Imergoot. “This was in good shape and it’s in a great neighborhood.”

The addition of the new property has diminished the fear that intramural teams will have limited access to sports fields. “Right now, we haven’t had to limit…except last year for frisbee, outdoor intramural activities because of lack of space,” said Imergoot.

Like other club sports participants, senior Miles Bellman is excited about the opportunities for new fields. Bellmen, who leads the club soccer team, has been frustrated with field space for his team.

“We have to go basically outside St. Louis,” said Bellman, describing club soccer’s struggle to find a home field. In the past, the team has tried to secure Francis Field, but communication problems between the club and the University have marred any attempts made to play on campus.

With the acquisition of CBC, and its multipurpose soccer/football field, Bellman is optimistic that his team, which includes over 60 members, may finally find a home. “It would be nice to have a real field,” he said.

On Saturday, a group from the Athletic department traveled to the former CBC schoolyard to survey their options.

“It’s a place that hasn’t really been used for a few years,” said Facilities Manager Andrew Koch. Adding to that, because of the property’s lack of use, “it’s in good shape.”

The land first came to the attention of the Athletic department several years ago, when CBC moved to their spacious West County campus. Concordia Seminary, however, held onto the property until recently when it was contacted by University officials. The University submitted an offer and then the transaction became official as of last Tuesday.

“You can build as many buildings as you want, you can build them as tall as you want,” said Imergoot. “But you can’t make grass space.”

With the University’s latest purchase, grass space may not have been made but it has been bought.

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