Another athletics facility is on the drawing board at Hope as the school prepares to build a new soccer stadium.

The Michigan school, which in the past four years has opened DeVos Fieldhouse and new baseball and softball stadiums, tentatively plans to open the 1,400-seat soccer stadium October 17. Construction costs and a maintenance endowment for the facility total $5.3 million.

“This is a continuation of our efforts to revitalize the eastern gateway to downtown Holland and Hope’s campus,” said President James E. Bultman, who added that the project was made possible by a gift from a donor that will fund the majority of the project. The school will hold a groundbreaking ceremony Friday and reveal the name of the facility.

“We are grateful for this and other gifts which are enabling the continuation of construction of quality academic and athletics facilities that are allowing Hope to serve generations of students to come,” Bultman said.

The facility will include stadium-style and bleacher seating and have an artificial-turf surface and lighting for night games. There also will be terrace areas for picnicking and tailgating, a first aid training room, and two full locker rooms for Hope’s men’s and women’s teams as well as a meeting room for visiting teams.

“This stadium will be a dream come true as we seek to elevate the visibility of soccer in the Hope and Holland communities,” said men’s soccer coach Steve Smith.

“The women’s soccer team is looking forward to having the privilege of playing in what we think will be one of the finest small college soccer facilities in the country,” women’s coach Leigh Sears said. “The stadium will provide our players and fans with a playing and viewing environment that will be unmatched around the region.”