Introducing the Manning Family Athletic Complex

Isidore Newman School officially opened the Manning Family Athletic Complex on Thursday, August 25, with a ceremony and reception in honor of the Manning family, donors, and members of the Newman community. A brief rain shower interrupted the event but could not dampen the spirits of the hundred or more attendees gathered to mark the occasion. Head of School Dale M. smith addressed the crowd to announce the opening of the facility and to recognize the donors who funded the project.

 

“The Manning legacy here spans nearly a half century, and their generosity is the bedrock of this project,” he said. “Newman is grateful to the Manning family along with the many generous donors who made this project a reality.”

 

Among the signature spaces of the Complex is Reginelli Way, a grand entrance plaza adjacent to Michael Lupin Field that honors legendary football coach Tony Reginelli, who coached and taught at Newman for 37 years. Another is Kolb Field, a turfed practice field for students and athletes to enjoy, made possible by a generous gift from Linda and Gordon Kolb. The Complex also includes enhanced athletic and fan spaces such as a Boys and Girls Soccer locker rooms, a Sky Deck, and new concessions stand, press box, and restrooms.

 

At the reception on Thursday night, Smith thanked major donors and fundraisers for the project, as well as donors who named spaces: Machelle and John Payne and family, who named the Girls Soccer locker room; Whitney Bank for the gift to name the Whitney Bank Concessions Stand; and Mary and Justin ’88 Schmidt for the gift to name the Baseball locker room.

 

Over 250 Newman alumni from the 1960s to the present joined the Mannings in contributing gifts to make further athletic enhancements – including Reginelli Way – possible. Many donors were present on Thursday to celebrate the opening of the project.

 

The Manning legacy at Newman includes proud parents and grandparents Archie and Olivia Manning; Cooper Manning ’92, business leader and sports TV personality; Denver Broncos quarterback and two-time Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning ’94; New York Giants quarterback and two-time Super Bowl Champion Eli Manning ’99; and Cooper Manning’s s children, two of whom attend Newman.

 

The Manning Family’s support of Newman includes the establishment of an endowed scholarship in 2014 and several leadership gifts to the School throughout the last three decades.

 

The Manning Family Athletic Complex opening coincides with the first Varsity Football game of the season, a three-game Jamboree on Friday, August 26. The Jamboree will features St. Martin’s vs. Cohen at 4:00 p.m., Newman versus Lusher at 6:00 p.m., and Ben Franklin High School versus Pope John Paul II at 8:00 p.m.