Thanks to a $9 million renovation, seating capacity at Hofstra has been expanded from 7,000 to 15,000, making the stadium the largest outdoor sports complex on Long Island. Fans now have access to new concession and souvenir areas, and the stadium is more television friendly, as new network-quality lights were installed to accomodate TV broadcasts. Other additions include a new athletic department office that includes new levels for the press and club suites, two new locker rooms and state of the art scoreboard in the south end zone. New entrance plazas on the south and west sides of the stadium were constructed, along with additional parking and landscaping. "The renovation and expansion of Hofstra Stadium provides our students, alumni, visitors and friends with a first class facility in which to practice, play or watch their favorite sport," said Hofstra University President Dr. James Shuart. "It is one of the top on-campus, intercollegiate sports facilities, indoor or outdoor, in the New York metropolitan area." The summer of 1999 saw new state of the art artificial turf installed at Hofstra, the first replacement since 1988. In the past decade, Hofstra also received several sections of new chair-back seating, a new sound system and the $3.8 million Joeseph M. Margiotta Field House in the south end zone. Opened in 1963, Hofstra Stadium has served as the site for NCCA championship, Empire State Games, Nassau County and New York State High School Champioships in football and lacrosse, world championships in men's and women's lacrosse, professional soccer, commencement excercises and cultural events. In 1968 Hofstra Stadium became only the third college facility to install an artificial playing surface, after the Astrodome at the University of Houston and Indiana State University's Memorial Stadium. The new Hofstra Stadium is a focal point of Long Island sports, also serving as the home of NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Champioship quarterfinals in addition to being the site of the Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge. The Boomer Esiason Foundation extends very special thanks to Hoftra University and the New York Jets for giving the Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge participants the opportunity to experience and enjoy such top-notch facilities.