On September 21, 2019, the Chicago Lions Rugby Football Club fulfilled a dream of over 50 years to own a field within Chicago city limits. In partnership with Chicago Hope Academy, the first field of the Lions for Hope Sports Complex was completed. The field is named after past Lions President J. Tyke Nollman, who passed away in 2015.

The Lions built a premier artificial turf field for rugby and soccer, with parking and stands serving East Garfield Park and North Lawndale. The gated complex also includes temporary bathrooms, locker rooms, and a multipurpose room, all built out of shipping containers. So far, the rugby and soccer communities have raved about it.

We are referring to the combined Hope/Lions land and multiple facilities as a campus. Starting south, we have the Lions for Hope Sports Complex (the South Parcel) bordered by Taylor and Polk Streets. Across the street to the North is what we call the North Parcel, which will have the new Chicago Hope Academy campus with its own field and track. North of that, bordering Harrison, is the Hope Student Athletic Center (formerly known as Quest), and further across the street is Altgeld Park.

When finished, this campus will provide stellar facilities for the West Side youth.