Football | 10/16/2015 11:32:00 AM
ABILENE – A little more than 20 months after Abilene Christian University announced it would build an on-campus football stadium, it unveiled new renderings of the facility, which is scheduled to host its first game in 2017.
ACU director of athletics Lee De León spoke about the stadium project Friday morning at ACU Chapel in Moody Coliseum, detailing some of the specifics of the project.
Thanks to a generous lead gift from alumni April and Mark Anthony and other fundraising efforts, more than $20 million has been committed toward construction of the new Wildcat Stadium. In addition, an anonymous donor has pledged $5 million to match any new gifts to the stadium made by Dec. 31, 2015.
"These matching funds give us tremendous momentum as we push toward the completion of our fundraising efforts," De León said. "Many generous donors have already stepped up with significant contributions, but we are still in need of additional help to hit our goal."
Work on the site where the old Elmer Gray Stadium once stood is set to begin in early 2016 with a completion date set for summer 2017. The first game at Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium is scheduled to be played Sept. 16, 2017, against Houston Baptist University.
"We are grateful to the Anthonys for their leadership on this project," said ACU President Phil Schubert. "An on-campus stadium for ACU will be a game-changer for not only our football program but the many ways we can use it to build community among students and alumni. It will be exciting to see it become a reality, and it will be a fantastic new venue for people in Abilene and West Texas to enjoy as well."
Industry leader HKS Architects – which has been working on the project since early this year – put together a plan that will give ACU one of the best facilities at the FCS level.
"The new designs of Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium from HKS are phenomenal," De León said. "Our coaches, student-athletes, recruits and fans will be proud of the finished product. The first game at the stadium can't get here fast enough!"
HKS has designed and helped build football stadiums for the Dallas Cowboys (AT&T Stadium), Indianapolis Colts (Lucas Oil Stadium), Minnesota Vikings (U.S. Bank Stadium) and the University of North Texas (Apogee Stadium), among other projects. Its architects also have designed and been part of the renovations of Amon Carter Stadium (football) and Daniel Meyer Coliseum (basketball) at TCU.
"The HKS Sports & Entertainment Group has enjoyed a successful and collaborative partnership with ACU," said Mark Williams, principal and director of business development at HKS. "Our collective efforts to bring NCAA Division I football to campus have been a great design experience for our team. This venue will be an incredible platform to achieve memorable experiences and environments for Wildcat fans, student-athletes and alumni of the university."
HKS plans to wrap up the schematic design and start design development in early December. That month also will see the first construction documents finalized, including civil engineering and utility plans, and precast and foundation work. Abilenians will begin to see activity on the site later this fall as workers begin preparing it for construction.
The stadium will have a capacity of 12,000 fans, including berm, club level and suite seating. The club level will be on the first floor of the three-level press box with 10 suites lining the second floor and a press area on the third floor. The club level will include a large room capable of hosting multiple events for up to 500 people as well as outdoor seating available to fans that purchase club seating.
The west side will feature restrooms, concession stands and seating for approximately 6,000 spectators. The north end of the stadium will feature an HD video board while the east side will host the ACU student sections, restrooms and concession stands.
Along the southeast portion of the stadium will be a visitor's locker room and officials' dressing room, while the home locker room will be under the seating area on the west side of the stadium.
Pending fundraising, future plans also include the construction of a south end zone complex to house all football operations, sports medicine facilities and a player's lounge. The operations building will feature coaches' offices, a large team meeting room and position group meeting rooms as well as a large conference room for coaching staff meetings. The home locker room will eventually connect to the south end zone complex.
"Mark and I have looked forward to this stadium since we were students at ACU," said April Anthony. "God has blessed us with the opportunity to provide this investment in our alma mater at a time when it was most needed. Wildcat Stadium will forever change gameday on campus and enhance the welcoming culture for which our university and Abilene are known."
"As a former student-athlete, I know the difference quality facilities can make," said Mark Anthony, who was a Wildcat golfer. "It will be great timing to open this stadium the year when our NCAA Division I membership becomes a full-fledged reality, and we look forward to enjoying many years of memories made there without needing to leave campus to attend a football game."
The entire facility – stadium and south end zone complex – should give ACU the kind of gameday atmosphere it has lacked, as well as an advantage on the recruiting trail.
"We've been anticipating this day for a long time and we're excited to unveil the new plans for the on-campus stadium," ACU head coach
Ken Collums said. "We've got a world-class university here where guys are going to get an unbelievable education that prepares them for a successful career and personal life as Christian servant-leaders. Building a stadium like this – thanks to the Anthonys and our other donors – will put our program on another level in terms of recruiting and momentum."
