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Wildcat fans,
One of the most anticipated weeks in the history of ACU Athletics is upon us, and I hope you’re as excited about it as I am! The buzz on campus and in the Abilene community is palpable as we gear up for a weekend of activities, all of which lead to the Saturday night grand opening of Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium at 6 p.m. Saturday.
 Returning all home football games to campus for the first time since World War II has been a dream for generations of Wildcat fans, and after many months of planning and construction, the time finally arrives Saturday at 6 p.m. when ACU kicks off against Houston Baptist University in an important Southland Conference contest. ESPN3 will be in Abilene to broadcast the game nationally, giving everyone across the country a glimpse at one of the best stadiums at the NCAA Division I FCS level.
For many of us, this has been the project of a lifetime, and I would be remiss if I didn’t thank our partners: HKS (architecture), HOAR Construction, FieldTurf, Daktronics and Paramount Graphics, as well an army of people on campus who have worked tirelessly on this project since February 2014. Our goal from the outset was to provide our fans with a place they can call home and to give the Abilene community at large something to be proud of, and I believe we did both of those things in a big way.
Of course, none of this would be possible without our donors, who have given more than $42 million towards the project, led by April and Mark Anthony, Rick and Debbie Wessel and David D. and Kathryn Halbert. Their transformational gifts to the university in general, and ACU Athletics in particular, have forever changed what college football Gamedays will be like at ACU.
Of course, with a new stadium comes many questions about parking, tickets, ticket sales, tailgating and the do’s and don’t’s of the stadium. We’re going to answer those questions in this extended edition of the DLP, but first I want tell you about a couple of other things you need to be aware of before Saturday’s game:
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The cleanup is just beginning along the Texas Gulf Coast after Hurricane Harvey devastated the area earlier this month. We are asking those who can to bring a gift card from a major store – H-E-B, Target, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc. – to the game Saturday. ACU staff members will distribute them to those in need in the Houston and South Texas area. Please bring a card or two and aid this worthy project.
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One of the things you’ll notice if you take part in the Wildcat Walk – the path the football team will take from the McGlothlin Campus Center, through the Campus Mall and to the stadium before each home game – is Stevens Park, located in the middle of the Stadium Lot (Lot B on this parking map). The park honoring the eighth president of ACU, Dr. John C. Stevens, was made possible thanks to a $1 million anonymous donation. It will serve as a mediation point on campus.
Here’s what you need to know to be ready for the new stadium and Gamedays: |
