Ball State University Athletics
BSU Stadium Update
January 16, 2002 | Football
Note from Athletics Director Andrea Seger on Dedication Day (9/29/01):
It's been a short six or seven weeks since the building opened, and it's all of what we'd hoped it would be. While there are still finishing touches and decorating to be done, it will help the operation of our football program tremendously in the future.
Many, many people were involved in the process, from donors, to architects, construction workers and managers to University personnel. The resources that many donors have provided, in combination with a wonderful design and construction, have provided us with a building we were desperate to have, and thankful we now have.
Football in the Mid-American Conference has changed drastically in the past ten years. This is not the same conference of a few short years ago. All of the institutions have committed themselves to success in football at the Division I-A level with new facilities and new resources.
The recent success of many of our peers in the league are proof of that commitment. Please know that our University's commitment to I-A football has never been stronger than it is today. But with this undertaking comes expectations and requirements. The task before us is to continue to build upon that commitment. We must continue to find resources to complete the work- we must remember that this building is but one part of a larger project.
The completion of the renovation and expansion of the stadium has been, and continues to be, the number one priority of the Department of Athletics. The dedication of this building today is a significant step in moving forward.
Notes on the new football training facility:
The addition of 3,092 seats on the front side of the building will take the stadium capacity to 23,500.
The facility is 28,000 square feet and will house a locker room for the Ball State football team, an athletic training facility, weight room, equipment room and meeting rooms.
This is the third phase of the football stadium improvements and renovations. In the last four years, east side seating has been added along with the artificial turf practice field and now the football training facility. The designs of the new press box, stadium facade, west side renovation and expansion to 30,000 seats are being finalized.
The entire stadium project has been and continues to be the number one priority for the athletics department. Project IA started in 1995 and involved both the stadium project and the improvement of attendance at Ball State football games.
