University of Akron Unveils Plan for On-Campus Stadium

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? UNIVERSITY OF AKRON UNVEILS PLANS FOR ON-CAMPUS STADIUM

A new era is dawning for The University of Akron and its football program. At its regular meeting today, the University’s Board of Trustees approved the financing and construction plans for a $55 million, on-campus football stadium as part of the second phase of the New Landscape for Learning campus enhancement initiative.

Construction of the stadium and field — named InfoCision Stadium and Summa Field, respectively — is scheduled to be complete for the Zips’ 2009 home opener against the University of Kentucky Wildcats on Sept. 12. As in other buildings constructed in UA’s ongoing campus enhancement, the stadium features a bold design of brick and glass.

The stadium will be financed by a $30 million fund-raising campaign (of which $21 million already has been pledged) and bonds financed via stadium revenues.
“This is an exciting time for The University of Akron, and fans of Zips football,” says UA President Luis M. Proenza. “An on-campus football stadium is one of the cornerstone facilities that will enhance the collegiate experience. This new facility will create a game-day atmosphere that will generate a new level of excitement, spirit and pride for the University and Zips athletics.”

UA Board Chair Dr. William F. Demas says, “We are extending our New Landscape for Learning initiative into its second phase by moving forward with the campus stadium project. Our fans and community members have been asking for this for a long time, and we have found a way to make the dream come true.

“Not only will the stadium provide a proud home to the Akron Zips football team,” he adds, “it will provide countless opportunities to our students and to the community by hosting special events, intramural and high school sports, and various recreational activities.”

Details about the stadium released today include:

Capacity of 30,000, with the possibility of end-zone seats added in the future;
End-zone grass berm seating;
A club level with seating for 486;
172 open-air loge seats;
15 private suites with seating for 16 each, and a President’s Suite with seating for 75;
300 ADA seat locations;
21 heated restrooms with ADA access and baby-changing stations;
A state-of-the-art scoreboard with video screen, and a sound system with speakers throughout the stadium, concourse and restrooms;
10 concession locations, a full team shop, a second merchandise location, a ticket office and two auxiliary ticket booths;
Academic classrooms and labs that will be in use six days per week; and
Rooms for academic advising and tutoring for student-athletes.

The condition of the aging Rubber Bowl and the rising costs of maintenance or refurbishing of the facility to modern-day standards made the decision to build a new stadium a necessity, according to Mack Rhoades, UA director of athletics.

“This elite facility will be a wonderful destination for Zips fans of all ages, and I expect it will gain attention and admiration not just throughout the Mid-American Conference, but nationwide as well,” Rhoades says. “More importantly, it will provide a great benefit to the University, the athletics department and the football program.

“The Rubber Bowl has been a landmark in our community,” he adds. “But a recent poll of our season ticket holders showed that the location, condition and amenities of this facility are discouraging fans from attending games and enjoying what should be a great family experience.

“I believe this on-campus facility will be a great change in our campus culture. There are few things as exciting than the atmosphere surrounding a college football game day,” Rhoades says. “To have 30,000 people walking around our campus, seeing kids throwing a football in parking lots and grass areas, and the smell of food from tailgating is one of those quintessential collegiate experiences.”

Since its inception in 2000, The University of Akron’s New Landscape for Learning initiative has added 10 new campus facilities, renovated 15 other structures, added more than 30 acres of green space to campus, and created one of the top wireless computing campuses in the nation.

For more information on the stadium, visit www.uakron.edu/stadium online. For more information on Zips athletics, go to www.GoZips.com.

The University of Akron is the public research university for Northern Ohio. It is the only public university in Ohio with a science and engineering program ranked in the top five nationally by U.S. News & World Report. Serving 24,000 students, the university offers approximately 300 associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and law degree programs and 100 certificate programs at sites in Summit, Wayne, Medina and Holmes counties. For more information, visit www.uakron.edu.