University Approves Additional $6.6 Million Toward InfoCision Stadium

Akron, Ohio, Dec. 13, 2007

The University of Akron has approved an additional $6.6 million toward the new on-campus football facility – InfoCision Stadium/Summa Field. The additional cost, which brings the stadium project to $61.6 million, will add to the facility’s aesthetics as well as fund new projects.

First, the east side (opposite the press box) will have a brick and stone facade, similar to that shown in the previous renderings, not originally accounted for in the $55 million price tag this summer. The facade will tie the west side to the east side architecturally as well as match the theme of the future residence halls that will surround the stadium.

New to the project is a two-story end zone facility on the north side, which will be approximately 16,800 square feet. The first floor will house football game-day operations including a locker room for both the Zips and high schools, an area for coaches, a press room, shower area and sports medicine operations for treatment/taping, rehabilitation, hydrotherapy, examination/X-ray room, office space and storage. The second floor will have space for team locker rooms, lounge and meeting areas for sports programs yet to be determined.

The additional cost will also cover an upgrade to the video board in the south end zone, allowing the display to be seen not only from inside the InfoCision Stadium but from the outside facing Exchange Street as well. The final upgrade is for premium, movable glass windows in the 16 luxury suites to allow each suite holder to control the amount of outdoor exposure and atmosphere during games and events.

“You only get to build a new stadium once and we wanted to do it right,” said Zips’ athletics director Mack Rhoades. “This University has great vision and it has invested so much with the New Landscape for Learning phases, doing everything in a first-class manner. These new funds ensure this facility will, in fact, be the nicest in the nation.”

The first phase of the construction process is slated to begin in January of 2008 with InfoCision Stadium/Summa Field set to open Sept. 12, 2009 when the Zips are scheduled to host the University of Kentucky Wildcats.