Updated: 4/4/2008 11:06:58 PM Posted: 4/4/2008 11:23:24 AM
AKRON -- A new era of Akron Zips football has officially kicked off.
Campus and community leaders gathered in the rain Friday to turn the first piles of dirt on the $61 million complex.
The facility should be ready to go in time for the Zips home opener against the University of Indiana, on September 19, 2009.
The stadium will be paid for by a $30 million fund-raising campaign, as well as bonds financed via stadium revenues.
"This complex is about much, much, much more than the game of football," said Dr. Luis Proenza, University President. "Students will have one more reason to stay on campus and become more engaged in university life, which we know from research, leads to great student satisfaction and greater student success."
The stadium will seat 30,000 fans, with the possibility of end zone seats being added in the future.
There will also be club level seating for 486, as well as 17 private suites and a President's Suite with seating for 75. The 17 private suites have already been sold, but university leaders say the stadium plans allow for an additional four suites so as many as 21 suites could be constructed.
"Infocision stadium, Summa Field is the center piece of that landscape for champions, and the impact that that has, is tremendous," said Mack Rhodes, University Athletic Director. "And what better thing for our students than to be able to live on campus and attend football games on Saturday and to experience all that goes with a football game, the tailgating and all the fun."
The stadium will also feature a state-of-the-art scoreboard, 10 concession locations, and a full team shop.
Click on the links below for previous stories on the project, and on the related links for live webcams overlooking the stadium site.
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