PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – The Prairie View A&M University Department of Athletics will unveil the initial conceptual design of its New Sports Complex which will feature a new football stadium and athletic sports facility during the 36th annual Prairie View A&M National Alumni Convention in New Orleans, La.
Over the past 18 months, the University Executive Staff, students, community leaders and several departments across campus have collaborated with Leo A. Daly Smith & Company Architects to develop a comprehensive feasibility study. After a series of meetings and work groups designed to gather ideas and concepts with stakeholders of the project, the firm has unveiled a three-phase concept that addresses the immediate and future needs of the University.
The first phase will feature a new 15,000-seat football stadium and accompanying Athletic Department Center. The new stadium is slated to be located directly South of Blackshear Stadium (current tailgating area) and include a FieldTurf playing surface, reserved seating, state-of-the-art press box, on-site ticket booths, club seating, luxury suites and an enhanced tailgating and parking area.
Proposed to sit on the stadium’s north end, the Athletic Department Center would replace the current home of the athletic department and features over 74,000-square feet of student-athlete space that would contain a new weight room, locker and dressing rooms, an Academic Enhancement and tutoring area, team/position meeting rooms and additional space for team equipment. In addition, the center would also house the Department of Athletics administrators and a memorabilia area featuring the Prairie View Sports Hall of Fame.
With a projected cost of $60 million for the first phase, fundraising efforts are now underway for this historic project. The Prairie View A&M Foundation has committed to take on the role to lead the fundraising efforts and will partner closely with the University’s Development and Athletic Offices to reach the goal with the construction timelines and final project selections occurring at the discretion of the University. Established in 2009, the Foundation is dedicated to the support of Prairie View A&M University through scholarships, fellowships, endowments, unrestricted gifts and capital projects that advance the institution’s fulfillment of its mission.
The stadium, overall sports complex and additional information pertaining to the project is available via the Prairie View A&M athletic website. To access the presentation, log on to http://www.pvamu.edu/athletics and click on the link titled Sports Complex Presentation on the left-hand side of the page.
Copyright © 2009-2010 Prairie View A&M Foundation
Several images courtesy PVAMU.
