Campaign for Athletic Complex

 

Ashland University Announces Plans for Athletic Complex

January 25, 2008

At its meeting on Thursday, the Ashland University Board of Trustees reviewed and supported the public announcement of the AU fundraising campaign to build a new athletic complex on the north side of Broad Street on the Ashland University campus.

The campaign, “Bringing Spirit to Campus,” calls for a new athletic complex that features a 7,000-seat football stadium with synthetic turf, a 1,000-seat soccer and track stadium with synthetic turf, an intramural/club sports field and a field house with offices, locker rooms, weight room, athletic training area and entertainment areas. The stadium will feature concession and merchandise areas and press box, and plans also call for a marching band room to be located near where the band will practice.

“This is truly a bold and exciting plan to provide students with expanded recreational, intramural and physical activity opportunities throughout the week and on weekends. Ashland University recognizes it must continue to provide recreational facilities to improve the quality of life on campus as well as maintain the health and wellness of its students,” said Dr. Frederick Finks, president of Ashland University.

“We believe the new Athletic Complex will be a showcase for football, soccer and track in Ohio and throughout the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference. Ashland has a long history of excellence in sports, with 14 of our 20 teams being ranked nationally this past year. We see the value in bringing three major sports -- football, soccer and track -- to a premier sports complex that will continue this excellence, help in recruitment and retention, and raise the level of school spirit.”

Finks said the University launched its “Quiet Phase” of the campaign in May of 2007, and has experienced positive progress toward achieving the $23 million goal, which includes money earmarked for furnishings and endowment as well as construction.

“We believe now is the time to go public. With our anonymous lead gift of $7 million, we are at $14.5 million in commitments at this point,” Finks said. “We cannot say when we will build, only that we plan to break ground as soon as the cash flow from the commitments to the campaign will allow us to begin construction.”

Finks said the public announcement of the campaign will allow the University to capitalize on the momentum generated by the announcement.

“Going public allows us to confirm the project, which has been a topic of discussion for many years, to current and prospective student athletes, alumni, parents and coaches,” Finks said. “Coaches are very excited about sharing the news with potential recruits and showing them the planned complex, and we believe this will impact both recruitment and retention of athletes in track, soccer and football.”

Finks called this an “exciting time” in the life of Ashland University.

“Never in our history have we had such momentum going into a major campaign. Never have we had a lead gift before a campaign was announced. Never have we had a $7 million gift toward any project,” he said. “We have positive results behind us and great momentum ahead as we go public with the campaign.”

AU alumnus and Wooster resident Jack Miller, Class of 1974, is serving as campaign chair, while Dwight Schar, Class of 1964, and Fred Martinelli, former football coach and athletic director, are honorary co-chairs for the campaign.

“We are excited about an on-campus premier Division II football stadium and we look forward to having a home track meet, and having football, track, soccer and their auxiliary functions all in one great venue,” Miller said. “‘Bringing Spirit to Campus’ has been an easy sell and will further enhance excellence at AU.”