Southern Methodist University officials announced that funding for the construction costs of Gerald J. Ford Stadium and Paul B. Loyd, Jr. All-Sports Center is now complete with new gifts totaling $2.5 million from a group of anonymous donors. Construction costs for Gerald J. Ford Stadium and the Paul B. Loyd, Jr. All-Sports Center are $56.8 million.
The five donors made their financial commitments October 19 to express their support of SMU athletics and reaffirm their belief in the future of Mustang football as a campus activity benefiting the University and the broader community. Ford Stadium, now in progress, will be the permanent on-campus home to Mustang football.
"A new era in SMU's history will begin in the year 2000 with the opening of Gerald J. Ford Stadium and the Paul B. Loyd, Jr. All-Sports Center," said SMU President R. Gerald Turner. "We have said many times that athletics is an integral part of the total collegiate experience, and we are truly excited that these generous donors have provided us with the opportunity to complete the construction funding of these projects. Their belief is that SMU should have first-rate facilities for its students."
SMU will continue to raise approximately $3 million in funds for several projects within the Paul B. Loyd, Jr. All-Sports Center, including:
Finalizing the build-out of the fourth level, which will house SMU's athletic administrative offices
Designing Heritage Hall, an area designated to celebrate the school's rich athletic tradition
Fully equipping the weight and training room facilities
Completing the mall area that will eventually connect Ford Stadium with Moody Coliseum
The construction phase of the project is on schedule and should be completed in the summer of 2000. SMU is scheduled to play Kansas on September 2, 2000, in the first football game in Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
Gerald J. Ford Stadium, currently being built on the grounds where Ownby Stadium once stood, will have a horseshoe configuration with an open south end zone adjacent to Mockingbird Lane. The architecture will be consistent with the Collegiate-Georgian style of the entire SMU campus and will feature traditional, yet state-of-the-art design concepts. Field level will be 25 feet below the ground level, with half of the stadium's seats below grade, ensuring a smooth transition into the surrounding neighborhood and the remainder of the SMU campus. The stadium will have a capacity of 32,000 with a possibility of future expansion to 45,000. The 32,000-seat configuration will include 600 preferred club level seats and 240 seats in 23 spacious luxury suites to be housed in a custom, three-level press box. In addition to housing preferred club and suite seating, the air-conditioned press box will be able to provide excellent sightlines and comfortably accommodate more than 125 working print, radio and television media.
The Paul B. Loyd, Jr. All-Sports Center, attached to the northwest corner of Gerald J. Ford Stadium, will be a 124,000 square-foot structure providing all SMU students, coaches, administrators and fans alike with several improvements, including:
Offices and locker facilities for football and several Olympic sports
A state-of-the-art, 10,000 square-foot weight room featuring Olympic free weight machines and cardiovascular equipment
A sports medicine complex
Conference rooms, including a modern, theater-style meeting room for all SMU sports
A modern equipment room that will provide easy access to the playing field and house expanded laundry and storage areas in order to serve all sports residing in the facility
Additional facilities for the expanded program in women's athletics
Ticket facilities, including ticket windows, offices, as well as working and waiting areas
A permanent merchandise and novelty store located on the concourse level with public access from both outside and inside the stadium
The Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center and the Blanton Academic Development Complex, which provides academic support to all SMU students
Heritage Hall, highlighting SMU's outstanding athletic tradition
The sports and entertainment design division of Ellerbe Becket, Inc., an architectural firm based in Kansas City, Mo., designed Ford Stadium and the Loyd All-Sports Center. The company handled the renovation and expansion of Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind., and has previously done work on several other college football stadiums, including Missouri's Memorial Stadium/Faurout Field and Youngstown State's Stambaugh Stadium. Huber, Hunt and Nichols was selected as the general contractor for the project.
The return of football to campus in a new stadium gained impetus in 1997, when several SMU alumni pledged funds to begin construction of Ford Stadium and the Loyd All-Sports Center. The state-of-the-art facilities would not be possible without generous initial donations from Gerald J. Ford, Lamar and Norma Hunt, Ray L. and Nancy Ann Hunt, and Sherrill and Jo Ann Pettus. Since that time, more than 100 other donors have pledged funds toward Ford Stadium and the Loyd All-Sports Center to ensure that SMU offers the finest athletics facilities to its students, alumni, and other supporters.
