New construction to provide practice and competition spaces for soccer, track and field
When completed, a construction project underway at the will instantly transform the day-to-day operations for several of the .
Built on the site of UWA鈥檚 former football practice field on University Drive, the $4.9 million facility will give the and soccer and a new home on campus.
Construction on the complex鈥檚 natural grass playing surface is expected to be finished in August, with locker rooms, concession areas, scoreboards, bathrooms and light towers completed shortly after, according to , who expects the entire project to be completed in October.
The complex follows two recent major improvements of athletic facilities. In February, renovations were completed on , which hosts the Tigers鈥� and basketball teams and team. In March, the newly constructed Campora Athletic Complex was unveiled at , home to .
鈥淲e expect this major construction project to have an immediate positive impact on enrollment,鈥� said 宅男福利社President Ken Tucker. 鈥淲ith a dedicated practice and competition site, we will be able to expand the number of track and field student athletes by double or even triple. Having a regulation-size soccer field will enable us to host playoff events and championship matches, thereby positively influencing recruitment and retention, as well as the local economy.鈥�
The 宅男福利社campus has seen more major renovations and new construction over the last couple of years than ever in memorable history.
鈥淔acilities like this greatly enhance the student experience both for student athletes and for fans and supporters,鈥� Tucker said. 鈥淭his adds an exciting element of school pride for our campus for many years to come.鈥�
The new multi-use facility is being funded by Alabama Public School and College Authority (APSCA) money received from a state bond issue for public-school capital projects and infrastructure upgrades.
The facility will be especially transformative for UWA鈥檚 track teams, as this will be their first permanent home on campus, Partridge said. When working out on campus, the Tigers have practiced at Tiger Stadium or on the former football practice field. Partridge鈥檚 expectation is that the track teams鈥� new home will represent something far more substantive than manicured grass and locker rooms.
鈥淭his is the next step into growing our program into a competitive program and expanding our offerings to student-athletes,鈥� Partridge said. 鈥淗aving competitive facilities like this will allow us to grow the program with a dedicated field to practice and compete on,鈥� he said.
The Tigers鈥� soccer teams have been playing games and practicing on Tiger Stadium鈥檚 artificial turf. Because of soccer players鈥� preference for playing on natural grass, the Tigers鈥� departure from the football stadium is a welcomed change, Partridge said.
鈥淚’ve never talked to a soccer player that wanted to play on turf,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey do so much when they hit the ground, and soccer players are not padded and completely covered like football players. Those (turf) burns can pop up on your elbows and knees and shins a little bit greater.鈥�
To protect the grass surface for soccer, the complex鈥檚 areas for field events — long jump, high jump, javelin throw, discus throw, hammer throw, pole vault, shot put — will be built outside the track. Additionally, the playing surface will be regulation-sized for soccer, an improvement that will allow 宅男福利社to host postseason events, Partridge said.