Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Unveils Plan For Football Project
8/2/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 2, 2006
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Deacon Tower will include club seats, premium club tables and box suites, a new press box to include print and electronic media accommodations, and ground level restrooms and concessions. The third phase also includes an expanded club/suite/media parking lot, a donor plaza and a signature entry point.
The third phase of the project will begin pending sufficient demand for premium seats, as well as successful generation of revenue through fundraising and sponsorship.
The Wake Forest University Football Project is being conducted in several phases. The first phase, the addition of brick work on the grandstand facades, was completed in August 2005. The second phase, completed in July 2006, was the installation of a state-of-the-art FieldTurf surface, plus structural, electrical and plumbing repairs.
Deacon Tower, expanded parking and the signature entry point is the third phase. The fourth phase includes concourse improvements, such as concession stands and restrooms on the east and west concourses and Deacon Hill area. The fifth phase includes a new home locker room and new field level seating and endzone suites. The sixth phase calls for a renovated tailgating lot with a new Deacon Tailgate Zone and an expanded plaza at Bridger Field House.
Funding for the project will be generated through box suite and club seat revenue, sponsorship opportunities and increased ticket sales, concession revenue, novelty sales, non-gameday rental and fundraising.
Statement from Ron Wellman, Wake Forest athletics director:
"BB&T Field is an excellent facility for our football program, but it has not been updated since it was originally built in 1968. Fans today have certain expectations about the amenities available when they attend a college football game. We are not able to provide those amenities currently. The Football Project will improve the stadium so that those amenities will be available to our fans. It will also provide the luxury seating that will be an important aspect to fund all of the improvements of the Football Project. BB&T Field can be the Wrigley Field of college football. We are anxious to complete this project over the next few years."
Statement from Jim Grobe, Wake Forest football coach:
"Over the past few years, we've done a really good job improving our on-campus football facilities. We feel like the last piece of the puzzle is going to be our stadium renovations. One of the biggest concerns for recruits is the stadium. We'd like to take the stadium from being a problem to being an asset, not only for recruiting, but for our fans and for our current football team."
FACT SHEET
Deacon Tower Press Box; BB&T Field
Wake Forest University; Winston-Salem, NC
| Architect: | Walter Robbs Callahan & Pierce, Architects, Winston-Salem, NC 336-725-1371 |
| Replaces: | Existing 7,100 SF Press Box constructed in 1965 |
| Construction Start: | Post 2006 football season |
| Temporary pressbox: | 2007 football season |
| Opening: | 2008 football season |
| Functions: | |
| 1st level | Public restrooms, concessions, ticket booths and entrance gates |
| 2nd level | Mechanical equipment |
| 3rd level | Flexible space for special functions or offices |
| 4th level | Club level seating w/ 3 formats (club seats, premium club tables and box suites) |
| 5th level | Box suites |
| 6th level | Press functions, Presidents Box, Radio, TV and Operational Staff |
| 7th level | Coaches, TV, Radio and Operational Staff |
| Seating capacities: | |
| Club seats | 602 outdoor stadium chairs |
| Premium Club Table seats | 48 |
| Box Suites w/ balconies | 4 |
| Box Suites: | 18 |
Special features:
Premium seating in multiple formats (indoor and outdoor seating)
Operable windows
Upholstered stadium chairs with increased legroom
Four elevators
Enclosed lounge with enhanced concessions
Pre-wired for all media functions
Multiple TV and radio broadcast booths
Provisions for national & regional broadcast tucks and satellite uplinks
Audio and televisions throughout the facility
Full service kitchen for concessions and catering
Additional toilets and concessions serving the west side of the existing seating bowl
New First Aid facilities to serve the entire stadium
Enclosed baby changing facility
Expanded VIP parking adjacent to the new facility
Roof top observation platforms
Deacon Tower By The Numbers:
7 -- stories high
125 -- feet wide
122,900 -- total square feet
12 -- premium club tables
22 -- luxury box suites
602 -- outdoor stadium club seats
1,018 -- total premium seats
PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Jim Grobe, head football coach
On the state of the program:
"We are going into our sixth year with our current staff and we have had an ongoing plan for the football program. When we came here, we had two main problems. First, we had to start playing better football. We had to establish respect on the football field. Secondly, we had a real facilities issue. It was hard to turn in any direction and find facilities that are comparable to the ones in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Our first priority has been to gain respect on the field. I think the first couple of years we were able to do that and I think we are continuing to do that. Our number one priority was to build foundation and we are doing that."
On the previous facility improvements:
"Secondly, when we arrived, we knew that we had a facilities issue and there was a lot that needed to be done. We also knew that we had to move one step at a time. Ron Wellman has done a great job in improving that part of our facility by adding lights on the practice field, renovating our offices, meeting rooms, locker rooms - all the things we need for recruiting were taken care of. In addition, he was able to resurface the practice field and it is a great facility now. At the stadium, we were able to come and brick the face of the stadium, renovate the training room and of course, the new FieldTurf. We tried to make it look better for recruits and fans. These are great steps for us."
On the planned facility improvements:
"Now that we have tackled all the on-campus facilities, it is time to tackle the biggest problem -- BB&T Field. There haven't been any significant changes to the stadium itself since it was built in 1968 and that is the last piece of the (facilities) puzzle. This is an exciting time for Wake Forest football and over the next three or four years we will take the last step that we need. We will continue to coach and recruit as hard as we can and this is the final piece of the puzzle for our program."
Barry Faircloth, associate athletic director for development
On the reasons for the improvements:
"We have been focused on the on-campus facilities with renovation work as part of the overall effort to address our football team. We see football as an asset and what we are doing is we are investing in the asset. We have invested in the on-campus facilities and we are now working on the stadium."
The primary benefits of the improvements:
"One of the primary benefits of investing at BB&T Field is our fans. Modern day fans expect better facilities -- better restrooms and better concessions, better options and better access. We are competing with youth soccer, and various entertainment options on Saturdays. Unless we address those basic issues, we can't fill our stadium. Fans also expect some premium options and the Deacon Tower phase really introduces those options in the form of box seats and club seats."
On the secondary benefits:
"Secondly, we want to benefit the athletic department. We have the greatest opportunity for growth in revenue with our football program. If we can really get football going where it is consistently sold out every Saturday, the sky is the limit as to what it can do for the athletic department and how it can help fund our other sports."
University benefits of the renovation:
"This project also benefits the University through exposure. The athletic department is the marketing arm of the Wake Forest and when the games are televised nationally, that markets to the most talented kids and makes them want to come to school here. Our hopes are that they get a great education and come back and support our program. From the university perspective, it also re-engages the alumni and makes them want to come back to BB&T Field and Wake Forest."
Community benefits of the improvements:
"Finally, it helps the community at-large. Our core market is families and we feel that we offer a wholesome, affordable environment to families. We want to be an attractive and entertaining environment for the entire Triad community. By packing BB&T Field every Saturday, it will have a great economic impact to this area."
