The saga of the FAU arena continues with a $10 million renovation slated to be complete for the beginning of the fall semester.
With plans to build a domed stadium scuttled this past spring, the university decided to go ahead and renovate the existing arena and build a separate open air stadium for football.
Opened in 1984 and previously known as FAU Gymnasium, the 70,000 square foot facility will finally receive the facelift its new name warrants. The project, currently under construction, will add a new lobby, locker rooms, concessions, seats and a scoreboard. The seating capacity will remain near 5,000.
FAU Arena is home to the men’s and women’s basketball teams, the women’s volleyball team and an abundance of campus recreation activities which are open to all students. The university is slated to open a campus recreation and wellness center in the fall of 2008 which will help alleviate the arena’s crowded schedule.
Temporary Football Stadium
FAU football will play home games at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale for the final time in 2007. Ever since the program’s inception in 2001, home games have either been played at cavernous Dolphin Stadium in Dade County or the city-owned Lockhart.
“In the first year it was devastating to have to play down at Dolphin Stadium. You never want to be at a stadium that big,” said Head Coach Howard Schnellenberger. “The real rewards of college football will be derived when we move on campus… next year, in our temporary stadium for two years and then in 2010 it is our goal to be in a permanent 30,000 seat open air stadium”
In April, FAU football played its first game on campus in the new track and field facility. It was only the spring scrimmage, but it generated a lot of excitement that the temporary stadium would be erected on that site in time for the 2007 season. However, the funds for such a project could not be attained and the team will play four home games at Lockhart and one at Dolphin Stadium this season.
NEW STUDENT REC CENTER SET FOR ’08The new student Recreation and Fitness Center is an $11 million project set to break ground this October or November and open in early fall of 2008. The 38,000 square foot facility will be located at the northeast entrance of the Breezeway along the new Lee Street. It will include a 6,500 square foot fitness center with over 40 pieces of cardio equipment, two circuit training units and a free weight area.
Additionally, there will be two multi-purpose rooms, two indoor basketball courts, volleyball courts, badminton courts, a social corridor with group seating and men and women health club style locker rooms.
