Auburn University Breaks Ground on New Soccer and Track and Field Facility - AuburnTigers.com

Auburn University Breaks Ground on New Soccer and Track and Field Facility Auburn University Breaks Ground on New Soccer and Track and Field Facility

Auburn Soccer and Track Facility Rendering

Oct. 1, 2009

AUBURN - Construction on Auburn University's new $6.5 million soccer and track and field facility officially began with a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday.

The 21,961-square foot facility, which will lie between the track and the soccer field, is scheduled to open next year. It will be certified with an LEED silver rating, which constitutes an environmentally friendly and efficient facility.

The new facility will feature nine coaches' offices, locker rooms for each sport, a separate training facility, team rooms and a video room for breaking down game film.

Among those participating in the groundbreaking ceremonies were Auburn Athletics Director Jay Jacobs, head soccer coach Karen Hoppa, head track and field coach Ralph Spry and members of the soccer and track and field squads.

"Our soccer and track and field programs have demonstrated a commitment to excellence not only athletically but also academically," said Jacobs. "Having a facility like this will help elevate our programs to continue to compete for championships at the SEC and NCAA level. Two of our five goals are winning and graduating our student-athletes. A facility like this will certainly help us obtain a couple of our goals, if not all of them."

Jacobs, Hoppa, Spry and the student-athletes used new shovels and hard hats during the ceremony to dig up the first pieces of dirt on the construction project.

"The new facility is going to benefit every facet of our program," said Hoppa. "The building will be used for game preparations and on game days with brand new locker rooms. It will allow our current student-athletes to come together more often, and will help for recruiting purposes as well."

The facility will also be beneficial to the track and field program, which moved into the new Hutsell-Rosen track complex in 2005. The new facility will strengthen its reputation as one of the nation's top track and field complexes.

"Not only will we have a great facility for our team and coaches, but it also shows a total commitment from the University to the track and field program," said Spry. "It will give us a real boost in recruiting because it will show potential student-athletes that we're making a commitment to providing them with the best possible opportunity to be successful. Having a showcase facility like this really sends a statement that our facilities will be second to none."

The contractor for the project is Hardin Construction of Atlanta, Ga.,