FAU Stadium
26°22′31″N 80°6′1″W / 26.37528°N 80.10028°W
The House that Howard Built | |
 | |
 | |
| Location | 777 Glades Road Boca Raton, Florida |
|---|---|
| Owner | Florida Atlantic University |
| Operator | Florida Atlantic University |
| Capacity | 30,000 |
| Surface | Bermuda Grass (Celebration) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 2010 |
| Opened | October 15, 2011 |
| Construction cost | $62 million |
| Architect | HKS/Schenkel Shultz |
| General contractor | James A. Cummings, Inc./Balfour Beatty Construction |
| Tenants | |
| Florida Atlantic Owls (NCAA) (2011-present) | |
GEO Group Stadium is an college football stadium in Boca Raton, Florida, at the north end of the main campus of Florida Atlantic University (FAU). Opened in 2011, it is home to the Florida Atlantic Owls football team and is intended to be the first part of a multi-use development project, called "Innovation Village".
After selecting an architect in 2008, the university began to raise funds for the $70 million facility with the intent to begin construction in 2009. After fundraising efforts slowed, the school delayed construction until 2010. The stadium opened when the 2011 Florida Atlantic Owls football team lost to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on October 15, 2011.
History
Although initial plans for a new stadium hinted at the possibility of a 40,000-seat domed facility, later plans called for a 30,000-seat open air stadium. The steel stadium would allow for future expansion up to 65,000 seats as well as a roof if needed. The architect for the stadium was finalized in July 2008 when the firms of HKS and Schenkel Shultz were awarded the contract, finishing ahead of Ellerbe Becket and HOK.[1]
Funding
The stadium cost USD$70 million and was funded through private donations and partnerships such as naming rights, many of which are yet to be determined. No public funds were used to finance the stadium. To fund the stadium's construction, FAU secured a $12 million development rights deal with Crocker Partners LLC. In return, Crocker Partners secured the right to develop up to 2,400 new apartment-style beds on the Boca Raton campus; the first phase of 1,200 beds opened the fall 2011.[2] On July 21, 2010, FAU trustees voted to approve a $44.6 million finance plan from Regions Bank.[3]
Construction
The school initially expected to break ground in spring 2009 and play its inaugural home game in fall 2010 against Big Ten opponent Michigan State; however, fundraising efforts had fallen short due to the weakened economy, and the stadium opening was delayed until fall 2011. Construction managers James A. Cummings, Inc. (a Tutor Perini Company) and Balfour Beatty Construction broke ground in the fall of 2010. Dant Clayton Corporation handled fabrication and installation of the stadium.
Opening
The venue opened for the Owls' first home game on October 15, 2011, when the team lost to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, 20-0.[4] The announced attendance for the game was 29,103, although attendance dropped to 16,344 for team's second home game against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. The team finished the season with a 1–11 record, its sole win coming against the UAB Blazers on November 26 in front of a home crowd of 12,044. The team's average home attendance for the year in its new stadium was 17,565, ranking it 103rd among Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams that year.[5]
Structure and facilities
The stadium is the first phase of the university's Innovation Village, a multipurpose project which will include four apartment-style residence halls, 130,000 square feet (12,000 m2) of retail shopping space,[6] and a multi-use convocation center for the basketball program modeled after Knights Plaza at the University of Central Florida.[7]
The field uses natural turf (Bermuda grass "Celebration"), making it the only home field in the Sun Belt Conference without artificial turf.[8] The stadium is one of a number of stadiums in Florida which use the same cultivar.[9]
On February 19, 2013, it was announced that the naming rights to the stadium were secured by the GEO Group.
References
- ^ Kurtenbach, Dieter (July 15, 2008). "And the winner is—HKS/Schenkel-Shultz". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
- ^ Miller, Kimberley (July 23, 2009). "Developers Crocker Partners to build, manage FAU dorms on Boca campus". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
- ^ Frank, Samantha (August 18, 2010). "FAU Trustees Approve $44.6 Million Loan for Football Stadium Construction". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
- ^ Hyde, Dave (October 15, 2011). "FAU Has Day to Remember, Game to Forget". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
- ^ Steele, Phil (2012). Phil Steele's 2012 College Football Preview. Cleveland: Phil Steele Publications. p. 301. OCLC 795742664.
- ^ Bandell, Brian (September 18, 2007). "FAU Trustees Approve Stadium Plan". South Florida Business Journal. Advance Publications. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
- ^ Talalay, Sarah (August 30, 2005). "Private Firms are Key to FAU Stadium Plan". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. p. 6C. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
The proposal is modeled on a concept floated at the University of Central Florida for that school's 10,000-seat convocation center for basketball and concerts
[dead link] - ^ Santucci, Jon (October 20, 2011). "FAU's New Stadium: 'House that Howard Built'". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
- ^ King, Chuck (June 13, 2011). "On the Surface" (Press release). Owl Access. Retrieved November 23, 2012.