The football stadium is seen last year. Photo: The Daily Mississippian.
The University of Mississippi hired AECOM Technology as the new architect for the Vaught-Hemingway Stadium expansion and the new basketball arena construction.
The Vaught-Hemingway Stadium expansion will include additional suites and club seats and bowl the north end zone of the stadium.
Executive Director of the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation Keith Carter said that after selling out basketball and football games, the changes are much-needed.
“I think for us we’ve always been at an arms race,” Carter said. “As the SEC continues to grow, so must we in order to meet our additional needs for premium seating.”
The funds for the basketball arena will come from Ole Miss Forward Together donations as well as $80 million the university borrowed.
AECOM will begin excavation for the new basketball arena over spring break. Construction will start in late fall of the 2015-16 season. The arena will seat 9,500 fans and will include a number of first class amenities. The arena will include a private student concourse, courtside and baseline seating for students, three premium club areas, more than 1,500 premium seats and an intimate seating bowl.
The construction on Vaught-Hemingway is set to begin after the 2014 football season and will last until December 2015. The university plans on raising $35 million to complete the project.
“We are fiscally responsible and intend to remain good stewards,” Carter said. “The project will fund itself. We have had major gift giving.”
Forward Together set a goal to raise $150 million for the stadium expansion. The campaign has raised $105 million thus far. The university plans to avoid borrowing money for the stadium project. The expansion will be paid through donations and the profit from selling priority seats.
30 new premium seats have already been purchased but the project is still in the beginning stages.
Students have expressed positive feedback to the upcoming changes.
Managerial finance and real estate sophomore Will Rankin said the improvement to Ole Miss will soon be evident.
“Although we are giving up some parking and conveniences now, new and improved athletic facilities will be an asset for the university in the future,” Rankin said.
— Chekarey Hailey
