Ribbon Cutting Announce For Trojan Arena
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: August 30, 2012
Troy
University
will officially cut the ribbon on the new state-of-the-art, 5,500-seat
Trojan Arena during a ceremony set for 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 8.
The
$40 million facility will be home to the Trojan basketball, volleyball
and track programs and will
also be used for the University's commencement ceremonies and special
events. The new Trojan Arena replaces the University's longtime
basketball and events facility, Sartain Hall, which opened in 1962.
"We
believe this new arena will not only accommodate our need for
additional space but it will allow us
to showcase our successful athletics program," said Dr. Jack Hawkins,
Jr., TROY's Chancellor. "The new Trojan Arena will serve us well and I
believe that it represents a progressive step into the future for our
athletics program and for our University as a
whole."
The
new facility was constructed by Whaley Construction Co. of Troy, with
architectural direction by Montgomery-based
Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood and design support by venue specialists
Populus, noted for its designs of such sporting venues as Yankee Stadium
in New York, the main stadium for the 2012 London Olympic Games and
Nanjing Sports Park in China.
"It
seems like yesterday we were visiting arenas and coming up with a plan,
and, now that's it's complete,
it is amazing how quickly the time has gone," said Steve Dennis,
Director of Athletics. "That is a credit to the building committee which
was chaired by Dr. Jim Bookout, the construction teams and contractors
that got the work done. This is an outstanding facility
not only for Troy University, but also the community."
The arena will include upper-level suite seating and an exclusive Stadium Club area for donors, while
also adding floor seating for students. The arena is also equipped with two 767-square foot video boards.
Among the other features of the new arena are a three-tiered rotunda at the main entrance, an interior
concourse with concession stands and a food court-styled dining center with specialty food items.
The
new arena also is home to the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame.
Digital displays of the members
are located adjacent to the rotunda. The inaugural Hall of Fame
induction banquet, held Aug. 10, was the first event held in the new
facility.
Taking
part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony will be: the Rev. Lonnie Cochran,
chaplain for Troy University's
chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes; Men's Basketball Coach
Don Maestri; Steve Dennis, Director of Athletics; the Hon. Gerald Dial,
President Pro Tempore of the Troy University Board of Trustees; and,
Chancellor Hawkins. Dr. Jim Bookout, Senior
Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance Affairs, will serve as the
Master of Ceremonies.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be followed by the football team's Trojan Walk at 3:45 p.m. Kickoff between
the Trojans and Louisiana-Lafayette is set for 6 p.m.
