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. The $70 million stadium was funded through student fees, private donations, and naming rights partnerships, some of which have yet to be determined. 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.
The playing surface was named Howard Schnellenberger Field, after the founding coach of the Owls football program, on August 20, 2014. Schnellenberger spent the final 11 seasons of his coaching career at FAU, retiring after the 2011 season.[4]
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.[5] The new football stadium was projected to cost $70 million.[6] 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.[7] On July 21, 2010, FAU trustees approved $44.6 million finance plan from Regions Bank.[8] FAU Stadium is one of the only collegiate football stadiums in the United States with a 180 degree view of the ocean from its highest seating positions.
Construction
The school initially expected to break ground in spring 2009 and play its inaugural home game in fall 2010 against the Michigan State Spartans; however, fundraising efforts fell short, 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.
The venue opened for the Owls' first home game on October 15, 2011, when the team lost to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, 20–0.[9] 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 Owls 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.[10]
Naming rights
Although the project had acquired approximately $3.69 million through naming rights by June 2011, the school had yet to sell the naming rights to stadium itself by the end of the team's first season in the facility. Originally, FAU aimed for a $1 million-per-year deal, but had dropped that expectation to around $400,000 by the team's first home game of the 2011 season. During halftime at that game, FAU athletic director Craig Angelos stated that the school was "very close" to making a deal.[11]
On February 19, 2013, the school announced that the naming rights to the stadium had been secured for approximately $6 million by the GEO Group, a private prison investor and operator. The $6 million would have been paid over 12 years.[12] The company's chief executive officer, George Zoley, is an alumnus of the school and member of the FAU Board of Trustees.[13] In reaction to the deal, FAU play-by-play announcer Ken LaVicka dubbed the stadium "Owlcatraz".[14] After public pressure from a handful of protests and significant bad publicity, Zoley and FAU president Mary Jane Saunders canceled the naming rights deal.[15]
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,[16] and a multi-use convocation center for the basketball program modeled after Knights Plaza at the University of Central Florida.[17] The field uses natural turf (Bermuda grass "Celebration"), and while FAU has been in Conference USA for a few seasons now, it was the only home field in the Sun Belt Conference without artificial turf.[18] The stadium is one of a number of stadiums in Florida which use the same cultivar.[19]
The skybox and press box overlook the Atlantic Ocean; FAU claims that no other football stadium in the United States offers a view of the open ocean.[1]
^. Archived from the original on 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
^"Major League Lacrosse finally lands its long-desired South Florida franchise".
^"FAU Stadium Field to Be Named in Honor of Legendary Coach Howard Schnellenberger" (Press release). Florida Atlantic Owls. August 20, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
^Kurtenbach, Dieter (July 15, 2008). "And the Winner is—HKS/Schenkel-Shultz". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
^Hutton, Ted (2011-06-10). "FAU's Football Stadium Could Produce a Profit". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2013-02-19. Five percent of the fees now collected will go toward the stadium, an amount estimated at $467,483.
^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. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
^Steele, Phil (2012). Phil Steele's 2012 College Football Preview. Cleveland: Phil Steele Publications. p. 301. OCLC 795742664.
^D'Angelo, Tom (2011-10-16). "FAU's New Stadium Still Without a Name as School Seeks a Sponsor". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
^Yi, Karen (2013-02-19). "FAU Gets $6 Million Gift for Athletics". Sun-Sentinel. South Florida. Retrieved 2013-02-22.
^D'Angelo, Tom (February 19, 2013). . The Palm Beach Post. Archived from the original on February 22, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
^Kurtenbach, Dieter (2013-02-21). "Group Starts Petition to Remove GEO Group Name from FAU Stadium". Sun-Sentinel. South Florida. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
^. Sun-Sentinel. April 1, 2013. Archived from the original on April 23, 2013. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
^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). . South Florida Sun-Sentinel. p. 6C. Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. 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
^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). (Press release). Owl Access. Archived from the original on October 9, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
stadium, howard, schnellenberger, field, college, football, stadium, located, north, main, campus, florida, atlantic, university, boca, raton, florida, opened, 2011, home, florida, atlantic, owls, football, team, intended, first, part, multi, development, proj. Howard Schnellenberger Field at FAU Stadium is a college football stadium located at the north end of the main campus of Florida Atlantic University FAU in Boca Raton Florida Opened in 2011 it is home to the Florida Atlantic Owls football team and is intended to be the first part of FAU s multi use development project Innovation Village as a replacement for Lockhart StadiumHoward Schnellenberger Field at FAU StadiumThe House that Howard BuiltThe stadium at night October 2011Howard Schnellenberger Field at FAU StadiumLocation in FloridaShow map of FloridaHoward Schnellenberger Field at FAU StadiumLocation in the United StatesShow map of the United StatesLocation777 Glades Road Boca Raton FloridaCoordinates26 22 31 N 80 6 1 W 26 37528 N 80 10028 W 26 37528 80 10028 Coordinates 26 22 31 N 80 6 1 W 26 37528 N 80 10028 W 26 37528 80 10028Public transitBoca RatonOwnerFlorida Atlantic UniversityOperatorFlorida Atlantic UniversityExecutive suites24 1 Capacity29 571 1 Record attendance30 991 Sept 17 2022 vs UCF SurfaceCelebration Bermuda Turf GrassConstructionBroke ground2010OpenedOctober 15 2011 2011 10 15 Construction cost 70 millionArchitectHKS Schenkel ShultzGeneral contractorJames A Cummings Inc Balfour Beatty ConstructionTenantsFlorida Atlantic Owls NCAA 2011 present Boca Raton Bowl NCAA 2014 present Florida Launch MLL 2014 2018 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 The 70 million stadium was funded through student fees private donations and naming rights partnerships some of which have yet to be determined 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 Starting in 2014 FAU Stadium became home to the Boca Raton Bowl a college football bowl game which features teams from the Mid American Conference and in alternating years Conference USA and the American Athletic Conference 2 Also starting in 2014 FAU Stadium was home to the Major League Lacrosse s Florida Launch until 2018 3 The playing surface was named Howard Schnellenberger Field after the founding coach of the Owls football program on August 20 2014 Schnellenberger spent the final 11 seasons of his coaching career at FAU retiring after the 2011 season 4 Contents 1 History 1 1 Early planning and finance 1 2 Construction 1 3 Opening season 1 4 Naming rights 2 Notable events 2 1 Soccer 3 Structure and facilities 4 Attendance Records 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditEarly planning and finance Edit 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 5 The new football stadium was projected to cost 70 million 6 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 7 On July 21 2010 FAU trustees approved 44 6 million finance plan from Regions Bank 8 FAU Stadium is one of the only collegiate football stadiums in the United States with a 180 degree view of the ocean from its highest seating positions Construction Edit The school initially expected to break ground in spring 2009 and play its inaugural home game in fall 2010 against the Michigan State Spartans however fundraising efforts fell short 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 season Edit North end zone on opening day October 15 2011 See also 2011 Florida Atlantic Owls football team The venue opened for the Owls first home game on October 15 2011 when the team lost to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 20 0 9 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 Owls 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 10 Naming rights Edit Although the project had acquired approximately 3 69 million through naming rights by June 2011 the school had yet to sell the naming rights to stadium itself by the end of the team s first season in the facility Originally FAU aimed for a 1 million per year deal but had dropped that expectation to around 400 000 by the team s first home game of the 2011 season During halftime at that game FAU athletic director Craig Angelos stated that the school was very close to making a deal 11 On February 19 2013 the school announced that the naming rights to the stadium had been secured for approximately 6 million by the GEO Group a private prison investor and operator The 6 million would have been paid over 12 years 12 The company s chief executive officer George Zoley is an alumnus of the school and member of the FAU Board of Trustees 13 In reaction to the deal FAU play by play announcer Ken LaVicka dubbed the stadium Owlcatraz 14 After public pressure from a handful of protests and significant bad publicity Zoley and FAU president Mary Jane Saunders canceled the naming rights deal 15 Notable events EditSoccer Edit Date Team Home Runs Team Visitor Runs SpectatorsDecember 15 2012 United States women 4 China women 1 10 493May 29 2013 Ecuador 2 Germany 4 5 500February 8 2014 United States women 7 Russia women 0 8 857October 14 2014 United States 1 Honduras 1 14 805January 17 2016 Atletico Mineiro 1 Corinthians 0 N AJanuary 17 2016 Independiente Santa Fe 2 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1 N AStructure and facilities Edit Main stand in 2014 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 16 and a multi use convocation center for the basketball program modeled after Knights Plaza at the University of Central Florida 17 The field uses natural turf Bermuda grass Celebration and while FAU has been in Conference USA for a few seasons now it was the only home field in the Sun Belt Conference without artificial turf 18 The stadium is one of a number of stadiums in Florida which use the same cultivar 19 The skybox and press box overlook the Atlantic Ocean FAU claims that no other football stadium in the United States offers a view of the open ocean 1 Attendance Records EditAttendance Record at FAU StadiumRank Attendance Opponent Date Result1 30 991 UCF September 17 2022 L 14 402 30 811 UCF September 7 2019 L 14 483 30 321 Miami FL September 9 2015 L 20 444 29 103 Western Kentucky October 15 2011 L 0 205 28 481 Navy September 1 2017 L 19 426 25 912 Akron December 19 2017 W 50 37 24 726 FIU October 2 2021 W 58 218 24 116 FIU November 18 2017 W 52 249 24 101 Air Force September 8 2018 W 33 2710 21 465 Rice October 22 2022 W 17 1411 19 760 Marshall October 12 2013 L 23 2412 19 571 Charlotte August 27 2022 W 43 1313 19 017 Bethune Cookman September 15 2018 W 49 2814 18 376 Western Kentucky November 26 2022 L 31 32OT15 18 205 Old Dominion October 6 2018 W 52 3316 17 736 Georgia Southern September 4 2021 W 38 617 17 724 UAB November 11 2014 L 28 3118 17 532 Southeastern Louisiana September 10 2022 W 42 919 17 132 Fordham September 18 2021 W 45 1420 17 129 Marshall October 17 2015 L 17 33Overall Record at FAU Stadium 41 29See also EditList of NCAA Division I FBS football stadiumsReferences Edit a b c FAU Athletics 2011 Facilities fausports com Retrieved 2013 02 19 MAC Announces the Creation of the Boca Raton Bowl gt MAC gt News Archived from the original on 2013 10 14 Retrieved 2013 11 07 Major League Lacrosse finally lands its long desired South Florida franchise FAU Stadium Field to Be Named in Honor of Legendary Coach Howard Schnellenberger Press release Florida Atlantic Owls August 20 2014 Retrieved August 20 2014 Kurtenbach Dieter July 15 2008 And the Winner is HKS Schenkel Shultz South Florida Sun Sentinel Retrieved November 23 2012 Hutton Ted 2011 06 10 FAU s Football Stadium Could Produce a Profit South Florida Sun Sentinel Archived from the original on 2011 07 16 Retrieved 2013 02 19 Five percent of the fees now collected will go toward the stadium an amount estimated at 467 483 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 Archived from the original on February 3 2013 Retrieved November 23 2012 Steele Phil 2012 Phil Steele s 2012 College Football Preview Cleveland Phil Steele Publications p 301 OCLC 795742664 D Angelo Tom 2011 10 16 FAU s New Stadium Still Without a Name as School Seeks a Sponsor The Palm Beach Post Retrieved 2013 02 20 Yi Karen 2013 02 19 FAU Gets 6 Million Gift for Athletics Sun Sentinel South Florida Retrieved 2013 02 22 D Angelo Tom February 19 2013 FAU Finally Secures Naming Rights for Football Stadium The Palm Beach Post Archived from the original on February 22 2013 Retrieved February 19 2013 Kurtenbach Dieter 2013 02 21 Group Starts Petition to Remove GEO Group Name from FAU Stadium Sun Sentinel South Florida Retrieved 2013 02 21 FAU stadium loses 6 million stadium gift from GEO Group after deal draws protests Sun Sentinel April 1 2013 Archived from the original on April 23 2013 Retrieved April 1 2013 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 Archived from the original on September 26 2007 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 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 Archived from the original on October 9 2011 Retrieved November 23 2012 External links EditOfficial websitePreceded byWakeMed Soccer Park Host of the Women s College Cup2014 Succeeded byWakeMed Soccer Park Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title FAU Stadium amp oldid 1145340681, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
