Averett Breaks Ground on Frank R. Campbell Stadium

Posted on October 26th, 2015 by Emily Tomlinson

Campbell_groundbreakingAverett University broke ground on the Frank R. Campbell Stadium at the North Campus on Saturday, Oct. 24 following the football game. Construction of the $3.3 million project will begin on November 2, following the conclusion of the 2015 football and soccer seasons, and is expected to be completed July 2016. This is another project which is part of Averett’s successful $29.1 million comprehensive capital campaign.

The new stadium will be named after Averett’s twenty-second president, President Emeritus Dr. Frank R. Campbell. Campbell served as president from 1985-2002. During his 17 year tenure, the university saw many changes and improvements including:

  • achieving university status;
  • the construction of five facilities — Grousbeck Music Building, the Equestrian Center, the North Campus, Averett Commons Apartments and the football fieldhouse;
  • the introduction of the Graduate and Professional Studies Program;
  • the addition of the master of arts in teaching degree and master of education degree;
  • the expansion of the athletics program to include men’s baseball, football and women’s soccer;
  • the expansion of the campus from 19 acres to 210 acres
  • raising nearly $50 million; and
  • increasing the endowment from $240,000 to nearly $26 million.

Averett completed the $1.9 million first phase of the stadium complex last summer with the installation of state-of-the-art synthetic turf and lights on Daly Field. This newest phase of the stadium complex will include the J.T. Emerson Press Box, the President’s Suite, new stands for seating, a dramatic entryway and plaza, and more. Signature gifts from the E. Stuart James Grant Charitable Trust, the JT˗Minnie Maude Charitable Trust, the Philip N. Daly and Frances K. Daly Charitable Lead Unitrust, former Board of Trustee member Richard Wright and his wife, Jean, Beverley and Doug Dalton and an anonymous donor in addition to other generous donors helped make the stadium complex possible.

“We look forward to beginning construction on this exciting state-of-the-art addition to our campus,” said Athletics Director Meg Stevens. “It will enhance the overall student experience while providing our fans with an even more memorable game day atmosphere.

“This stadium not only impacts Averett athletics, it changes Averett and it changes Danville. This new venue will give the university a chance to host other local and regional events and opens the door for the community to see all the great opportunities Averett has to offer.”

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