Kansas State Athletics director Gene Taylor announced on Saturday that the donation goal for a new soccer stadium and updated baseball facilities has been reached and surpassed by $3 million.
K-State Athletics set out to raise $10 million for the new and updated facilities in October, but it has already raised $13 million. According to a press release, “department revenues and resources” will cover the remainder of the estimated $15 million cost.Related:
K-State Athletics releases $15 million plans for baseball, soccer complexes
“The support base and the fan base here at K-State, they are just extremely generous and supportive of all our sports here,” head soccer coach Mike Dibbini said. “We could not thank them enough for their contributions, especially helping a new program like soccer.”
Dibbini said the soccer team had been dressing pre-game in Bramlage Coliseum and then heading over to the Soccer Complex, and the Wildcats spent halftime in a tent.
“It is a place where we can congregate, meet, build a culture, build some traditions and finally have a home away from home where we can be stable and not be scattered around on campus,” Dibbini said.
The new facilities are something Dibbini said he can also use to help on the recruiting trail. In soccer, prospective players commit to colleges as early as their freshman year of high school.
“Recruits coming on campus and actually seeing what we have for facilities helps us on the recruiting side of things,” Dibbini said.
K-State Athletics said the new soccer stadium will be more than just a coliseum for soccer games. It will also include strength and conditioning facilities, offices and a dedicated locker room.
The seating will also be expanded to accommodate larger crowds for cheering on the Wildcats.
“[The large crowds] just goes back to showing how supportive the K-Staters are,” Dibbini said. “I remember walking out in the first game — I’ve never been nervous, but my butterflies were going that game.”
Dibbini said the K-State soccer team is the top team in the Big 12 Conference and top 10 nationwide for fan attendance. The large crowds are something he frequently mentions on the recruiting trail.
“It is exciting,” Dibbini said. “This is great for our university and our community. We are excited to be the first ones in this new building.”
The renovations to Tointon Family Stadium will include a new façade and a new clubhouse for baseball team usage.
“I am really excited for our two teams — both soccer and baseball — and really our donors were huge,” Taylor said. “The impact it is going to have on both those programs is huge.”
K-State Athletics plans to break ground on the Tointon Family Stadium renovations on May 11 during the game against KU. The groundbreaking for the soccer stadium is scheduled for the Oct. 12 game against Texas Tech.
Both projects are expected to be completed by the end of 2019.
