The Kansas State Athletic Department recently unveiled a brand new edition to Bill Snyder Family Stadium at the start of this year’s football season. The Shamrock Zone, a $50 million project, is now one of the highlights of the stadium that opened its doors back in 1968.
The project, which has been in the works since September 2019, is just one of the many parts of K-State Athletics “Building Champions” initiative. The Shamrock Zone’s many amenities include seating for football, an indoor lounge area for all kinds of sporting events and office spaces for K-State Athletics higher-ups.
The Shamrock Zone seamlessly connects the concourse on the north side of Bramlage Coliseum to the south end of Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The area is open for football, basketball, volleyball and other team events.
As a part of the “Building Champions” initiative, the Shamrock Zone is fully funded by donors, something a lot of people working behind the scenes are very proud of.
“If you look at the Big 12, our debt services are near the bottom,” Kenny Lannou, executive associate AD for communications, said. “We just have people that want to support us.”
Related:
Know Your Opponent: The Oklahoma State Cowboys
With 318 club seats, 10 loge boxes and 10 suites, there are plenty of options to get inside. However, opportunities are closing quickly as all ten suites, nine loge boxes and 180 club seats have already been filled.
The 13,500 square foot lounge area features a buffet, a full-service bar and multiple televisions — great for a complete game-day experience.
The main focus of the “Building Champions” initiative is giving back to student-athletes through the Ahearn Fund. The Ahearn Fund is K-State’s National Fund for Student-Athlete Excellence, providing scholarships and resources to players.
“People saw their money was getting results, like an investment,” Mike Clark, senior director of development, said about the Ahearn Fund. “The money goes back to the athletes, the money goes back to the fans. Having better seats, better players, better coaches … Hopefully, that’s something people appreciate.”
Josh McCowan, senior associate AD of development, says this investment will likely bring in close to one million dollars in annual revenue through seating and various events.
“We feel like we can generate a significant amount of revenue that will ultimately go back to the student-athlete,” McCowan said.
