Brooks Stadium
 | |
| Location |
540 University Blvd Conway, South Carolina 29528 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 33°47′35″N 79°01′04″W / 33.793013°N 79.017652°WCoordinates: 33°47′35″N 79°01′04″W / 33.793013°N 79.017652°W |
| Owner | Coastal Carolina University |
| Operator | Coastal Carolina University |
| Capacity |
21,000 (2017-future) 9,214 (2012-present) 9,112 (2010-2011) 7,322 (2006-2009) 6,408 (2003-2005) |
| Surface |
FieldTurf (teal) (2015-present) Grass (2003-2014) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | July 30, 2002 |
| Opened | September 6, 2003 |
| Renovated | 2017 |
| Expanded | 2010, 2017 |
| Construction cost | $20.1 Million (includes Adkins FH) |
| Architect | McMillan Smith & Partners |
| General contractor | Hill Construction[1] |
| Tenants | |
| Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football (NCAA) (2003–present) | |
Brooks Stadium is a 9,214-seat multi-purpose stadium in Conway, South Carolina. It is home to the Coastal Carolina University Chanticleers football team. The facility opened in 2003 and is named in honor of Coby Garrett Brooks and Boni Belle Brooks, children of the late Robert "Bob" Brooks.[2] Brooks was a Loris, South Carolina native and was the chairman of Hooters of America, Inc. The stadium is notable for its teal artificial turf.[3]
History and renovation
Groundbreaking for Brooks Stadium was held on July 30, 2002. Phase I of the stadium construction contained 6,408 seats, while the foundation and infrastructure of the stadium was designed to support future expansion to 20,000 seats.[4] The stadium was formally dedicated on September 6, 2003, as the Chanticleer football team opened its inaugural game vs. Newberry College in front of a crowd of more than 8,000. The stadium was designed to be expandable to seat nearly 20,000. On October 7, 2006, the field was named James C. Benton Field to honor the family for a large donation they made to the Coastal athletics program earlier in the year.
2017 Expansion
Following the announcement of the university joining the Sun Belt Conference on September 1, 2015, Brooks Stadium will undergo construction to expand the stadium to 20,000 seats; the NCAA requires FBS programs to maintain an average attendance of at least 15,000 over a rolling two-year cycle. The addition will complete a lower level seating bowl between the home & visitor sections as well as adding a second level to the west side backing up to S.C. Highway 544. The new seating will connect the sections and form a horseshoe like stadium, whereas the two sides are currently separate. The expansion will be largely completed in time for the 2017 season, when Chanticleer football team will begin competition in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision.[5] In addition to increased seating and additional amenities, the project will also add a suite level above the visitor stands.
The expansion project received approval from the state in November 2015, however construction is not expected to begin until January, 2017. Coastal Carolina University officials have set the project pricetag at $38 million.[6] The committee also announced in February the lead architects for the expansion will be Heery International, Inc. architectural firm and Stubbs Muldrow Herin architects. The project is expected to be completed by March, 2017.[7]
Adkins Fieldhouse
The $8.5 million Adkins Fieldhouse opened at Brooks Stadium in June 2010. It is named for brothers Mark and Will Adkins (Coastal Carolina '89), who donated $1.5 million to the project. The fieldhouse added 1,600 seats, bringing the stadium capacity to 9,112.
The Adkins Fieldhouse also includes...
- Football Offices, meeting rooms, and football locker room
- 13,000-square-foot (1,200 m2) Strength & Conditioning Center for all student-athletes
- Men's and Woman's Cross Country/Track & Field Offices
- Men's and Woman's Soccer Offices
- Men's and Woman's Golf Offices
- Men's Tennis Office
- Baseball Office
- Softball Office
- George F. "Buddy" Sasser Athletic Hall of Fame
Gallery
-
Home Stands.
-
Adkins Fieldhouse, located in the north endzone.
References
- ↑ "Coastal Carolina University Stadium" (PDF). Hill Construction. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
- ↑ Football stadium at Coastal to be named for Brooks Archived September 22, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ McGuire, Kevin (2015-01-25). "Coastal Carolina going with teal for new artificial turf". NBC Sports.
- ↑ "Football stadium at Coastal to be named for Brooks". Coastal Carolina University. August 11, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
- ↑ Byun, Claire (September 1, 2015). "Coastal Carolina University students, coaches, business owners respond to conference change". The Sun News. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
- ↑ "Coastal Carolina committee approves $38M bonds for Brooks Stadium expansion". Coastal Carolina University. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
- ↑ "Brooks Stadium Additions" (PDF). Coastal Carolina University. Retrieved April 8, 2016.