State-of-the-art look for Falcon Stadium

Article posted by Coliseum, September 23^rd, 2021

Image: Air Force Academy

After nearly six decades of football games, graduations, concerts, and various events, proposed renovations are coming to Falcon Stadium (US), with a goal of transforming the facility into a state-of-the-art, world-class venue.

The ‘Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation’ stated that the Air Force Academy Foundation and the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation have announced a proposed multiphase Falcon Stadium renovation project as part of the ‘Defining Our Future’ campaign in support of the Air Force Academy, publicly launched on September 10^th.

The 46,692-capacity Falcon Stadium is an outdoor football stadium in the Western United States, on the campus of the U.S. Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs, Colorado (US). It is the home field of the Air Force Falcons of the Mountain West Conference, and also holds the Academy’s graduation ceremonies each Spring.

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The Air Force Falcons are the athletic teams that represent the United States Air Force Academy. The intercollegiate program has 17 men’s and 10 women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)-sanctioned teams. The majority of the Falcons teams compete as members of the Mountain West Conference (one of the collegiate athletic conferences affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision).

The Air Force Academy Fund is an unrestricted annual fund that enables the Air Force Academy Foundation to serve and support the Air Force Academy and its mission of developing leaders of character.

The mission of the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation (AFAAC) is to support the Air Force Athletic Department mission of producing leaders of character for the nation (US). To generate the necessary revenue to support Air Force Intercollegiate Athletics and promote the Air Force Academy to the Nation through athletics.

Asserted Nate Pine, Air Force Academy Director of Athletics, “We need to continue to invest and improve our fan experience in Falcon Stadium. There is a lot of competition out there for entertainment dollars, and there is a lot of expectation in our fan base in what they’re seeing in other venues, so we need to make sure we continue to be relevant from an experiential standpoint every bit as much as we want to be competitive and win games on the field.”

The investment required for the initial phase will total $70 million, with philanthropic support from the Air Force Academy Foundation providing $35 million as part of the campaign and the remaining half financed by the Athletic Corporation revenue. The current phase is part of a multiphase master plan to upgrade and transform Falcon Stadium and will total about $180 million when finished.

With most of the initial upgrades coming on the East side of the stadium, the proposed plans include a dramatic new stadium entrance, an updated event space, relocation of the cadet section, and a heritage plaza. Improved seating, concessions areas, restrooms, and merchandise space will offer fans a more modern and comfortable feel as they take in an event.

Said Troy Calhoun, Air Force Academy Football Coach and 1989 graduate of the Academy, “Businesswise, it’s a breakthrough for the institution that has to happen to be modern. I think there is as much yearning and as much momentum as there has ever been in the history of the Air Force Academy, not only to make some philanthropic contributions but to help the institution.”

The proposed modernization looks to turn the iconic venue into a world-class event center.

Added Pine, “I think the enhancements make it more attractive for a myriad of events. It hosts Falcon football and Falcon lacrosse in our sporting teams, but with graduation every year, and being visited by the President of the United States every four, it’s a big-time venue.”

The Falcon Stadium modernization project is part of the ‘Defining Our Future’ campaign in support of the United States Air Force Academy.

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