James Madison Excited To Debut $62.5 Million Stadium Expansion

August 23, 2011 /
Daily Press, Dave Fairbank

http://articles.dailypress.com/2011-08-22/sports/dp-spt-jmu-stadium-expansion-20110822_1_mickey-matthews-jmu-bridgeforth-stadium

Mickey Matthews said that James Madison’s newly expanded Bridgeforth Stadium usually prompts one of two reactions from people who see it for the first time.

“One is you hear the word, ’Wow,’ ” the Dukes’ football coach said. “The second reaction that you get a lot is that people are speechless. They just don’t know what to say.”

Bridgeforth Stadium’s two-year, $62.5-million upgrade includes the addition of 10,000 seats, bringing the capacity to approximately 25,000, a 24×60-foot video board above the south end zone, and an enhanced sound system.

There are luxury suites, as well as club-level and preferred seating, greater amenities for fans, as well as more seats for students.

The Dukes will debut their new playpen Sept. 10 against Central Connecticut State, one of five home games this season.

“It’s a terrific game-day experience that we have here,” athletic director Jeff Bourne said Monday. “It was great before the expansion of this stadium ever took place. We just look to continue that and move it up in the near future.”

Bourne had just returned from an hour-and-a-half tour of the stadium and facilities with a donor. He has seven more such tours planned this week, in advance of an open house this weekend.

Traditionally, JMU holds a pep rally at the stadium for incoming freshmen the Friday before classes begin. This year, however, because of the quality of the video board and the sound system, the school is holding a movie night at the stadium.

“Because the Jumbotron and the sound quality are so good, you’ll feel like you’re at an old-time drive-in,” Matthews said.

Matthews believes that JMU’s facilities now rate in the top 40 nationally, at any level. He said that they surpass most Conference USA programs he’s seen and rival several ACC programs, in terms of facilities, if not sheer stadium size.

“To put it mildly, it will enhance your recruiting,” Matthews said. “Any coach will tell you that facilities are paramount, and you have to show something to a recruit. When we bring prospective college football players to our place, they go away very impressed with what it looks like. It turns a lot of heads.”

As of Aug. 10, JMU had sold 6,902 season tickets for 2011, generating $806,000 in revenue. Year-to-date revenue for football, according to athletic department officials, is $1,176,907. As of Monday, season ticket sales had surpassed 7,000.

Last season, JMU sold 5,128 season tickets, generating $403,840. Total football revenue for the year was $830,258.

Compare that to 2001, Matthews’ third season, when JMU sold 1,758 season tickets. Revenue was $91,646, and total revenue from football was $201,263.

Season tickets range from $550 for club seats, plus a donation to the athletic fund, to $100 for general seating. Suites cost $20,000 per year, plus the required donation.


Leave a Reply