FLORENCE – University of North Alabama officials announced Friday that big changes are coming to the school.
Those changes will be coming in the form of an on-campus, multipurpose stadium.
UNA President Dr. Kenneth Kitts discussed the beginning of the process that helped to secure Bank Independent Stadium.
“I would be remiss if I failed to point out that the path that brings us here today started actually dates to late 2018 when our student government association completed a survey that indicated broad and deep support for an on campus stadium at UNA,” said Kitts.
“SGA endorsed that survey up to me by resolution and I subsequently convened a task force to conduct a feasibility study and seek additional input.”
However, Kitts said that the project faced adversity early on, and that when “the pandemic hit we had to put those discussions on hold.”
He also noted that it wasn’t just students interested in the idea of a new stadium.
“We never forgot about our commitment to listen to our students,” Kitts said. “And so when the time was right we began to quietly re engage on this topic and what we found then was the interest of bringing this project to life was shared in a very real way by key alumni and friends.”
Athletics Director Dr. Jason Looney said the school is ready for the new stadium.
“It feels great to say today publicly that that time is now. The time is now for the University of North Alabama,” he said. “Our trustees have approved us to move into the design stage of this project and approved our name with our partner Bank Independent. Over the past 18 months or so we have actively and strategically communicated an athletic vision and a community experience to re imagine this site right here that would include an on-campus stadium.”
The proposed stadium will re-develop areas used by North Alabama baseball, football, and soccer, while providing an opportunity to host numerous sporting and non-sporting events. Non- athletic events could include concerts, live performances as well as other academic and community events.
With Friday’s vote by the Board of Trustees, Bank Independent Stadium will enter the design phase, which is anticipated to take approximately 12-18 months. UNA will enter into an agreement with a sports construction firm to formalize the project scope, design, and financial strategy.
UNA, which has won seven Division II National Championships, is a member of the NCAA Division I’s ASUN Conference.
“Today’s vote is the culmination of much work and planning and so many conversations with others who told us, unequivocally, that the time has come to make the idea of an on-campus stadium at UNA a reality,” Looney said. “We are incredibly appreciative of the philanthropic momentum surrounding this project.
“Roar Lions!”
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