CAPITAL PROJECTS / FACILITIES

New Looks at Delaware Stadium:

Fans flocking to Newark for the 2008 Blue Hen football home opener will see plenty of changes around Delaware Stadium.

Most visible will be two new Daktronics scoreboards, including a 16 x 20-foot video display at the North end zone and a scoreboard affixed to the side of the Bob Carpenter Center at the South end zone.

The new LCD video display will give fans crystal clear play by play and replay video of all the game action as well as enhanced game-day promotions and advertisements.

Another change to Delaware Stadium this summer was the final stage of a three-year refurburshing project of the West stands that included sealing and caulking the concrete. Just North of Delaware Stadium, two and a half full-sized Field Turf practice fields, new lights, and a timing system were installed this summer.

The new practice fields, which replaced grass surfaces, gives Delaware one of the top practice facilities in NCAA Division I FCS football. The fields will be used not only by the Blue Hen football team, but by other UD athletics teams, club teams, and intramurals.

K.C. Keeler, Football Head Coach said, "We now have a Division I practice facility with the installation of the artificial turf fields. It is now a first class facility! Our players are thrilled. Weather is not an issue. We practice in the rain and after a rain without any disruption to practices.

The upgrade to our practice facility has assisted with our recruiting efforts. Recruits are impressed with the facility and we are way ahead of pace on our verbal commitments."

In addition to those projects, a new Astro Turf 12 field was installed in Rullo Stadium this past summer.

Kim Ciarrocca, Head Women's Lacrosse Coach stated, "The renovated Rullo Field is a first class facility that allows our athletes to compete at the highest level."

Carol Miller, Field Hockey Head Coach said, "We are extremely excited about the new Astroturf 12 surface on Rullo Stadium. It not only offers our players the best surface available on the market today, for the sport of field hockey, but demonstrates to our student-athletes, alumnae and recruits the level of commitment to which our administration is aspiring to bring us one step closer in providing us, that which is necessary to compete in our ever-challenging Colonial Athletic Association."