The new Colorado State University football stadium will continue to sport the Sonny Lubick Field name, as an anonymous donor has pledged $20 million toward the project provided the former CSU coach continue to be honored at the new on-campus stadium.
“We are thrilled to continue to honor the legacy of one of the true greats in Colorado State history,” said Colorado State President and CSU System Chancellor Tony Frank in a press release. “Coach Sonny Lubick showed CSU how to win and be competitive at the highest levels — and in doing so, he helped set a trajectory that continues to this day. Sonny means so much to our community; it’s wonderful to honor him in this way.”
Lubick, who led the Rams to six conference titles during his tenure as head coach between 1993 and 2007, won nine bowl games and is one of the winningest coaches in school history. “Carol Jo and I are humbled by this honor,” Lubick said in a press statement. “CSU has been a special place for us for more than 30 years. I want to thank President Frank, Joe Parker and the entire Colorado State and Fort Collins communities for what is a very special legacy for our family. To me, this isn’t just a tribute to one person, but to the entire football program — the players, coaches, staff and fans who help make CSU great. We’re thrilled that our connection to the university and the program will continue in this way.”
Sonny Lubick Field has been the field name at Hughes Stadium since 2004.
The anonymous donor pledged $20 million over 30 years. It’s the second anonymous $20 million gift toward the $220-million stadium, scheduled to open for the 2017 NCAA football season. One advantage in this arrangement: CSU is still open to selling naming rights to the stadium.
Colorado State Athletics Director Joe Parker took the occasion to update the financial progress made toward the new facility. Sales of premium seats at the stadium have reached 96 percent of the goal to meet the stadium finance plan, with 69.7 percent of all premium seats sold more than 18 months prior to the stadium’s inaugural game against Abilene Christian.