Another college football stadium debut will take place this weekend, as the University of New Hampshire will roll out Wildcat Stadium.
Constructed for the start of this season, Wildcat Stadium replaces Cowell Stadium as the home of the Wildcats. The move represents a vast change in facilities for the program, as Cowell Stadium opened in 1936 and did not offer some of the amenities that will be featured at Wildcat Stadium.
With a capacity of more than 11,000, Wildcat Stadium will offer premium spaces that were unavailable at Cowell Stadium. Overall, there are 512 club seats in the facility. The stadium also features improved concessions and accessibility than what was available at the previous facility.
In addition to football, Wildcat Stadium has been built to handle sports such as track and field, soccer, and lacrosse. That will give it a purpose to the school that goes beyond football, but University of New Hampshire officials ultimately believe that the facility will have its most dramatic effect on the football program. More from the Union Leader:
Jon Danos, the senior associate athletic director for external affairs, said there is a lot of work being done behind the scenes to make sure Saturday’s opening night is a success.
“We’re really excited to get to this point. This is a sort of a once-in-a-generation opportunity to introduce a new facility of this nature,” Danos said.
Athletics Director Marty Scarano said even though there are still lots of things to do before the big day, everyone can feel history in the making.
“The opening of this stadium — it’s not just about a football stadium, it’s about a great venue and a great addition to the university,” Scarano said.
Wildcat Stadium was constructed at a cost of $25 million.
Image courtesy of the UNH Wildcats