Story by K-State Athletics Communications
With the inaugural season of K-State women’s soccer debuting in the fall of 2016, K-State Athletics officially broke ground on new practice and competition fields on Saturday morning.
Dignitaries that took part in the ceremony included: Kansas State University first lady Noel Schulz, K-State Athletics Director John Currie and K-State women’s soccer head coach Mike Dibbini.
The new home for soccer will be located just south of Tointon Family Stadium as two grass fields consisting of a Bermuda surface, new irrigation and drainage system are being constructed on the current site of the former football practice fields. The first phase of the project, which began on Monday, is being managed by Mid-America Sports Construction and Wildcat Construction and is anticipated to be completed by July.
Both soccer and football will utilize the space, as a practice field on the east side of the site will accommodate both sports. The soccer competition field is being built along College Avenue on the west side of the site, and will provide versatility for future fan experience amenities including lighting, bleacher seating, a press facility, decorative fencing and a scoreboard. Fans will be able to utilize the existing restroom and concessions facilities at Tointon Family Stadium for games in the fall of 2016. The cost of the initial phase of the project is estimated at $2.1 million and will be totally funded by department-generated revenue.
The new facility for soccer and football, in addition to the current Vanier Football Complex project at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, brings the department’s total facility enhancements total to $192 million following the opening of the West Stadium Center, Basketball Training Facility, Intercollegiate Rowing Facility and Mike Goss Tennis Stadium.
