MIAMI — FIU Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment Pete Garcia announced today plans for the expansion of Alfonso Field at FIU Stadium. The planned expansion to close in the north side of the stadium is slated to begin following the conclusion of the 2011 home football schedule and is expected to be completed by Sept. 1, 2012.
“This is the next phase in building Alfonso Field at FIU Stadium into one of the top facilities in college football,” Garcia said. “It is also an important phase in the development of the FIU football program. As Head Coach Mario Cristobal continues to build a championship program, it is essential to have the proper resources and facilities set in place. We want to give FIU football the best possible chance to compete with the top teams in the nation and the completion of this phase just furthers our commitment to the program, our student-athletes, and our fans. I want to thank President Mark Rosenberg and the University administration for their support, the facilities department for working around the clock to make this happen and our student body, who are our biggest supporters.”
“This is a huge step forward,” Head Coach Mario Cristobal said. “It keeps us on pace with everyone else in the country in terms of the facilities race. The most important thing is that this shows the continued growth of our program, the continued growth of our stadium and of our facilities, and the continued growth of the University. At FIU, we are going forward and we are going forward at 100 miles-per-hour. We are really excited about this. FIU is committed to building a big time football program in every sense.”
The facility’s third phase, expected to be completed by Sept. 1, 2012, will increase the stadium’s capacity to between 20,000-25,000. Demolition of the old bleachers will begin following FIU’s final home game of the 2011 season versus Florida Atlantic (Nov. 12) with construction on the north side of Alfonso Field at FIU Stadium scheduled to begin in January of 2012.
Alfonso Field at FIU Stadium opened its gates on September 20, 2008. The stadium currently has a capacity of 18,000, featuring 1,500 club seats, a 6,438-square-foot Stadium Club, an upper concourse and 19 premium suites. Seating includes both chair back and bench seating with backrests for fan convenience.
Adjacent to the stadium in the west endzone is the R. Kirk Landon Fieldhouse, which opened in the fall of 2009. The 50,000-square-foot, two-story facility is highlighted by a 14,000-square-foot clear-span weight room that is used by all FIU student-athletes for strength and conditioning.
About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 17 different sports, and is a proud member of the Sun Belt Conference and an affiliate member of Conference USA (men’s soccer). Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU’s campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including U.S. Century Bank Arena and Alfonso Field at FIU Stadium.
