By: by Jennifer Hafer, Kennesaw State University Relations
KENNESAW, Ga. - It has been 18 months in the making, but on Dec. 1, Kennesaw State University and the Atlanta Beat women’s professional soccer team announced a partnership that will culminate in the construction of a $16.5 million, 8,300-seat soccer stadium.
Scheduled for completion in spring 2010, the stadium is a major component of Phase II of the university’s new Sports & Recreation Park. It will be located on a 21-acre parcel of 88 acres of land recently purchased for the university by the Kennesaw State University Foundation. The property lies between George Busbee Parkway and the I-575 overpass on Big Shanty Road. In addition to the stadium, Phase II of the sports park will include construction of additional soccer fields, a rugby field, and 4,683 feet of nature and hiking trails.
“This exciting partnership is just the kind of high-profile, high-caliber endeavor that’s cementing Kennesaw State’s rising reputation as leader in higher education,” KSU President Daniel S. Papp said. “This first-class facility is the perfect venue in which to showcase our championship women’s soccer program and a stadium the Atlanta Beat can be proud to call home.”
The Atlanta Beat has signed a letter of intent with the KSU Foundation indicating their desire to lease the facility, starting next spring. The Atlanta Beat’s season runs from April to September, while the Lady Owls season is played in the fall, from late August to November.
“This stadium will be the only professional women’s soccer-specific stadium of its kind in the world,” said Atlanta Beat owner T. Fitz Johnson. “I think this partnership is a great match between KSU and the Atlanta Beat.”
A private donor has committed to funding luxury suites for the stadium, as well as upgraded seating, scoreboards and stadium lighting.
“The KSU Foundation has been committed to the development of the Sports & Recreation Park and to the idea of this partnership from the very beginning, and we are proud to have played an important role in seeing both come to fruition,” KSU Foundation Chairman Norman Radow said. “This stadium and this partnership are but the latest testaments to KSU’s continuing transformation into a burgeoning national university of excellence.”
In November, the KSU women’s soccer team won its second Atlantic Sun Conference championship in the last three seasons, earning its second trip to the NCAA national championship tournament. The Owls 2009 season ended with a 2-0 loss to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the NCAA Women’s College Cup Nov. 13. The Owls ended the 2009 campaign with an 11-7-0 record.
After winning the A-Sun championship, six Owls were named to the A-Sun All-Tournament Team, including Thais Gibson, Jade Dempster, Caitlin Dingle, Maylee Attin-Johnson, Bridgett Gaughan and Staci Pugh, who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
To read a related release from the Dec. 1 press conference visit the official website of the Atlanta Beat.
