By: by Mark Toma
KENNESAW, Ga. – Head Coach Rob King brought his Kennesaw State team to the new KSU Soccer Stadium last week, as the squad got its first look at the 8,300 seat stadium they will call home beginning this summer.
The team gathered at the front entrance of the state-of-the-art stadium just after last Friday’s morning practice session. The 20-plus players, coaches and staff members were given a guided tour of the stadium, the pitch, office spaces, media rooms, team room, locker room, luxury suites and party deck by their head coach.
“This stadium is amazing,” said junior Katie Scott, who will play two years at the new complex. “It is hard to imagine that this is going to be our home. I have never seen anything like this before. It’s going to be a dream come true to be able to play here.”
The one-hour tour coincided with the installation of the stadium’s grass surface, which was installed on Thursday. The surface is a Bermuda based with a rye over seed and sits atop a drainage system that is identical to the one used at the new Yankee Stadium.
“The stadium is fantastic and the field itself is beautiful,” said junior Thais Gibson. “I heard coach talk about the surface and the drainage system and everything underneath the field and I couldn’t believe everything that comprises the surface. It’s spectacular. Everything about the stadium is just awe-inspiring. We are all so fortunate to be able to play here and we’re all really excited.”
The Owls are scheduled to participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony to open the stadium on May 2nd. The scheduled preseason opener is set for Saturday, Aug. 14 when the Black and Gold host Jacksonville State, followed by the regular season opener on Aug. 22, against Alabama A&M.
