The fundraising efforts for the new football stadium being built beside the Basler Center for Physical Activity has attracted several large donations since the spring, and ETSU officials are gearing up for the facility’s official groundbreaking this semester.

The athletics department recently received two large donations: $200,000 from Food City and $250,000 from Eastman Credit Union.

“We’re out every day in the community getting involved and talking to potential donors,” said Senior Associate Athletic Director Scott Carter. “We’re working hard for the students because we know that this will be great for everybody in the ETSU [Community] and more.”

Carter said some donors wish to be anonymous, but they have had donations of several million dollars come through.

“Of course, we love it when people want to come forward and be recognized because then others will see it and want to be a part of the process as well,” Carter said.

“However, we want to respect those who wish to remain anonymous and appreciative of their effort in all of this.”

Some major public donors are Roadrunner Markets, Scott Niswonger and the Ken Simones Family of Indian Wells, California, who have all donated $1 million  each.

General Shale Brick has donated half a million bricks to be specifically used for the stadium.

Carter also said they have already sold out of season ticket holdings for premium seating such as skyboxes, club seats and mid-field seats for the new stadium.

The construction for the stadium is still set to be completed in the fall of 2017 and is still estimated to cost $26.615 million.

“There’s always more to do, but we are thankful for everything we have received so far,” Carter said. “Most of all, though, we are thankful to the students because we wouldn’t be here without them.”

Carter said he and other athletic directors have been working closely with the Student Government Association to understand the wants and needs of the student body.

Students, faculty and staff will be able to attend a “groundbreaking celebration” at 1 p.m. Nov. 16 in the southwest corner of campus.

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  • Emma Hammer

    Emma Hammer is a senior public relations major with a minor in English. Originally from Knoxville, Hammer decided to attend ETSU after being taken aback by the beauty of the campus. Emma has been with the East Tennessean for one year now. She covers student government and a variety of other topics.

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