Charlotte 49ers to get bigger stadium and more with $102 million plan

The university unveiled its EverGreen Athletics Facilities Master Vision— a multiphase and multimillion-dollar plan that serves all athletes— from football players to the school’s new women’s lacrosse program.

What’s happening: Phase I, a $102 million plan, includes expanding their football stadium’s capacity from less than 16,000 to more than 30,000. The stadium will gradually expand, starting at around 21,000 before surpassing 30,000. Other parts of Phase I include:

• A new softball clubhouse
• A new stadium for men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s lacrosse
• A baseball clubhouse
• Renovating men’s and women’s basketball locker rooms

They already completed renovations on the football locker room.

The big picture: Stepping up their facilities is a natural progression as the 49ers prepare to join the American Athletic Conference from Conference USA. The exact date of when they’ll join the American is TBD.

What’s next: Projects for future phases will include:

• Building a basketball practice facility and a student-athlete enhancement center
• Irwin Belk Track and Field Center enhancements, which will include new buildings at the track level
• Dale F. Halton Arena (basketball) enhancements
• Indoor football practice facility, which will go on part their existing practice sites
• Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium (softball) expansion
• Building a new Wells Fargo Fieldhouse (soccer, lacrosse)
• Halton-Wagner Tennis complex indoor facility
• Robert & Mariam Hayes Stadium (baseball) expansion

Of note: HOK, a global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm, and Jenkins-Peer Architects, a Charlotte-based firm. Jenkins-Peer designed Jerry Richardson Stadium and the Judy W. Rose Football Center, the University Recreation Center and other campus projects.

What they’re saying: Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber compared the school’s athletics programs to a “front porch,” and everyone knows the value of good curb appeal.

• “This is a vision of what we intend to become,” Mike Hill, director of athletics said in a statement. “We have aspirations to achieve greatness and further elevate the visibility and profile of our university.”
• “This initiative is a tangible reflection of Charlotte’s commitment to competition in the American Athletic Conference and at the highest level of Division I athletics,” American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco added.

Take a look at the 49ers’ future: