Prairie View enters new era in athletics
Times are changing on “the Hill” with Prairie View A&M University athletics. A brand spanking new athletic complex, featuring a badly needed facility for football, is scheduled to open this fall.
The Panthers host the Labor Day Classic on Sept. 4 against conference rival Texas Southern University and the plan is to play the game in the new stadium, which will have a seating capacity of 15,000 and amenities that include a covered concourse with concessions and merchandising space, premium seating and luxury seats and a press level.
The athletic field house, immediately adjacent to the stadium, will house a strength and conditioning area, sports medicine suite, team meeting rooms, academic support space and locker rooms.
PVAMU Athletic Director Ashley Robinson is excited about the facility.
“I am pleased to announce that the entire athletic project is both on time and on budget,” Robinson said.
“We have actually already moved into our administrative area and our strength and conditioning area. In addition, our meeting rooms, multi-purpose rooms, study hall area for our student athletes and locker rooms are all completed and operable.
“The status of the stadium is looking really good, Robinson continued. “The visitor’s side is about 80 percent done. On the field, the turf is currently being laid down as we speak. The home side is about 60 percent done. We’re still working on the suites and the press box area. I anticipate the entire project should be complete by the end of July.”
One area that Robinson feels exceptionally elated over is the strength and wellness portion of the complex.
“It’s extremely important that our student-athletes maintain themselves physically,” he said. “We have a fine staff of trainers and sports medicine personnel to make sure of that. We also have two strength and conditioning specialists and we’re looking to hire a third to make sure our students-athletes are trained properly.”
Robinson believes the completion of the new athletic complex provide benefits that go beyond sports.
“It shows a commitment, not just to build the athletic department, but to build the university,” he said. “Our goal in the next 10 years is to have 20,000 students enrolled at this institution [there are approximately 8,200 now].
“I feel students like to attend a school where there is a winning culture in athletics and these new facilities will aid us favorably in recruiting. We already have a rich tradition when it comes to academics and this athletic complex is a commitment to the university through athletics,” Robinson said.
http://defendernetwork.com/news/2016/jul/05/prairie-view-enters-new-era-athletics/
