President Brian Casey announced yesterday that a $5 million donation to help make significant updates to the athletic complex.
This gift is coming from Marshall W. and Amy Reavis to build a new multi-purpose stadium, which will be home to the men's and woman's soccer and lacrosse teams. This new complex will reside on Hanna Street just south of Blackstock Stadium.
Christopher Wells, vice president for communications and strategic initiatives, explains the process of accepting donations and planning of where the money goes.
"[Reavis has] been a big supporter of DePauw athletics and I think he's been in conversations about the overall athletics master plan," Wells said. "I think he felt like this was the most impactful thing he could do with DePauw athletics."
Wells points to the Center for Student Engagement and expanding Civic Global and Professional Opportunities as one of many possible next big donations.
According to Athletic Director Stevie Baker-Watson, this addition to the athletic department is huge.
"[This addition] allows us to be tremendously flexible," Baker-Watson said. "This field could potentially house four teams, men's and women's soccer and men's and woman's lacrosse and possibly field hockey. In the future, we are hoping to have IM fields there. It gives all of our students more space."
One major improvement in this project is the step up from natural grass fields to synthetic turf. This change allows more than one sport to play on these fields without having to fear of tearing up the facility. This new stadium will also provide 750 seats for fans.
Senior lacrosse player Jack Glerum is excited about the renovations because of what is means for the DePauw lacrosse program.
"I am excited to see that DePauw lacrosse is moving forward, but it shows me that the school is serious about moving the sport in the right direction," Glerum said.
According to Baker-Watson this donation will be "pretty close" to covering the costs of the project. A big hurdle of the construction is flattening the current McKinley Field. The first checkpoint will be in February to iron out funding and the logistics. According to Baker-Watson, the project will take eight months to a year to complete.
Baker-Watson hopes potential donors will see the trend of recent gifts and want to follow suit.
"Folks need to see this means we mean business. There are a lot of people who have connection to DePauw and a bigger connection to their teams. Folks will say 'I can make a difference,'" Baker-Watson said.
According to Baker-Watson, this project should move quickly.
"Facilities management is moving at lightening speed," Baker-Watson said. "[The donors] are super excited. My guess is they will want to move as fast as we can."