Charlotte 49ers making ‘good progress’ on fundraising for athletics facilities
Charlotte 49ers Athletic Director Mike Hill declined to disclose specific figures but said the school is making “good progress” in its $100 million facilities fundraising campaign that kicked off last year.
Hill spoke with CBJ to provide an update on the EverGreen Athletics Facilities Master Vision, a 12- to 15-year plan that includes a $102 million first phase of projects. The athletic department created the long-range construction blueprint with Kansas City design firm HOK and Charlotte-based Jenkins Peer Architects.
“Our plans are still full throttle with our fundraising efforts,” Hill said. “We’re just a few months in, and we’ve made really good progress.”
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One project — a softball clubhouse including coaches’ offices and locker rooms — is already moving forward. It is projected to cost $3.25 million. Construction bids have started and the school hopes to have the softball clubhouse open in spring 2024.
Fundraising continues for the remaining projects in phase one, including a baseball clubhouse that will continue to the ballpark, a new soccer and lacrosse stadium, renovated football locker rooms and upgraded men’s and women’s basketball locker rooms.
The largest project, by far, in the first phase is a two-part expansion of the football stadium, pegged at $81.3 million, or roughly 80% of the overall cost. Jerry Richardson Stadium opened in 2013; capacity is 15,300.
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