Men's Soccer 6/13/2013 12:47:00 PM

OCU to improve Stars Field facilities

Campaign to raise funds toward project completion under way

Stars Field has been home to OCU soccer since 2000. The facility has seen numerous upgrades over the years and is due for another addition.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University has unveiled plans to upgrade its soccer facility, Stars Field, by building a facility to house locker rooms, a players lounge and academic center and coaches' offices.
The plan to enhance the student-athlete experience calls on private support to execute the project with efforts to raise funds from donors to begin immediately. The goal of the initiative will be to raise $300,000 towards the completion of the project with naming rights available for the facility. The enhancements would centralize OCU soccer's efforts in coaching, recruiting and scouting.
The building would be located in the southeast corner of Stars Field beyond the current visitors' bleachers. The facility would continue upgrades that have been made over the past decade to Stars Field.
Generous contributions given by donors, alumni, fans and stakeholders made possible previous improvements to Stars Field, which opened in 2000. Television-quality lights, the Jim Wade Press Box, the Paul and Kim Sanders Ticket Booth and a vibrant new scoreboard have all been added to Stars Field. The press box includes concessions, restroom facilities and ability to video stream OCU home contests.
These improvements over the past five years cost more than $300,000 and were funded entirely by donations from alumni, corporate organizations and friends of the program.
“This plan represents a significant investment in the future of Oklahoma City University soccer,” OCU athletic director Jim Abbott said. “It would position the university to continue to attract the finest student-athletes to our already successful soccer program. It will positively impact the performance of our student-athletes on the field and in the classroom.
“Ultimately a locker room isn't a luxury, it's a necessity. We've needed this facility since the advent of our programs. I'm excited that we're moving forward now to see that this need is met for our current students and those yet to come.”
The upgrade calls for 48 lockers, 24 for the men's team and 24 for the women. The locker area would provide space the Stars could call their own.
The players lounge and academic center would boost student-athletes' already substantial progress in the classroom. The team would use the facility to make in-depth evaluation of their athletic performance and skills.
Offices at Stars Field would consolidate workspace in Abe Lemons Arena and provide convenience for OCU soccer coaches.
Brian Harvey has guided OCU soccer to 685 victories, 21 Sooner Athletic Conference championships and seven NAIA Championships appearances between the men's and women's programs through 27 years as head coach. Harvey owns the most combined men's and men's wins of any NAIA soccer coach.
OCU soccer boasts of 72 all-Americans, 89 NAIA scholar-athletes and 13 CoSIDA academic all-Americans.
“Since we've had the program we've not had a locker room where people can see the tradition of the program,” Harvey said. “You can see pictures of players who have come here previously and the achievements they've had. It's a real magnet. It's something we need to keep the program on the course that's it's been on the past 27 years. It becomes a meeting place, a focus point. It's a place where players meet and bond. It's their house.”
To discuss how you can make a contribution toward this project, please contact OCU athletics at (405) 208-5309.
Project Brochure
Project Flier

Stars Field Gallery

Print Friendly Version