Averett Announces $6.3 Million Sports Complex Project

(DANVILLE, VA) - Averett University has announced plans to build a $6.3 million sports complex on its North Campus. The new facility includes a turf field, an eight-lane track, a three-story press box and seating for 2,000 fans. The complex will be the new home for Averett's football and soccer teams.

The university's goal is to increase its enrollment to 1,100 students by 2014. One way to do that is to create more academic and athletic programs. The new sports complex would allow Averett to add men's and women's track programs, as well as revive its women's lacrosse program.

"With roughly 40 percent of our traditional undergraduates participating in intercollegiate athletics, this facility is important to Averett's growth,” Averett Director of Athletics Sam Ferguson said. “With this project we can create additional participation opportunities, which will help us reach our enrollment goals.”

The addition of new athletics programs will also be an attractive recruiting tool for student-athletes who play multiple sports. Ferguson noted that Averett, for example, hasn't capitalized on certain football recruits who may also have a desire to compete on a collegiate track team. With the new facility, that would now be an option.

The new sports complex project is part of the university's expanded strategic plan that includes raising money for scholarships, increasing technology to support teaching, expanding Pritchett Auditorium and adding other learning initiatives.

Ferguson also envisions that the new sports complex will benefit the Danville community economically by providing a facility that can host local and regional athletics events.

“Averett strives to be a catalyst for positive change in our community,” he said. “We want to make this region better and I am confident that this facility will accomplish that goal. This facility can do for Danville what the Smith River Sports Complex has done for Martinsville.”

Ferguson said a feasibility study was recently conducted that indicates there is community interest in supporting this project. Averett is in the process of raising funds and soliciting pledges.

"We are very fortunate to have very generous supporters among our community and alumni,” Ferguson said. “That overwhelming support is creating exciting times at Averett University.”

Release courtesy of the Averett sports information department.