“Two remarks from members of the University of Akron board of trustees were prevalently used in the unveiling of UA’s new, on-campus football stadium Wednesday. In his opening speech, university president Luis Proenza simply used the term wow to describe the new stadiums designs.”
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Two remarks from members of the University of Akron board of trustees were prevalently used in the unveiling of UA’s new, on-campus football stadium Wednesday.

In his opening speech, university president Luis Proenza simply used the term wow to describe the new stadiums designs. Also, repeated throughout the 50 minute presentation was the number 772, as in the number of days until September 12, 2009 when the first game will be played at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field, the name of the new stadium.

Proenza, as well as other members of the Board of Trustees, spoke to a large gathering of fans, alumni, university coaches, cheerleaders, band and media in the Student Union Ballroom. During his speech, Proenza illustrated what he envisions for opening day.

In precisely 772 days, he said, we will gather again about 200 yards from here under blue skies, marching band in full blare, as it leads are team, our students, and our fans across this campus into a gleaming glass and brick stadium.

InfoCision stadium is a striking complex – designed by Kansas City based HNTB Architecture Inc. – that will replace the crumbling, 65-year-old Rubber Bowl in 2009 and will cost UA $55 million to construct.

The stadium will seat 30,000, including 486 club seats, 15 private suites and 172 open-air loge seats. InfoCision stadium will be the only collegiate stadium in Ohio to have loge seating.

The stadium’s outsides will be constructed using red-brown brick and glass and the design uniformly fits with other new buildings on the campus, such as the Student Union.

When we embarked upon our design development process, Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades said, we had one goal in mind – that was to build the nicest stadium in the country. I didn’t say largest, I said nicest.

When you talk about architecture and design, when you talk about amenities, when you talk about functionality and most importantly, service to our community, we want to build the nicest stadium in the country.

The university will start site clearance in October, most of which is rental property, as well as a handful of business, and will take about $1.4 million to raze the properties, according to university Vice President of Capital Planning and Facilities Management Ted Curtis. UA expects construction to take 18-24 months. The university hired the Akron based Welty Building Company and Indianapolis based Hunt Construction Group to oversee construction.

One slight bump in the road for UA is the remaining 28 parcels of land they have yet to acquire on the nine-acre lot. Curtis said the remaining landowners are not listening up and UA will have to go through eminent domain procedures in order to acquire the land. Curtis said there wouldn’t be any problems acquiring the land because it is for educational purposes.

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” #1.1361961:765606181.jpg:InfoCision Stadium Summa Field Aerial.jpg:Aerial view of InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field.:Courtesy the University of Akron”
“#1.1361960:3738254581.jpg:InfoCision Stadium Summa Field Press Box.jpg:Union Street view of InfoCision Stadium designed by HNTB Architecture Inc. was unveiled Wednesday. :Courtesy the University of Akron”