University of Akron Gets Their Long Awaited Football Stadium

The University of Akron has finally gotten approval for its long awaited stadium. After years of planning and fund raising, university officials approved the construction of the 30,000 seat, $55 million dollar project.

Currently, the university football games are played at the Rubber Bowl, which is located approximately 3 miles from the university campus. Built in 1940, and purchased by the university from the city of Akron, the Rubber Bowl is poorly located, and very outdated. Upgrades and necessary repairs meant that continuing to use the current stadium would have cost the university a considerable amount of money; money that can be used for the new stadium construction.

The new stadium will be located as part of the University of Akron's campus in downtown Akron. It's more central location will make it easier for students to have access to the stadium for games, and pre-game tailgate parties. Its location gives the stadium over 10,000 university parking spaces within walking distance, with an additional 7,500 spaces in the surrounding downtown Akron area.

A great deal of the funding for the stadium construction came from two companies located in Akron; Summa Health Systems, and InfoCision, a telemarketing firm specializing in non-profit fundraising. Student tuition is not planned on being used for this project.

The construction of the stadium is part of the second phase of the University of Akron's "Landscape for Learning" project. Other projects in Phase 2 include construction of a new 450-bed residence hall, and a new parking deck which will give the university an additional 1,000 to 1,500 parking spaces.

Over the past decade the university has spent over $350 million on its "Landscape for Learning" project in technology and building upgrades, new facilities, and beautification projects. Under the guidance of university president Luis Proenza, the University of Akron has transitioned from a local commuter college into a large residential university with a diverse multi-national student body.

The University of Akron has a student enrollment of nearly 25,000 people, and offers over 200 undergraduate degrees. It also offers nearly 100 graduate degrees. The University has been recognized for its work in polymer science, business entrepreneur programs, and the university's law school was voted the second best value in the nation.

With construction slated to begin in October, university officials are predicting the stadium will be ready to open on Sept. 12, 2009, when the Zips open their season against the University of Kentucky. The University of Akron Zips football team won the Mid American Conference championship in 2005.