Old Dominion University, Foreman Field Expansion and Renovation

Foreman Field opened in 1936 to rave reviews as the second largest and finest athletic facility in Virginia. The venue served the University only until 1940, when the football program was eliminated. For more than six decades, Foreman Field played host to exhibition games, high school tournaments and concerts. When the University decided to bring football back to campus, the team of Ellerbe Becket and Clark Nexsen Architecture & Engineering was called upon to design the venue’s renovation and addition.

The primary project challenge was to preserve Foreman Field while making it economically viable in a modern collegiate sports market. This required enhancing its offerings to the fans, the team and the community. To help establish a competitive new football program as quickly as possible, designing a facility that supported the recruitment of players was also of paramount importance.

A new four-story, end zone ‘game day’ building serves as the new symbol of the resurrection of ODU Football and the University’s continued commitment to athletics success. The project features a number of amenities to enhance the fan experience including:

• A club gathering space with views to the field and dedicated concessions
• A tailgating plaza
• 24 private luxury suites
• 12 suites with exterior patio space
• 396 elevated exterior loge seats including accessible positions for disabled patrons
• An enclosed lounge with field views to support recruitment
• Level-by-level connections to a new 727-car parking garage
• An audio system and flat screen televisions throughout the facility that allow fans to stay constantly connected to the action on the field

Complete in time for the 2009 football season, quantifiable results of the renovation are dramatic. The season ticket launch was among the most successful in NCAA history. More importantly, the project was completed on budget and met an aggressive schedule necessary to adhere to NCAA eligibility requirements.