Building for the ‘next level’: New building, name showcases football future

ASU received the largest donation in the history of athletics, with $5 million presented by Liberty Bank. The donation will secure the home of the Red Wolves as Liberty Bank Stadium.

During a pregame announcement at Saturday’s home opener against Memphis, several Liberty Bank logos were unveiled recognizing Liberty Bank for its gift.

The stadium opened in 1974 as Indian Stadium and in 2008, after retiring the Indians, it was renamed to ASU stadium. Liberty Bank is the first donor of any kind to have the naming rights to a stadium at ASU.  
The $5 million contribution came two days after the announcement of a $22 million indoor football facility.

Since the hiring of Gus Malzahn, the ASU athletic department is pushing to new heights with its coaching staff, recruiting class and now with the new facility.

“Football matters, Who is the current Sun Belt champs? In order to maintain where we are, we have to invest,” Cristian Murdock, vice chancellor of university advancement said Thursday at the press conference, where the new facility was announced.

ASU Chancellor Tim Hudson expressed his appreciation to those of ASU’s past for seeing the university’s  future.

“This is going to put us in the position to be a top 25 nationally prominent football program,” Hudson said at Thursday’s press conference.

The facility will have a player lounge, locker room, strength and conditioning center, sports medicine center, equipment room, heritage room, team theater and coaching offices.

The in-door practice facility is a 76,000 square foot facility that will run east to west on the north side of the stadium.

During Thursday’s press conference, Malzahn shared the importance of the facility and his
vision he’s had since coming into the Red Wolf family.

“This is a great need. It is a monumental step that we will look back at the defining moments and this will be one of them,” Malzhan said.

Senior wide receiver Taylor Stockemer of Van Buren, will be one of many Red Wolves who will miss out on the chance to benefit from the new facility, but is still excited for the future of the program.

“You can’t be disappointed about the future of ASU football, there have been so many things happen to advance the football program, and this facility is just the beginning,” Stockemer said.


With the $22 million projection, junior public relations major Zach Roach of Jonesboro, is concerned where the university is getting its dollars. “What about Wilson Hall crumbling or the steel skeleton of the fine arts building,” Roach said.


Some ASU students have shown interest in whether tuition will increase within the next few years to fund the facility, but all funding will come from private donations, the Red Wolf Club and other revenue acquired from games.


Wessel Zwiegers of Cape Town, South Africa double majoring in accounting and finance believes the new facility will attract more students to ASU.


“When you look at a university, you look at its athletic program. People are drawn to sports and get excited about it. The new facility would be another addition to making students want to come to the university,” Zwiegers said.


Contraction for the facility is projected to start within the year and be completed with in two years [2014].


“We are all in this together, we need everyone, and we want everyone to give everyone ownership in this. I encourage everyone to get on board, because the future is very bright,” Malzhan said.