LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech Athletics, within the midst of its largest facility funding in its historical past, introduced Tuesday two further tasks for Jones AT&T Stadium that may, in finest effort, be accomplished in time for the 2023 soccer season.

As a part of its continued soccer renovations, Texas Tech will set up a brand new synthetic taking part in floor to Jones AT&T Stadium starting this summer season in addition to a brand new LED lighting system. Each tasks have been authorized by the Texas Tech College System Board of Regents throughout its scheduled assembly this previous February.  

“We’re grateful for the assist of the Board of Regents as we proceed to spend money on the way forward for Jones AT&T Stadium,” Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt mentioned. “The timing of the south finish zone and Womble Soccer Heart challenge made this an excellent alternative for us to have a look at all areas of Jones AT&T Stadium to see the place different wanted enhancements may very well be made. We’re excited to associate with each Hellas and Musco on these two vital tasks.”

Texas Tech final upgraded its taking part in floor with a FieldTurf product that was put in previous to the 2017 season. The 2 tasks are estimated to price roughly $2.2 million and might be funded via philanthropic items to the athletics division.

Texas Tech has already contracted the companies of Hellas for its subsequent taking part in floor, which might be its Matrix Helix® turf, the corporate’s newest expertise that has been put in just lately at a number of NFL services, specifically The Star in Frisco and AT&T Stadium (Dallas Cowboys), SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles Rams), Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas Raiders) and the College of Kansas Well being System Coaching Complicated of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.

“Our administration totally helps offering the most effective merchandise to our student-athletes right here at Texas Tech, which is vastly appreciated by our complete program,” head coach Joey McGuire mentioned. “This new turf from Hellas is widely-used all through the NFL and school soccer and might be an ideal addition to what we’re already constructing at Jones AT&T Stadium. We stay up for debuting this new floor in entrance of a packed crowd once we host Oregon on Sept. 9.”

The brand new lighting system, in the meantime, might be designed by Musco, utilizing its Complete Mild Management expertise. It will present Texas Tech the flexibility to make the most of choreographed patterns designed to music throughout its pregame leisure, in-between quarters and after touchdowns. The lighting system will vastly improve the in-game fan expertise, particularly underneath the Jones AT&T Stadium lights the place the Purple Raiders have historically boasted one of many nation’s prime homefield benefits.

Musco’s expertise additionally permits athletes to trace ball flight higher utilizing pinpoint lighting, all whereas reducing complete working prices. Texas Tech could have the flexibility to program this lighting system remotely, much like Dan Regulation Subject at Rip Griffin Park, which obtained new LED lights utilizing Musco expertise previous to this baseball season.

“Once you take a look at all the nice issues Texas Tech has to supply from a fan perspective, this new LED lighting system solely provides to top-of-the-line gameday atmospheres in all of school soccer,” mentioned Robert Giovannetti, Senior Affiliate Athletics Director for Exterior Operations. “We’re already planning for that first residence sport underneath the lights and might’t encourage our followers sufficient to buy their season tickets, be there and assist this workforce for what ought to be an thrilling season underneath Coach McGuire.

Along with approving each the LED lighting system and a brand new taking part in floor, the Texas Tech College System Board of Regents voted to extend the athletics division’s price range for the continuing south finish zone and Dustin R. Womble Soccer Heart challenge to simply underneath $220 million.

The roughly $20 million price range improve was decided after additional discussions with the athletics division’s design agency, Populous, on the long-term plan for the power, which included transferring the customer’s gameday locker room to the northeast nook of the stadium. Texas Tech continues to fundraise for the challenge – the biggest facility funding in athletics historical past – with a present aim of greater than $100 million, of which greater than $90 million is already dedicated.

For extra info on the Womble Soccer Heart challenge or to contribute, please go to right here.