COLUMBIA, Mo. – A new indoor practice facility for the Mizzou Football program took another step forward in becoming a reality today, as Director of Athletics Jim Sterk announced that a second anonymous gift of $10 million toward the project has been received.
“I am thrilled to announce this significant gift to Mizzou Athletics and the indoor football practice facility project,” said Sterk of the fourth, eight-figure gift to Mizzou Athletics in the past five years. “This gift demonstrates a commitment to excellence for Mizzou Athletics and our football program.
“Mizzou Football enjoys great momentum under Coach (Eli) Drinkwitz, on and off the field, and completing this project in a timely fashion will help bring Mizzou in line with other SEC programs from a facilities standpoint, while helping Coach Drinkwitz fulfill his vision for our football program. Having a full length indoor practice field will provide our coaches and student-athletes the ability to train year-around, no matter the weather in Mid-Missouri.”
Currently, the Devine Pavilion, which opened in 1998, serves as the only indoor practice facility for Mizzou’s Football, Baseball, Softball and Women’s Soccer programs. The surface within the current indoor facility is only 70 yards long, which is problematic for the football program as the SEC’s northernmost school. A new facility would not only benefit Mizzou Football, but it would also take the pressure off scheduling for all teams who currently use the Devine Pavilion.
“We are grateful for this impactful leadership gift to help make this project a reality for our football program,” said Mizzou Head Football Coach Eli Drinkwitz. “This facility will give Mizzou Football a convenient, year-around training facility that will help develop our student-athletes for the challenge of playing in the SEC.”
Mizzou Athletics has been working with one of the world’s finest architects, St. Louis-based HOK, and its Kansas City, Mo.-based sports division, HOK-Sport, to develop pre-design programming and planning for the new indoor football practice facility. The athletics department has provided the Board of Curators with a project scope, budget and fundraising plan per the resolution that was passed Dec. 6, 2020.
Those interested in more information on giving to support Mizzou Athletics, please contact the Tiger Scholarship Fund Office at 573-882-0704, and online at www.tsfmizzou.com.
