A groundbreaking ceremony was held today for Coastal Carolina University's new state-of-the-art football stadium. The $9.2 million facility, which will seat 8,200 when its first phase is completed, will be home for the Chanticleers' new NCAA I-AA football program. Coastal's first game is scheduled for September 2003.

"This is a momentous occasion and yet another step toward the first season of football here at Coastal Carolina University," said Warren 'Moose' Koegel, Coastal's director of athletics. "We are very excited to see construction begin on what will prove to be a great facility for our student-athletes and fans."

Hill Construction Inc., of Mt. Pleasant will handle the construction of the stadium which was designed by McMillan Smith & Partners of Spartanburg. The stadium is expected to be complete by July 2003.

Participating in the groundbreaking with Coastal administrators and area legislators were E. Burrow Hill, III of Hill Construction, Ron G. Smith of McMillan Smith and Partners, and Coastal football players Maurice Simpkins of Leesville and Chad Toothman of Myrtle Beach.

Hill Construction Inc., has built several sports facilities including The Tennis Center at Daniel Island, host of the WTA's Family Circle Cup and winner of the USTA's public tennis facility of the year award in 2001-2002, and Blackbaud Stadium, the state-of-the-art home of the A level Charleston Battery soccer team.