Brooks Stadium construction project continues despite rainy July
The rainy weather in late July was a bit of a challenge for the construction crews at Brooks Stadium. Fortunately, the underground foundation work is nearing completion, according to Matt Hogue, director of athletics at Coastal Carolina University. This work includes communication lines, water drainage and electrical work.
“Within the next month, people are really going to start to see the superstructure of the west side start to develop as they drive by,” said Hogue.
Most of the noticeable construction is occurring on the west side of the stadium, located along S.C. 544. Three stair towers are being built there. The north tower, the one closest to the Athletic Field House, is almost halfway finished. It is currently about 25 feet tall, but when it is completed, it will be 54 feet tall and will provide an elevator that will take fans to the upper deck.
The south tower elevator will provide access to the second level, which includes hospitality suites, box seating and an open concourse along with the upper deck (third level) – all to be constructed during and completed after the 2018 football season.
“Right now, we have about 80 percent of the concrete in place [at the stair towers],” said Rein Mungo, director of facilities planning and management. “Once that has taken place, then hopefully, by the middle of August, we will see some steel going into place.”
There will also be a concrete area on the field level behind the west side bleachers that fans can access. A fence separates them from the construction area. All existing concessions and restrooms under the existing bleachers will be accessible this upcoming season. The stand-alone women’s restroom on the west side was removed for construction and will be reconstructed later in the project.
The west side of the stadium will soon be home to the new “The Chanticleer” sculpture that will be placed at the corner of University Boulevard and S.C. 544 within the stadium on a5-foot high, 8 -foot wide rectangular brick pedestal.
Another addition is a new entrance near the Athletic Field House that will be similar in appearance to the TD Sports Complex entrance, according to Mark Avant, director of design and engineering. Two columns are in place currently, and a concrete canopy will be built connecting them to the bleachers near the Athletic Field House. This entrance is expected to be completed soon.
An underground stormwater management system is being installed where the new entrance to the stadium will be located. By the beginning of August, crews will finish the underground work and cover it with dirt and grass on top; fans won’t even be able to tell that it exists.
Even though construction will be going on during the season, Chanticleer football fans will be cheering from the bleachers during the first home football game on Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. against University of Alabama Birmingham. There is no construction on the field itself, so the football team can practice and play as usual.
The second phase is expected to be completed by early 2019 in plenty of time for the 2019 football season. As required by the Football Bowl Subdivision, Phase II of the expansion will allow the CCU stadium to hold more than 20,000 fans on game days.
To learn more about the Brooks Stadium expansion, contact the Chanticleer Athletics Foundation at 843-349-6670.
