Louisville officially kicks off Papa John's Cardinal Stadium expansion project

The University of Louisville Athletics Department is kicking off its 'Coming Full Circle' capital campaign to expand Papa John's Cardinal Stadium and the Howard Schnellenberger Football Complex.

The $55-million project, with funds raised by the campaign, will add 10,000 seats to the configuration of the stadium, creating a unique look in the end zone, and enhance the Howard Schnellenberger Football Complex for the football program with major renovations to the facility.

"I feel it's important to always stay on the cutting edge in everything we do, and it's critical that we do that with our facilities," University Vice President/Director of Athletics Tom Jurich said. "This project is a crucial investment in our football program and essential as we move this program forward in the ACC. It's our goal to make Papa John's Cardinal Stadium one of the top facilities in the nation, and we feel we have an extraordinary plan in place that will excite our fan base and give us a chance to recruit some of the top student-athletes in the country."

Athletes will have access to state-of-the-art facilities for refining their athletic skills, while fans will have opportunities to be closer to the action with new vantage points, expanded club areas, and improve the game-day atmosphere. 

"This project will elevate our program to an even higher level and help us recruit some of the top young men in the country," head coach Bobby Petrino said. "Everything we do is focused on enhancing the experience for our student-athletes and top-flight facilities are essential to meeting that goal."

The expansion will include 1,000 club seats, 70 premium boxes, and 12 exclusive field level suites. These premium seats will have access to two premier gathering areas; the Pepsi Club, which will provide viewing access to the field, and another premium club, which will be similar to AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys. This club will provide a unique fan perspective that will allow fans the opportunity to be close to the action and be a part of the excitement as the players take the field.

For the football players, the football complex will undergo dramatic changes to the training areas and improve the overall student-athlete experience. With an additional 70,000 square feet will allow the team's weight room and conditioning center to double in size, creating space for team workouts, conditioning, and an enhanced athletic training space equipped with a state-of-the-art hydrotherapy area.

A luxurious and spacious players' lounge, improvements for coaches' offices and the team locker room, and expansive theatre-style meeting areas also will be among the major improvements dedicated for student-athlete development.

Originally completed in 1998, Papa John's Cardinal Stadium, which opened with a capacity of 42,000, was expanded five years ago to its present capacity of 55,000, and will expand to approximately 65,000 after construction.

For more information regarding this project, please visit ComingFullCircle.com or contact the Cardinal Athletic Fund at (502) 852-8921.