HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – More than two years of planning came one step closer to reality on Thursday, November 19 as luminaries gathered on the campus of Alabama A&M University for the official groundbreaking for a nearly 6,000-seat Multi-Use Events Center. Partnering with Turner Construction Company of Huntsville, the facility is expected to be completed in the Fall of 2022.
 
Among those to address the assembled dignitaries was Director of Athletics Bryan Hicks, who shone a light on both those student-athletes and staff that will eventually use the facility along with those that came before and helped pave the way for the Department's tremendous progress and bright future.
 
"On behalf of the Department of Athletics, student-athletes and former student-athletes, our current coaching staff and former coaching staffs, administrators of today and administrators from our glory years of the past, it's been a long time coming!," said Hicks. "A lot of sweat and tears have happened in order to bring about this momentous occasion and we are very appreciative and dedicated to ensure that every person that wears the Maroon & White in this multi-purpose facility will wear it with Pride, Enthusiasm, Respect, Dignity and Honor."
 
Situated adjacent to Louis Crews Stadium, the new facility will not only add to campus beautification, it will be a venue that will benefit the entire campus as well as the community. Slated for 132,000 square feet, it will include an arena that will house the Bulldogs' women's volleyball and men's and women's basketball programs but also provide locker rooms, training facilities and become the permanent home of the program's Hall of Fame.
 
Current A&M student-athlete Danice Loney, a pole vaulter on the women's track & field team and the Vice President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, also weighed in on the impact that this facility will have on all Bulldog student-athletes.
 
"We as student-athletes are extremely grateful to the administration and leadership of this University for the addition of the new Event Center," said Loney. "We really look forward to attending games and events as well as competing and representing Alabama A&M to the best of our abilities."
 
In addition to the athletic component, the Event Center will also provide a venue capable of hosting commencement, convocation and the University's annual scholarship gala, among other high profile events. Members of the community will also be able to utilize the facility for a variety of events and, on the whole, it will allow for the generation of revenue through those events and the reallocation of funds that had been previously spent on hosting commencement and other such events off campus.
 
"This is a great day on The Hill," said President Dr. Andrew Hugine, Jr. "This project represents the culmination of years of work here at the University and we want to extend thanks to our Board of Trustees, our Finance Division and Administration Services. We also want to thank the HBCU Capital Access Program for their continued support and confidence in Alabama A&M by funding this and other projects."
 
"This eye catching, stately, architecturally designed State-of-the-Art facility which combines the best of the past with the future will transform the landscape of Memorial Parkway and hail one's arrival to Alabama A&M University. We have the very best students that exist anywhere in this nation, and as the best, you deserve the best and this Event Center is among the best."