University of Missouri’s Football Program Opens Newly Expanded South End Zone Facility
September 17, 2019
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University of Missouri’s (Mizzou) football program opened its 94th season of play at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, September 7 with a victory against West Virginia and a first look at the new $98 million Populous-designed South End Zone Facility.
The South End Zone Facility serves as Mizzou’s football operations center, providing student-athletes with state-of-the-art training and recovery amenities to maximize their time and energy. Amenities include the hydrotherapy area, recovery pools, HydroWorx and lap pools, weight room, nutrition station and equipment room, as well as team and position meeting rooms and coaches’ offices.
“We are honored to have played a part in bringing this project to life,” said Sherri Privitera, Populous Senior Principal. “Mizzou’s new South End Zone Facility captures the essence of the University of Missouri and the Show Me state, reigniting what it means to be a Tiger on game day. Beyond connecting fans, donors, alumni and student-athletes, the new expansion to Memorial Stadium creates a platform for success that helps student-athletes excel on and off the field.”
The two-story weight room has direct access to the field, sports medicine area and locker rooms, while the coaches’ offices are located prominently on the building’s highest level with views into the stadium and a balcony for year-round use. The recruiting room/players’ lounge is located adjacent to the coaches’ offices and affords outstanding views of Faurot Field.
“We are thrilled to showcase the South End Zone Facility,” said Mizzou Director of Athletics Jim Sterk. “Not only is this building a game-changer for Mizzou Football, but it will go a long way toward enhancing the total experience for all Mizzou fans with additional premium seating opportunities, concessions and restroom facilities, and a state-of-the-art video board.”
On game day, the players access the field through the Bunker Club, bringing them up close and personal to fans in the process. A garage door is the only thing separating fans from the locker room. Those fans can bring the noise and hype to their Tigers’ entry as it slowly rises by banging on the same gold bleachers that once stood in the original South End Zone. The bleachers were preserved and now hang on the Bunker Club’s walls.
Elsewhere, the South End Zone Facility offers a variety of seating options across all price points. Patios in the Show Me Club and Bunker Club offer open and shaded spaces for fans, while a new 360-degree concourse allows for better accessibility and exploration of the stadium. Outside near the South End Zone Facility’s entrance, a 6-foot-tall tiger statue greets fans and serves up Instagram moments for Mizzou fans spanning all generations.
“Seeing fans enjoy watching the game from all areas of the new South End Zone Facility and the team’s excitement on game day was extremely rewarding,” said Myron Chase, Populous Principal. “We are proud to deliver a new home for Mizzou Football.”
Mizzou’s South End Zone Facility is the latest Populous-designed collegiate expansion project delivering an unrivaled fan and student-athlete experience in Division I athletics. Recently, Populous broke ground on the expansion and renovation of the University of Texas’ Darrel K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium South End Zone and soon will break ground on the University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium new South End Zone following the 2019 football season. To learn more about our work in collegiate end zone renovations, visit our website or contact us at info@populous.com.