Just in case you don't live nearby and haven't seen the progress on this - as you can see from the last couple of aerial views, it's coming along pretty speedily.

http://www.womensprosoccer.com/atlanta/p...t-dec.aspx

looking pretty good. i'm only on campus twice a week, and i've been meaning to check it out but i keep forgetting.

USA Today says first game is May 9th...

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/20...8566_x.htm

This is so good for Kennesaw...

KB, I agree. I cant wait to attend a game.

http://www.womensprosoccer.com/atlanta/p...m-sept-dec

Great photos of the stadium and as construction is coming along. The last 10 or so are sweet.

Depending on how they choose to use the facility, I could see that stadium being a huge money maker for the Kennesaw area.

(03-14-2010 05:16 PM)Escalade2121 Wrote:  Depending on how they choose to use the facility, I could see that stadium being a huge money maker for the Kennesaw area.

They've talked about hosting concerts and the US women's soccer team, so if the KSU folks are smart they could do quite well.

Drove past it the other day and the facade is definitely taking shape. Hopefully it will be done on time.

I hope they do use it for event hosting as well as the womens soccer.

Updated AJC article: http://www.ajc.com/news/cobb/ksu-hopes-t...62143.html







KSU hopes to raise profile with new soccer stadium
By Ralph Ellis
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

May 9 will be a big day at Kennesaw State University.

The school will officially open its $16.5-million, 8,300-seat soccer stadium, the centerpiece of a major expansion of its athletics facilities. And the Atlanta Beat, a new women’s pro soccer team, will play its first home game that day in the stadium.

KSU President Daniel Papp hopes the stadium will raise the school's profile and provide a new revenue stream while becoming a spot for big student activities such concerts and graduations.

The stadium has a performance stage at one end and could accommodate up to 16,000 for concerts by putting seats on the field. The KSU women’s soccer team will use the stadium in the fall.

People keep asking Papp about that other fall sport involving an oblong ball and feet. He said the stadium could be used for football if KSU goes ahead with the idea of starting a program. An exploratory committee led by former University of Georgia coach Vince Dooley is expected to deliver a report on the prospect this fall, Papp said.

“The possibility is there but the bigger issue if whether funding could be found for football,” Papp said.

The stadium is a public-private partnership, with the facility owned by the KSU Foundation and managed by the Beat. The team will handle all stadium booking. Private donations, including a chunk from Beat owner T. Fitz Johnson, and student fees are paying for the stadium. The students will chip in about $75 per semester until the 30-year bonds are paid off.

The money will also go for other facilities on the 88-acre tract KSU bought east of I-75. The school, which now has 22,300 students, plans to build other soccer and rugby fields for intramural and club teams and walking trails around a 10-acre lake. Last fall the school opened artificial turf fields and an indoor training facility called the Owls Nest.

Senior Megan Talbert of Woodstock doesn't use athletic facilities much but thinks the complex is a good idea.

"Kennesaw has grown so much in the four years I've been here," she said. "I think there is a demand for intramural sports and this will allow Kennesaw to be more attractive to prospective students."

A cold, rainy winter slowed construction but Beat and school officials say they expect the stadium to be finished on time. Crews still need to pave parking lots, attach seats onto the bleachers and install a large video screen. The stadium is being constructed in a natural bowl at the corner of Busbee Drive and Busbee Parkway, near the Chastain Road exit from I-75.

Papp said he’s not worried about partnering with a pro team with no record of success during a shaky economy. Even if the Beat or the Women’s Professional Soccer league doesn’t make it, the stadium will still be paid for because money from donors and student fees has been committed, Papp said.

Johnson said he hopes the Beat averages 6,000 fans per game. So far, the team has sold about 1,500 season tickets. The league's June 10 All-Star game will be played in Kennesaw.

“We’ve built a model that’s sustainable,” Johnson said. “If we can sustain this for a number of years it will just get better. ... While the cash flow may not be great, the franchise value increases over time.”

Looks awesome! I will be attending the first game for sure.

This Article in the MDJ has a nice little slideshow. With only a week to go before the ribbon cutting, looks like they're just putting the final touches on the stadium. Exciting times for KSU.

If you go onto KSUOwls.com they have some great photos of the new stadium from the ribbon-cutting ceremony that was held on Sunday. It looks awesome. I can't wait to watch some games there. I've looked into tickets for the first home game for the beat and the cheapest is $17. Ha, might hold off till the KSU season.

Nice. I'm amazed it got finished so quickly, too. Great job by those working on it. It really looks great.

Okay, so I broke under the pressure. I bought a ticket to the opening soccer match at the new KSU Soccer Complex. I think half of me just wants to see the stadium whether its soccer or otherwise. Regardless, I'll be sure to let you all know what I think. Anyone else going?

I am thinking about going...

Quick report from the game.

First of all, as advertised, its a pretty sweet little joint. Everything you've heard is pretty much true. The scoreboard was rather impressive. It was HD, which I didn't expect for some reason. The only couple of things I noticed I didn't care for was the sound equipment and concessions. It didn't sound like the sound went all the way around the stadium. This could be simply because of the rushed production of the facility trying to get it finished on time, not too worried about it. Secondly, the concessions. I was reminded quickly that this wasn't a KSU event. Bottles of water were $4.50 while beer was $7.00 (surprisingly as much as braves games). If you remotely like soccer I would encourage all of you to get out to the stadium to watch a game just to take in the environment. The team itself didn't appear too bad, just some major mistakes kept being repeated that I feel cost the Beat the game tonight. Anybody else have anything to add?