COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has received a $3M gift from an anonymous donor who grew up in the St. Louis area that will be used to support entire athletics program, with $1.4M designated toward construction of the Tigers’ new football indoor practice facility, MU Director of Athletics Jim Sterk announced today.
“We are extremely grateful for the generosity of this individual who became a Mizzou fan at a young age and whose passion for the Tigers is stronger today than it ever has been,” Sterk said. “Family is extremely important, and he has continued to embrace the Mizzou family like it was a part of his own, which is very humbling to all of us.
“Mizzou Football continues to enjoy great momentum under Coach Drinkwitz’s leadership, and it is rewarding to see individuals step forward who share and believe in our vision not only for Tiger football, but our entire athletics program, too” he added. “Mizzou Football will have two outstanding facilities conveniently located next to each other when the indoor facility comes on line in 2022, which will position our program for long-term success in the Southeastern Conference.”
Construction on the Tigers’ new indoor practice facility, which will be located southwest of Memorial Stadium and adjacent to the south end zone facility, is scheduled to begin later this year when the project receives final approval from the University’s Board of Curators. Mizzou Athletics has been working with one of the world’s finest architects, St. Louis-based HOK, and its Kansas City, Mo.-based sports division, HOK-Sport, to complete the design phase of the new building.
Currently, the Devine Pavilion, which opened in 1998, serves as the only indoor practice facility for Mizzou’s Football, Baseball, Softball and Women’s Soccer programs. The surface within the current indoor facility is only 70 yards long, which is problematic for the football program as the SEC’s northernmost school. A new facility will not only benefit Mizzou Football, but it will also take the pressure off scheduling for all teams who currently utilize Devine Pavilion.
Those interested in more information on giving to support Mizzou Athletics, please contact the Tiger Scholarship Fund Office at 573-882-0704, and online at www.tsfmizzou.com.
