New multi-purpose arena designed by AECOM part of major athletics facilities campaign
OXFORD, MISS. (Jan. 6, 2016) — Ole Miss will open an elite, AECOM-designed arena on January 7th when the Rebel men’s basketball team plays Alabama in The Pavilion at Ole Miss. The new 9,500-seat, multi-purpose arena will host men’s and women’s basketball games, as well as concerts, special events and academic and day-to-day student activities.
The Pavilion is the centerpiece of the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation’s comprehensive Forward Together capital campaign. Situated next to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (which is undergoing an AECOM-designed expansion and renovation as well), The Pavilion anchors an updated athletics complex near The Grove, the University’s central open space and renowned tailgating destination.
The proximity of the facilities is intended to build synergy between football and arena operations and boost the game day experience for fans. Already, the broadcast TV facility in the complex is lauded as “best in SEC” by Ole Miss broadcast network partners.
The Forward Together campaign began in 2011 and was planned in conjunction with global sports-design leader AECOM. The campaign surpassed its original goal of $150 million in just more than four years and continues toward its new goal of $200 million.
“AECOM provided an integrated perspective with market and economic analysis, long-term cost planning, extensive sports experience and exceptional design,” said Keith Carter, senior associate athletics director and executive director of the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation. “We’re very proud of their contributions to our facility projects and look forward to The Pavilion becoming a cornerstone of campus life.”
The Athletics Foundation worked with AECOM to maximize opportunities for fan engagement, premium seating experiences, sustainable revenue sources, student involvement and campus engagement.
“With the Forward Together campaign, Ole Miss has advanced big-picture, fiscally sound, programmatic-thinking about college athletics, not just in the conference but in the nation,” said Jon Niemuth, director of sports for AECOM. “We’re honored to have partnered with them and are thrilled to see The Pavilion ready for action.”
A set of innovative design elements will make the arena a captivating setting for sporting, campus and recreational events.
The main entry is marked by a series of Doric columns referencing the southern traditional architectural style of the Ole Miss campus. In addition, a sweeping barrel roof affords a grand clerestory window wall which brings natural lighting directly into the seating bowl.
Fans moving through the main concourse and mezzanine levels will have expansive views into the bowl, a rarity in college sports.
Retractable lower seating will allow for large group lectures and convocations on the event floor, and the north entry will double as a food court on non-game days.
About AECOM
AECOM is built to deliver a better world. We design, build, finance and operate infrastructure assets for governments, businesses and organizations in more than 150 countries. As a fully integrated firm, we connect knowledge and experience across our global network of experts to help clients solve their most complex challenges. From high-performance buildings and infrastructure, to resilient communities and environments, to stable and secure nations, our work is transformative, differentiated and vital. A Fortune 500 firm, AECOM companies had revenue of approximately US$18 billion during the 12 months ended September 30, 2015. See how we deliver what others can only imagine at aecom.com and @AECOM.
About Ole Miss Athletics
The University of Mississippi, which is known as OIe Miss, is a member of the NCAA and Southeastern Conference and features 18 varsity sports in its athletics department. Bearing the nickname Rebels and wearing the colors Cardinal Red and Navy Blue, these teams have produced 18 national championships and 129 conference and division titles since 1893, when the football program fielded the school’s first varsity squad. Based in Oxford, Mississippi, with a student enrollment of 23,838, Ole Miss operates with a $96 million athletics budget, and the department is in its third year under the leadership of Athletics Director Ross Bjork.
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