Fans come from all over the state of North Carolina to cheer on the East Carolina Pirates football team, which has gained national attention for on-field performance in recent years. Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium has served the Pirates well as their reputation has grown; however, with an ever-increasing fan population and the demands of major networks such as ESPN televising the games, the stadium needed several upgrades.
ECU hired the design team of LS3P, AECOM and ColeJenest & Stone to study the athletic campus, stadium and football-related facilities to determine how the needs of the program could be met. Through a four-month process of interviews, meetings, analysis and design, a comprehensive master plan was developed.
Following the master plan, the design team worked with ECU to create the Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium Southside Renovation. The project included a new four-level sideline tower building that houses a new press box with state-of-the-art technology to serve multiple television, radio and print reporters, replacing the existing press box that was constructed in 1963. New indoor/outdoor premium seating amenities include 570 outdoor club seats with access to a new interior club lounge, 22 loge boxes, 19 suites with outdoor seats and 5 founders suites that feature larger lounges, expanded amenities and access to the private founders lounge area.
The project provides an elevated game experience for Pirates fans at a variety of different price points. In addition to the new seating options offered in the tower, the new Pirate Club area off the main concourse offers a sports bar atmosphere with dedicated amenities for club members. The new End Zone Club provides a field-level outdoor lounge as a purchased seat upgrade for tickets anywhere in the stadium.
A new enhanced tailgating lot includes 512 reinforced-turf tailgate spaces that accommodate a full-length vehicle and a 10’ x 10’ tent and come equipped with power and cable TV connections.