Clemson To Hold World’s Largest Ground Breaking Ceremony

Nov. 19, 2004

The Clemson University Athletic Department announced Friday afternoon that the department will hold the “World’s Largest-Attended Ground Breaking Ceremony” on Saturday, November 20th. The ceremony will begin at approximately 12:00 Noon, just prior to the kickoff of the Clemson vs. South Carolina football game at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Clemson is expecting over 82,000 to attend the event.

The ceremony will include President Jim Barker, University Board of Trustees Chairman Bill Hendrix, IPTAY President Jim Sanders, Director of Athletics Terry Don Phillips, NCAA Faculty Representative Cecil Huey, Chairman of the WestZone Initiative Capital Campaign Phil Prince and Vice-Chairman of the WestZone Initiative Capital Campaign Joe Turner.

Joining this distinguished group will be men and women who are very special to Clemson University because each has made a “significant leadership” gift to the WestZone Initiative. Those special individuals include Mr. Billy Powers, Ms. Bernice Clanton, Mr. Rodney Williams, Mr. Bill Hudson, Mr. Tom Winkopp, Mr. John Holcombe, Mr. Stuart McWhorter, Mr. Steve Ownings, Mr. Jimmy Rogers, Mr. Leighton Cubbage, Mr. Jackie Jackson and Mr. Bill Smith. Also participating in the event will be Vice-President of Advancement Neill Cameron, Athletic Council Chairman Richard Blackbourn, Student Body President Adam Hammond and Graduate Student Body President Stuart Wyeth.

The Memorial Stadium WestZone addition will be a striking addition to all who enter Clemson Memorial Stadium – from first-time visitors to the every-game faithful, from recruits to lettermen, from opposing team members to returning alumni. The project will add tremendous support to the Clemson players through game-day and team facilities, and also will include a spectacular combination of club seats and amenities, recruiting facilities, administrative space, enhanced facilities for all fans, and a prime concourse between the North and South stands.

Following the South Carolina game, work will begin on the WestZone Club seats, the game-day operations and the new concourse, and will also include additional restrooms, concession areas and other amenities. A portion of the game-day facilities will open for the 2005 football season, but construction will continue and will include expanded game-day facilities, recruiting facilities, football administrative space and the WestZone Club seats. In 2006, the WestZone Club seats will be completed, along with the recruiting, team and segments of the administrative facilities.