When Azusa Pacific University’s football team faces off against Whittier College on Sept. 19, they won’t just be celebrating the return of Cougar football, they’ll be the first team to ever play on APU’s brand new field at Cougar Stadium. This is just one of many renovations the university is making to enhance the fan and student athlete experience as the APU community gets ready to cheer on the Cougars this fall.
New Turf Field Maximizes Use for Multiple Sports
APU is replacing Cougar Stadium’s current grass field with a FieldTurf Vertex CORE system, an elite synthetic turf platform which will allow the university to maximize the usage of the field for many years. “In the past, the grass field needed periods of extended time to be restored,” said Don Davis ’89, MBA ’94, EdD, associate vice president for Facilities Management and Real Estate Development. “Now that we have football back and women’s flag football starting, in addition to track and field, there really won’t be extended periods of unutilized time for the grass to restore, so the turf allows us to provide the best experiences for all of our athletes.”
Hundreds of APU student athletes will benefit from the new turf field, with a better surface to practice and play on as they compete for championships each year. For junior linebacker Anis Jedidiah Gbaja-Biamila ’28, this elite new surface brings a heightened sense of purpose. “This stadium represents a new era of APU football, and these renovations almost feel like a responsibility for us,” Gbaja-Biamila said.
Video Scoreboard Gives Fans a Closer Look
As students, parents, faculty, and staff gather to cheer on the Cougars, they’ll notice a major change in the corner of the stadium. Gone is the dated analog scoreboard, and in is a state-of-the-art 15.5 x 27.5 ft. Daktronics video scoreboard. “I’m excited for how the video scoreboard will enhance the spectator experience with replays, up-to-the-minute statistics, and engaging APU video content,” said Gary Pine ’84, MBA ’05, athletic director. This enhancement means fans won’t have to wait for highlights on YouTube after the game; they’ll get to relive sensational throws by APU’s quarterback, dazzling one-handed catches by the receivers, and gamechanging turnovers from the Cougar defense in the moment on the massive, high-definition screen. The scoreboard will also house a soundsystem, replacing the old horns which used to obstruct the view of the field. With no obstructions, fans can truly enjoy the game.
Beautified Stands Elevate Cougar Pride
While the new field and scoreboard improve the experience inside the stadium, one of the biggest renovations can be noticed from the outside. The current beige exterior of stands is being replaced with a new powder-coated corrugated metal wrap in APU’s iconic brick red color. The stands will also feature institutional branding with the Cougar logo and “Azusa Pacific Cougars” painted in large letters across. “I’m really looking forward to seeing the new exterior,” Pine said. “Our fans and visiting teams alike will know that they’re entering the home of the Cougars!” The stands will also be receiving safety and accessibility enhancements based on current ADA Code standards.
Additional Updates
While the field, scoreboard, and stands exterior will draw most of the attention, APU is also implementing several updates in and around the stadium. These include:
- Creating permanent steps, with lighting, for player entrances
- Painting the cross at the rear-right corner of the stadium
- Press box updates – fresh paint, new flooring, windows, roof, and roof access
- Modernizing the Men’s and Women’s locker rooms
- Adding electrical receptacles in Parking Lot E for events
All of the renovations to Cougar Stadium are being done to create a truly thrilling experience for APU fans and student-athletes, and will be completed in time for the first home football game. Head football coach A.J. Parnell is excited to have a facility that matches and represents the amazing things happening at APU.
“Similar to what the Felix Event Center has meant, we see Cougar Stadium having the same impact on our community and student experience! It creates a space that allows our athletes to chase their best,” Parnell said. “The people are truly what make APU special but when your facilities can match it creates synergy in a new way. This is an exciting opportunity for our community to come together as we reestablish the home of God First football here at APU!”