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Convocation Center Questions
Question:
Name: Steve
City: Buies Creek
Comments:
I heard that Campbell has raised all $30 million dollars for the Convocation Center! Is this correct and when is the ground breaking going to start ?
Answer:
Steve,
The last total of cash and commitments announced was over $17 million towards the John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center. That preliminary total is still short of the overall total goal of $30 million. However, if things continue to move forward in fund raising, we hope to begin construction by the end of 2006 which would put us in the new John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center for the 2008-2009 basketball season. Thank you for your continued support of Fighting Camel Athletics!
Stan Williamson
Director of Athletics
Question:
Name: John
City: Buies Creek
Comments:
How is fundraising going for the convocation center. When do you think ground breaking will be?
Answer:
John,
Excitement surrounding the John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center project continues to build. Campbell has now exceeded 12 million in cash and pledges toward the goal of 30 million for this much needed facility. The goal is to break ground for this facility by the fall of 2006. We are all working very hard to raise the funds necessary for this special project. Also, we look forward to that historic day in Campbell history when we host that first event in the beautiful new John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center.
Stan Williamson
Director of Athletics
Question:
Name: Steve
City: Bethlehem
Comments:
Mr. Williamson,
With the addition of the new sports complex, will it include a weight lifting center?
Answer:
Steve,
Thank you for asking this question about a weight lifting area. The new Convocation Center will include a strength training and cardiovascular area for all students at Campbell University!
Stan Williamson
Director of Athletics
Question:
Name: John
City: Pensacola
State: FL
Comments:
My question is why hasn't Campbell find sponsors to help them in raising money for the new Convocation Center? Like McDonalds, or Coca Cola, or someone like that. My second question is where would this Convocation Center be located when construction starts?
Answer:
John,
Thanks for your question. We are actively seeking support for the Convocation Center from any and all interested parties. Campbell has received good support for the Convocation Center project to this point and some of those contributions are related to corporate entities.
However, corporate support with naming opportunities is a little more difficult in that it would be tied to a "marketing" buy. Most corporate entities don't see Buies Creek as a major market. We do have a lot to offer and much more than most people realize. But time will tell if we are able to get support from a major corporation for the Convocation Center. Please know that we are open to that idea and will entertain any opportunity that is consistent with the mission of Campbell University.
As to the proposed location, it has been determined that the Convocation Center will be built at the corner of Leslie Campbell Avenue and Main Street in the area where the McLeod and Reardon buildings are currently located.
Thank you for your question and your support of Fighting Camel Athletics!
Stan Williamson
Director of Athletics
Question:
Name: Shane Nixon
City: Burlington
Comments:
Hey Stan!
Do I understand correctly that no construction on the Convocation Center will be started until all funds are raised? If so based on CU's record with fund-raising, estimate for me a time table you'd envision for the entire process.
Also, the Men's basketball team was in several league games this year but couldn't finish the deal. Having met Coach Laing, I think that will change next year. Would you be willing to go ahead and encourage Camel fans to make our reservations for next year's A-Sun tourney?
One final thing, is it fair to say that Coach Wanda Watkins is one of the most under-publicized gems of the women's game at the D1 level? I continue to be proud of all she and her fine staff do for my Alma-mater.
GREAT work with another good season!
Answer:
Shane,
Thank you for your questions and comments. Fund raising for the proposed Convocation/Student Center is ongoing. A fairly large amount of money has been raised but much more is needed; this will probably be an 18 to 20 (or more) million dollar project. As you are aware, Campbell University has exercised a "debt free" policy in all of its construction projects to date.
There are many ways to finance a large project such as the proposed Convocation/Student Center; but, ultimately, that cost must be paid through the donations of alumni and friends and/or the tuition and fees of students. The funding and construction decisions will ultimately fall to Dr. Wallace and Campbell's Board of Trustees.
Both Coach Laing and Coach Watkins have very young teams and are working hard to recruit and develop the type of student-athletes that will make everyone at Campbell proud.
We need to be patient as they build these basketball programs with class and integrity. These coaches are two of the finest individuals anywhere and their desire for their programs to succeed cannot be matched. I think you will see tremendous improvements over the next two years in both programs.
Thank you for your questions and continued support of Fighting Camel Athletics!
Stan Williamson
Director of Athletics
Question:
Name: DMG
City: Topsail Island
Comments:
Mr. Williamson,
I have heard rumors of an indoor track that will be located within the new Convocation Center. Is there any truth to this?
The question I have is whether that money would be better spent on repairing or replacing the outdoor track we already have. The surface looks like it is coming up and I can't imagine the uneven lanes are much fun for serious runners.
I personally like being able to walk/run on the track at night and would love nothing more than to see us get a nicer track. I would imagine that the teams here at Campbell share my opinion. Either way, hopefully some money will be put into the track because more students use the track than any other recreational facility on campus.
Answer:
DMG,
There are many benefits to an indoor track and this has been discussed as a feature of the proposed Convocation/Student Center. However, because of the costs involved in keeping that large area within this proposed facility, an indoor track is not likely to be included in the Convocation/Student Center.
We are keenly aware of the condition of our existing outdoor track as well as the interest and use of the track by the Campbell community. We are making plans to upgrade or even move the track to another location at some point in the next few years.
Thank you for your excellent question as well as your continued support of Campbell University Athletics.
Stan Williamson
Director of Athletics
Question:
Name: CW
City: Southern Pines
Comments:
After the new arena is constructed, do you think the department will plan on changing its recruiting style to that which would include more of a national search for athletes versus a more regional approach? Do you know how many people the new area will seat?
Answer:
CW,
That is an interesting question regarding recruiting. However, let me answer your last question regarding the seating capacity. The discussions about the new arena have ranged from 2,500 to 4,000 seating capacity. A final determination as to seating capacity will probably be finalized within the next two or three months.
As to recruiting, we recruit locally, nationally, and internationally. We have student-athletes from Clayton, Clinton, Wilson, Wilmington, Cary, High Point, Wake Forest and various other places throughout North Carolina. We have student-athletes from the east coast (FL, SC, VA, MD, NJ, DL, CT, etc.) to the west coast (California, Washington, etc.) and most states in between (Kentucky, Ohio, Colorado, Texas, Miss., etc.). We also have a large number of international student-athletes from places like Sweden, England, Australia, Canada, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Yugoslavia, Belgium, Romania, Denmark, and Germany. Our goal in recruiting is to find the best available student-athletes who will develop and grow as athletes and as people in our Christian university environment. The addition of the proposed Convocation/Student Center may not change our recruiting methods or style, but we do believe it will help broaden our pool of available student-athletes.
The addition of this facility, however, will change our marketing and promotion efforts for our athletic events. This facility will allow us to host games and events that we cannot host at this time and allow us to go into markets that we cannot effectively penetrate at this time.
This new facility will certainly help in recruiting student-athletes, but it will also help in the recruitment of all students to Campbell University. I hope this lengthy response effectively answers your questions. Thank you for your continued support.
Stan Williamson
Director of Athletics
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