ASU football in fundraising stage on indoor facility that will double as tailgate area

TEMPE — ASU football aims to have a new indoor facility close to Mountain America Stadium in time for the 2027 season opener.

The permanent structure will also provide tailgate space for fans on game days, with the WM Open’s 16th hole as a model.

“We want to get it fundraised here in the next five months to get a shovel in the ground here in the next six months so it’s here two years from today, which is the goal,” head coach Kenny Dillingham said on Wednesday.

“We want to create the 16th hole of the Waste Management Open, or as close as we can to it … we just got to fundraise enough money to do it. It’ll be good for us, our football team and it’ll be good for the fans if we can get it done.”

Dillingham said it was his idea to use the 16th hole as a model.

“No offense to golf, but people don’t go to the Waste Management Open to watch the golf. They go for the experience and the fun and the entertainment,” he said.

“So if we have a structure that becomes the best sports bar/tailgating event in town every single week right outside our stadium, I think it could become one of the places to be on Saturday if it’s done right, if we can fundraise enough money to do it right, not just for our football team but for the fan experience.”

The idea was first publicly suggested by Dillingham in February when he emphasized the potential benefits of being closer to the stadium where the student athlete facility is located, as well as mitigating the impact of heat.

The proximity issue is a big deal, as the current structure has players shuttled about a half-mile to and from the student facility to the Kajikawa Practice Fields and the Verde Dickey Dome on the other side of Rural Road.

How much funding does ASU football need for new facility?

ASU is looking for $15-20 million in contributions, Dillingham said.

“Begging,” Dillingham joked when asked how they’ll secure the necessary dollars. “The school will take it from there if we can get to that $15-20 million mark spread throughout 5-7 years, so that’s what we’re shooting for.”

About a third of the funding has already been acquired, he added.

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