Western Carolina University Holds Groundbreaking for Stadium Renovations

On June 12th, Western Carolina University hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to announce the start of the renovation project for E.J. Whitmire Stadium. The project is expected to cost $37 million and is supported by WCU’s “Fill the Western Sky” comprehensive fundraising campaign and student activity fees.

The project is the first in a planned series of upgrades to facilities used by Catamount student-athletes, WCU Chancellor Kelli R. Brown told a crowd of more than 300 gathered for the ceremony.

“This is just one piece of our broader vision to create opportunities for students, build our legacy, and ensure the success of our athletics programs,” Brown said. “We are taking a phased approach in much-needed and long-overdue upgrades to our athletics facilities, starting with these upgrades and featuring the flexibility for additional enhancements –  not just here at Whitmire Stadium but across all of our athletics programs.”

The project includes a new press box and media center, coaches’ offices, player study spaces, and a hospitality area called “Western Skybox.” Additionally, the renovations will improve the stadium’s west stands and create 10,000 square feet of space dedicated to improving operations. Finally, the renovations will include space for the university’s emergency operations center.

WCU’s “Fill the Western Sky” campaign is supporting this project and plans to continue supporting projects to invest in the university. The campaign began in 2019 with a goal of raising at least $100 million and has thus far reached 91.4% of its target.