Michael and Michelle Hagerty donated $5 million at the end of 2022 to fund renovations to the Florida Atlantic University athletic facilities. Many of the renovations are now underway.
According to the FAU minor project database, these small renovations are: a new baseball batting cage, beach volleyball scoreboard and expansion to the court. Others include new lighting at the tennis and beach volleyball courts, new interior renovations at the Tom Oxley Athletic Center in addition to changes in previous locker room, floor and lighting systems.
“Our goal is to continuously look for ways to make improvements to our facilities that will move the Athletic department forward,” wrote associate AD for communications Katrina McCormack. “These decisions are made in line with donor intent and with our mission of continuously improving the experience of our nearly 450 student-athletes.”
FAU completed a new court for the Eleanor Baldwin Arena during the summer of 2023. The Hagerty Family Track and Field Complex is going to have a full resurfacing. The project is set to be completed by the end of the fall semester.
Senior track athlete sprinter Beyonce Green and senior cross country runner Jordan Stevens shared a personal excitement in learning that the track will resurface.
Green said she’s glad that the university is resurfacing the track because it’s allowing her to run on it her senior year. She expressed that she is very grateful that FAU provides a track for the athletes. Other colleges must borrow tracks because they don’t have one on campus.
“The track being resurfaced means a lot to me, but my teammates as well,” said Green. “I think the last time it was redone was around 15 years ago? So this project is needed because it [track] wears down over time, and it’s almost like running on the road. I think it’s a good time for us to get a new track, especially going into the new conference.”
Stevens said that the track being redone is very exciting for her because it’s her last year running for FAU. Now, she has the opportunity to run on a new track, which means a lot to her and her teammates.
“The track definitely needs to be resurfaced,” Stevens said. “There are areas on the track that are uneven, cracked and there’s an issue with the drainage system which causes the track to flood when it rains heavily. As athletes, it’s important that we have a safe track to train on to improve our performance.”
Track athletes were happy to hear about the upcoming resurfacing to the track and renovations to the Tom Oxley Athletic Center, which they use for weight training and treatment from athletic trainers.
The Hagerty family’s donation is allowing FAU to provide their student-athletes with safer playing fields and small cosmetic projects that aid in the general aesthetics of the athletes’ facilities.
“The biggest chances for the fan experience will be noticed while attending volleyball and basketball games at the Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena, tournaments at the beach volleyball courts and the baseball stadium,” wrote McCormack. “Although the Tom Oxley Athletic Center will not host athletic events, it will be home to the new Athletics Hall of Fame, which will be made open to the public.”
Megan Bruinsma is a staff writer for the University Press. For more information regarding this or other stories, email her at [email protected] or DM her on Instagram @megan_bruinsma.
