Helen & Leonard Moretz Stadium Renovation

It’s time to renovate the stadium to continue to offer Bears fans a top-notch experience for LR Athletics and as a community resource.

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Moretz Stadium has become a treasured part of the Lenoir-Rhyne experience as the backdrop for hosting football and men’s and women’s lacrosse, commencement and campus events, as well as community events like concerts, high school graduations, camps and youth sports.

The stadium renovation will allow LR to provide nationally competitive facilities for its Division II athletics program, aid in the recruitment of student-athletes and enhance Lenoir-Rhyne’s position as a university recognized for both its academic and athletic success.

Project Scope

• New home grandstands on the west side with wider rows and seat backs
• Renovation of the east side and end-zone bleachers
• Renovation of the current press box and President’s Box, including the addition of an elevator and heating and cooling
• New entrance on the east side
• Covered VIP suites and VIP viewing areas
• Walk of Champions connecting Moretz Sports Complex
• New restrooms, concession areas and ticket booths to better meet fan expectations
• New locker room for men’s and women’s lacrosse with a team lounge area
• New video board
• Addition of team ramp and field entrance
• New wrought iron fencing with brick columns
• Lighting upgrades to better facilitate web streaming and televised productions
• Enhanced branding to showcase LR school spirit
• ADA-accessible seating, press box elevator and paved tailgate entrance

Naming Opportunities

• Athletic Campus SOLD!
• Press Box
• President's Box
• VIP Overlook (Club Seating Area)
• Lacrosse Field House
• Video Board/Scoreboard SOLD!
• Team Tunnel SOLD!
• Endow Head Coach Position (3)
• Endow Assistant Coach Positions (10)
• West Side Entrance SOLD!
• Main Entrance Plaza
• VIP Luxury Suites (8) 6 sold, only 2 remaining
• Practice Field SOLD!
• West Side Concourse SOLD!
• Scoreboard SOLD!
• Stadium Entrance SOLD!
• Champions Walk SOLD!
• Seating Section/Press Box Side SOLD!
• Elevator/Lobby Atrium to Press Box
• Press Area—Middle Section
• Stadium Charge Statue SOLD!
• Small Stadium Charge Statue SOLD!
• Men's Lacrosse Locker Room 
• Men's Lacrosse Lounge
• Women's Lacrosse Locker Room SOLD!
• Women's Lacrosse Lounge
• Lacrosse Lobby
• Digital/Media Room SOLD!
• Bench on the Champions Walk (8)
• Seating Sections/East Side (6) 2 sold, only 4 remaining
• Student Section/End Zone SOLD!
• Concession Stands (3) 1 sold, only 2 remaining
• Radio Areas (2) 1 sold, only 1 remaining
• Coaches Rooms (2)  1 sold, only 1 remaining
• Fencing Columns

Suites

The renovation of Moretz Stadium will include the addition of luxury suites and a VIP club seating area, making it one of the few venues in Division II with this unique offering and game-day experience. These suites provide the opportunity for entertaining your family, friends, classmates and guests in one of the best game-day atmospheres in Division II. VIP suites are also a great option for corporate entities wanting to host business clients while also receiving prominent brand exposure.

Your suite package includes game tickets, reserved VIP parking, game programs, HD TVs, personal refrigerator and the opportunity to stock the suite with your own beverages. Food packages will be available for purchase separately.

There will be eight suites on the west side of the stadium, with four located on the Press Box level and four on the President’s Box level. The suites are positioned on the 40-yard line, providing optimal sight lines for fans to take in the game. The units are fully accessible with direct access to the unit through the press box elevator or via the staircase.

They are fully enclosed suites with both air-conditioning/heating and the ability to open the windows to enjoy the game in open air. Suites are equipped with a kitchenette, access to a private restroom, and other key amenities exclusive to these private viewing areas. An additional suite will be located on the southeast corner of the stadium.

Amenities

• 12 suite tickets for Press Box level suites, 12 suite tickets for President’s Box level suites, 20 suite tickets for the suite in the southeast corner of the stadium
• Reserved VIP parking passes
• Tiered seating for optimal spectator sightlines with comfortable luxury seats
• Access to a private bathroom
• Fully equipped kitchenette, including a private refrigerator
• Complimentary game-day programs
• Access to suite two hours prior to the game and one hour after the game
• High-definition TV with access to key game-day channels
• Open-air access so you can hear the crowd noise and be part of the action, yet suites also offer air-conditioning and heating to ensure you and your guests are comfortable
• Access the day before games to stock your refrigerator with beverages
• Ability to order food packages with rotating menu (at additional cost)

Financial Commitment

We anticipate very strong demand for these suites. They will be offered initially with lifetime naming rights for a gift of $500,000, plus a perpetual annual membership to the Bears Club at a minimum of $5,000. Donors will receive permanent signage recognition in their respective suite along with recognition on the prestigious Centennial Campaign donor wall and other University giving society level acknowledgement.

Club Seating

Located in the southwest corner of the stadium, the VIP club seating section will allow you to enjoy the game action with a preferred location. The VIP club section will seat 42 fans in luxury chair seat backs with the space to move around and enjoy the game and easy access to the concourse, restrooms and concession areas. Club seating members will also enjoy in game beverage service and hospitality and will have private restrooms.

Amenities

• 4 tickets to the game
• 2 passes to the VIP club section
• In-game beverage service and hospitality
• 1 VIP parking pass (paved area in Bears Club Tailgate lot)
• Access to club seating private restrooms
• Pre-game and halftime access to the Bears Club Pavilion for 2
• All other Bears Club benefits at the Legacy Bear Level

Financial Commitment

A pair of seats in the VIP Club requires a minimum contribution of $25,000 over five years, plus an ongoing annual contribution to the Bears Club of $2,500. Donors will receive recognition displayed prominently within the club seating area, as well as recognition on the prestigious Centennial Campaign donor wall and other university giving society level acknowledgment. 

Planned Giving Opportunities

Planned gifts are not typically an option for capital projects because the building and construction cannot wait for the gifts to be realized. For this project, LR will use an innovative approach that will allow supporters with an avenue to make a larger and more impactful gift than they ever thought possible through a planned gift. Donors who meet the criteria may designate a planned gift to this project and realize opportunities for recognition now. 

Criteria

• Irrevocable planned gifts of more than $100,000 can be applied to the Moretz Stadium renovation for donors who are 65 or older by the end of the campaign, December 31, 2024.
• A gift that includes a planned gift component and a cash gift or five-year pledge is encouraged.
• To be eligible for naming opportunities, a cash gift or five-year pledge equal to at least 30% of the planned gift is required.
• Planned gifts require appropriate documentation to be counted.
• Existing planned gifts may be designated to Moretz Stadium project with appropriate documentation.
• All donors with documented planned gifts will become members of the Heritage Society, Lenoir-Rhyne’s planned giving society.

Additional Information

To learn more about the Helen and Leonard Moretz Stadium renovation, contact Andy Anderson, executive director of development, at andy.anderson@lr.edu or 828.328.7167.