Brooks Stadium

Brooks Stadium / James C. Benton Field

Location	540 University Blvd Conway, South Carolina 29528
Coordinates	33.793013°N 79.017652°W / 33.793013; -79.017652
Owner	Coastal Carolina University
Operator	Coastal Carolina University
Capacity	21,000 (2017-future) 9,214 (2012-present) 9,112 (2010-2011) 7,322 (2006-2009) 6,408 (2003-2005)
Surface	FieldTurf (teal) (2015-present) Grass (2003-2014)
Construction
Broke ground	July 30, 2002
Opened	September 6, 2003
Expanded	January, 2017
Construction cost	$20.1 Million (includes Adkins FH)
Architect	McMillan Smith & Partners
General contractor	Hill Construction
Tenants
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football (NCAA) (2003–present)

Brooks Stadium is a 9,214-seat multi-purpose stadium in Conway, South Carolina. It is home to the Coastal Carolina University Chanticleers football team. The facility opened in 2003 and is named in honor of Coby Garrett Brooks and Boni Belle Brooks, children of the late Robert "Bob" Brooks. Brooks was a Loris, South Carolina native and was the chairman of Hooters of America, Inc. The stadium is notable for its teal artificial turf.

History and renovation

Groundbreaking for Brooks Stadium was held on July 30, 2002. Phase I of the stadium construction contained 6,408 seats, while the foundation and infrastructure of the stadium was designed to support future expansion to 20,000 seats. The stadium was formally dedicated on September 6, 2003, as the Chanticleer football team opened its inaugural game vs. Newberry College in front of a crowd of more than 8,000. The stadium was designed to be expandable to seat nearly 20,000. On October 7, 2006, the field was named James C. Benton Field to honor the family for a large donation they made to the Coastal athletics program earlier in the year.

2017 Expansion

Following the announcement of the university joining the Sun Belt Conference on September 1, 2015, Brooks Stadium will undergo construction to expand the stadium to 20,000 seats; the NCAA requires FBS programs to maintain an average attendance of at least 15,000 over a rolling two-year cycle. The addition will complete a lower level seating bowl between the home & visitor sections as well as adding a second level to the west side backing up to S.C. 544. The new seating will connect the sections and form a horseshoe like stadium, whereas the two sides are currently separate. The expansion will be largely completed in time for the 2017 season, when Chanticleer football team will begin competition in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. In addition to increased seating and additional amenities, the project will also add a suite level above the visitor stands.

The expansion project received approval from the state in November of 2015, however construction is not expected to begin until January, 2017. Coastal Carolina University officials have set the project pricetag at $38 million. The committee also announced in February the lead architects for the expansion will be Heery International, Inc. architectural firm and Stubbs Muldrow Herin architects. The project is expected to be completed by March, 2017.

Adkins Fieldhouse

The $8.5 million Adkins Fieldhouse opened at Brooks Stadium in June 2010. It is named for brothers Mark and Will Adkins (Coastal Carolina '89), who donated $1.5 million to the project. The fieldhouse added 1,600 seats, bringing the stadium capacity to 9,112.

The Adkins Fieldhouse also includes...

• Football Offices, meeting rooms, and football locker room
• 13,000-square-foot (1,200 m²) Strength & Conditioning Center for all student-athletes
• Men's and Woman's Cross Country/Track & Field Offices
• Men's and Woman's Soccer Offices
• Men's and Woman's Golf Offices
• Men's Tennis Office
• Baseball Office
• Softball Office
• George F. "Buddy" Sasser Athletic Hall of Fame

Gallery

• 
  Home Stands.
• 
  Adkins Fieldhouse, located in the north endzone.

External links

• Brooks Stadium - Coastal Carolina Chanticleer Athletics