Syracuse Breaks Ground on Indoor Practice Center

Initial Renderings of the Facility | Photos

Syracuse University broke ground on a transformational indoor practice center on Sunday at Lower Coyne Field on the Lampe Athletics Complex. Construction is expected to take approximately eight to nine months on the $13 million building, which will serve as a training center for Orange football and other intercollegiate sports programs.

Support for the indoor practice center is led by a major gift from Syracuse Board of Trustees Chairman Richard L. Thompson '67 and his wife, Jean '66. In recognition of their generosity, the turf field at the practice center will be named in honor of Jean Thompson's father, John F. Phelan, a Sherrill, N.Y. native who was a freshman at SU and a member of the 1940 Orange football team.

In 1941, when World War II broke out, Phelan left Syracuse after one year to join the armed forces and never returned. He was killed in action in France in 1944, giving the ultimate sacrifice in action for his country. He was survived by his wife, Jean Taylor Phelan, and Jean, his 6-week-old daughter. Jean Thompson ultimately went on to attend SU and graduated in 1966 with a bachelor's degree from the College of Arts and Sciences.

The Thompsons' gift is part of an overall transformational gift of $1 million the couple made to SU Athletics on the very first day of SU's membership in the ACC, July 1, 2013, marking and celebrating the historic move.

The Thompsons have allocated the remainder of their gift to support other critical SU Athletics' priorities. The remaining amount will go to name the SU head coach's basketball office and to support the construction of new locker rooms for both the women's lacrosse program and the volleyball program.

"We are extremely grateful for the generosity and leadership of Dick and Jean Thompson," said SU Director of Athletics Dr. Daryl Gross. "Their leadership isn't simply about an important gift but also about tremendous vision and commitment. They are the embodiment of all that is great about our University."

"We are thrilled to help create a modern space that allows our current and future student-athletes to truly have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential. We, like so many other SU alumnus, believe strongly in the premiere student-athlete experience and competitive excellence. This building and the other projects support that vision," said Dick Thompson.

"Sports, and especially football, were a very important part of my father's life. I know he would be honored to have this indoor field for the football team named after him and to know that future generations of student-athletes will have such a wonderful facility in which to practice," said Jean Thompson.

The Thompsons and other donors attended the groundbreaking ceremony, as did Syracuse Legend and NFL Hall of Famer Floyd Little. Gross, who spearheaded the effort to provide the building for the coaches and student-athletes, made the opening remarks.

"The new center comes at a critical point in SU Athletics to help us build on the momentum of two bowl games in the last three years and our exciting move to the ACC. It is foundational for us in our effort to not just be in the ACC but to compete at the highest levels and win championships," said Gross. "The center clearly is critical to football but will also benefit all of our programs as we continue to pursue competitive excellence across the board."

Current renderings of the indoor center were on display, and additional features of the project were announced, including the creation of a plaza that will include statues of Syracuse legends Jim Brown, Ernie Davis and Floyd Little.

Syracuse University Athletics

Syracuse Breaks Ground on Indoor Practice Center

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