Florida A&M University last week received $10 million in funding for renovations and upgrades to Bragg Memorial Stadium.
Bragg was first constructed in 1957 and since then has been home to the FAMU’ football team. The stadium was last renovated in 1982, nearly four decades ago.
According to a press release issued by FAMU on Thursday, the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency board, which is made up of the 12 members of the Leon County and Tallahassee City commissions, approved the $10 million by a 9-3 vote.
FAMU Vice President and Athletic Director Kortne Gosha told The Famuan this funding was much appreciated and that it will play an integral role in making Bragg Memorial Stadium a functional facility long into the future.
“The stadium is something we knew we needed to do for a long time and the timing was right,” Gosha told The Famuan. “All of the money will go directly to renovations in Bragg Memorial Stadium. We’re going to replace the seating and address a lot of the structural issues associated with the stadium. That’s the first priority. Then second, we will look at a new press box, stadium lighting, concession stand and restrooms,” he added.
“We want to really make sure that the facility is functional and that people who attend Bragg Memorial Stadium for any event whether it’s a football game, a band competition or a community event, that it can facilitate the needs for all of our constituents for now and well into the future of our program,” Gosha said.
Gosha is naturally excited to get to work on repairing and rehabilitating the stadium, but he said he’s also impressed by how much support FAMU has been receiving from the community.
“I think that people are impressed with the strides that we have made in the last two months and people are willing to help invest in our program and that’s truly what this is,” Gosha said. “This shows that our city, our communities and our county are true partners and we are greatly appreciative of the investment.”
Eddie Jackson, former FAMU vice president and president of the 220 Quarterback Club — a major supporter of FAMU athletics — is ecstatic about this new development for FAMU and the leadership behind this major investment.
“$10 million is such an incredible sum for the institution to receive,” Jackson said. “I feel that Dr. [Larry] Robinson and his team just did a magnificent job, along with the outstanding leadership being shown from our new athletic director, Kortne Gosha. It means great things in the future for FAMU football and therefore FAMU athletics.”
Gosha said he expect to start on the renovations as soon as possible. The goal is to have the stadium ready for the 2021 football season, he said.
“Me and other individuals here working on campus are ready to get plans in place, within the university’s processes that we must follow, and we are going to try to move as quickly as we can. We want to make sure that everything is done the right way and we don’t want to cut any corners,” Gosha said. “We would hope that we get majority of it done by the inaugural 2021 football season in the SWAC. “