USC President Carol Folt announced a new performance center for football operations and enhancements to Dedeaux Field as part of development efforts during a Board of Trustees meeting last week. This is in addition to the construction of a new field for women’s’ soccer and lacrosse unveiled earlier this week.
The football construction and enhancements to the women’s soccer and lacrosse programs are part of Folt’s athletics “moonshots.” Along with new initiatives in computing, health sciences and recruiting top students, Folt wants to bolster USC Athletics’ success with state-of-the-art facilities and a commitment to Title IX.
The football performance center will include three levels for team operations, a rooftop deck and a players’ lounge. Plans for the center will also offer various other amenities, including a new locker room, a recovery hub, a team auditorium, recruiting areas, nutritional support, sports sciences services, a weight room, a training room and an equipment room.
Construction is set to include a second practice field accessible from the performance center.
Head football coach Lincoln Riley said the performance center will be “an absolute game changer.”
The renovations are also targeting Dedeaux Field, as the capacity of the stadium will be increased to 2,500. New facilities are set to include concession locations, a video board and audio system, a press box and office space for staff.
Additionally, construction on the new women’s soccer and lacrosse field is set to begin later this year. Soni McAlister Field will be renamed Rawlison Stadium and expanded to accommodate 2,500 spectators. The renovation will include viewing decks, social spaces, a press box, a box office and concession stands, as well as a video board and field lights.
These projects are part of a larger goal for the university across all USC Athletics programs. Future projects include enhancing the golf practice facility and Galen Center, as well as expanding the John McKay Center and student-athlete dining facility.