University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Marcus Tompkins
Tiger Football cuts ribbon on new indoor facility
Jun 17, 2020 | Football
What They're Saying
MEMPHIS -- The University of Memphis cut the ribbon on its new indoor practice facility, marking the completion of the $11.2 million facility now attached to Billy J. Murphy Complex, Wednesday.
The new NFL-quality practice turf has been dubbed Hardin Family Field.
"Let me say 'Congratulations' and 'Thank You' to a lot of people," University of Memphis President M. David Rudd said. "This has been a long journey for the University of Memphis football team to build an indoor facility. This means we have crossed that finish line, and it was an important finish line. It was a finish line in a race that has been run by many, many people who have given and supported this effort.
"At another level, it's a new start for this program. This program has moved into the top 25 consistently over the course of the last four years and it's been wonderful to see. With a new head coach and a new athletic director, it couldn't feel better."
Ground was broken on the Murphy Complex additions in April of 2016 as a two-phase extension. The first phase, a 25,000-square foot addition that included a new athletic training room, new dining facilities and new offices, opened in the summer of 2019. The full-length indoor football field, Phase 2, began construction immediately afterwards.
"Because we have evolved to where we are now a top 25 program, this is really about leveling the playing field," Athletics Director Laird Veatch said. "Our competitors, the folks we are recruiting against and playing against, have facilities like this. It's not just about recruiting, it's about being able to compete in ways we maybe haven't been able to before."
The indoor facility towers over its adjacent Murphy Complex wing, with a 42-foot eave height and a 58-foot clear ridge height. At a cost of $11.2 million, the full-length football field and storage spaces take up 78,000-square feet and includes floating goal posts and mechanical nets in each end zone, LED lighting with 100 foot candle performance-level lighting, two video platforms, a south end zone scoreboard and Tiger-striped end zones with a leaping Tiger logo at midfield on NFL-level Vertez Prime Field Turf.
"It's jaw-dropping," Head Coach Ryan Silverfield said. "It's a beautiful facility and I just can't wait to get our guys out here running around. I know they'll be excited, but I don't have any other words other than wow. Truly an amazing place. Thank you to everybody that made this happen. From the Hardin family, to all of our boosters, donation from former players, President Rudd, Laird Veatch and everybody along the lines, thank you for making this dream come true."
The facility includes large roll up doors on the east and west sidelines, with the west sideline doors opening onto a newly-sodded grass field on Field Two.
The 2020 Tiger team will be the first to have use of the field in preparation for the upcoming season.
"My freshman year, I saw the video of this plan," said senior linebacker J.J. Russell. "Ever since then, this team has been working hard to get this. I thank all the former players before me and everyone else that contributed."
About the new facillity
Fun Facts
MEMPHIS -- The University of Memphis cut the ribbon on its new indoor practice facility, marking the completion of the $11.2 million facility now attached to Billy J. Murphy Complex, Wednesday.
The new NFL-quality practice turf has been dubbed Hardin Family Field.
"Let me say 'Congratulations' and 'Thank You' to a lot of people," University of Memphis President M. David Rudd said. "This has been a long journey for the University of Memphis football team to build an indoor facility. This means we have crossed that finish line, and it was an important finish line. It was a finish line in a race that has been run by many, many people who have given and supported this effort.
"At another level, it's a new start for this program. This program has moved into the top 25 consistently over the course of the last four years and it's been wonderful to see. With a new head coach and a new athletic director, it couldn't feel better."
Ground was broken on the Murphy Complex additions in April of 2016 as a two-phase extension. The first phase, a 25,000-square foot addition that included a new athletic training room, new dining facilities and new offices, opened in the summer of 2019. The full-length indoor football field, Phase 2, began construction immediately afterwards.
"Because we have evolved to where we are now a top 25 program, this is really about leveling the playing field," Athletics Director Laird Veatch said. "Our competitors, the folks we are recruiting against and playing against, have facilities like this. It's not just about recruiting, it's about being able to compete in ways we maybe haven't been able to before."
The indoor facility towers over its adjacent Murphy Complex wing, with a 42-foot eave height and a 58-foot clear ridge height. At a cost of $11.2 million, the full-length football field and storage spaces take up 78,000-square feet and includes floating goal posts and mechanical nets in each end zone, LED lighting with 100 foot candle performance-level lighting, two video platforms, a south end zone scoreboard and Tiger-striped end zones with a leaping Tiger logo at midfield on NFL-level Vertez Prime Field Turf.
"It's jaw-dropping," Head Coach Ryan Silverfield said. "It's a beautiful facility and I just can't wait to get our guys out here running around. I know they'll be excited, but I don't have any other words other than wow. Truly an amazing place. Thank you to everybody that made this happen. From the Hardin family, to all of our boosters, donation from former players, President Rudd, Laird Veatch and everybody along the lines, thank you for making this dream come true."
The facility includes large roll up doors on the east and west sidelines, with the west sideline doors opening onto a newly-sodded grass field on Field Two.
The 2020 Tiger team will be the first to have use of the field in preparation for the upcoming season.
"My freshman year, I saw the video of this plan," said senior linebacker J.J. Russell. "Ever since then, this team has been working hard to get this. I thank all the former players before me and everyone else that contributed."
About the new facillity
- 78,000-square feet
- 42 foot eave height and 58 foot clear ridge height
- $11.2 million
- NFL level grass turf: Field Turf - Vertez Prime with Tiger-striped end zones and the Leaping Tiger logo at midfield
- Wall pads around the full perimeter for player protection
- Programmable LED lights with 100 candle performance
- Scoreboard at the south end zone
- Hanging field goal posts at both ends of the field
- Motorized Nets
- Viewing catwalk from the coach's suit
- Two video platforms
- Roll-up doors on the east and west sidelines, with the west side doors leading to a newly-sodded natural grass field (Field 2)
- Dedicated coaches parking with privacy gate
Fun Facts
- The entire complex takes up 1.8 acres and is bigger than all but five aircraft hanger worldwide
- The facility could hold 16 basketball courts
- 78,000-square feet is 11,232,000 square inches
- The Hardin Field Complex is almost 10,000 square feet larger than the White House
- It's almost twice as big as Bill Gates' House
- It could fit 485 parking spots or 1,797 king-sized beds
- Is twenty times larger than an IMAX screen
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