Final beam represents stadium construction milestone
FLORENCE — The scene at the Bank Independent Stadium construction site reveals a great deal of work going on within and extending from the 18-foot-deep rectangular figure that soon will be home to University of North Alabama football and soccer.
The final one of those beams was put into place July 31 amid cheers from UNA supporters.
That is a far cry from last summer’s scene of what was a practice field and a vision.
UNA officials celebrated the topping out ceremony Thursday, which is a traditional event on construction sites to mark the placement of the final beam of a project.
“If you look at how much progress we made in the last year, it’s not that difficult to fast forward a year and thing about this time in 2026 getting ready to kick soccer off and football off,” UNA President Ken Kitts said.
A tree was on top of the beam as it was lifted into place. That is a tradition in topping out ceremonies and symbolizes good luck.
“This is an exciting day in the life of UNA,” Kitts said. “We’ve been looking forward to this for many years, some might say 195 years. It’s on schedule and already beginning to transform the western edge of our campus. We couldn’t be more excited.”
Those who gathered signed the beam before the ceremony. Kitts said he considered that to be a statement from the community within the university and throughout the Shoals.
“It’s ownership,” he said. “They’re putting their name to it. They want to be part of it. This is the campus, community, board trustees, donors and alumni who came together and said we’re going to make this happen.”
The board in December unanimously approved the $53.367 million Fite Building Company bid for the 10,000-seat Bobby Wallace Field at Bank Independent Stadium.
The area also includes the Mike D. Lane Field baseball stadium. The baseball field project already has been completed to the point where some home games were played there this past spring. Work on the press box and stands continues.
The contract for the Mike D. Lane Field baseball stadium and a turf field and track at the UNA Spring Sports Complex at Cox Creek Park is part of a separate contract for a little under $12 million, officials said.
The project is funded through A $37.7 million bond and $30 million through the university’s “Shine On, Gold” campaign.
Athletic Director Josh Looney said construction is on pace for Bobby Wallace Field to host the football team’s 2026 home opener against Alcorn State on Sept. 19, 2026, as well as some soccer games before that date.
“When you look at that site and where it’s come in a year, it really is hard to envision what it was a year ago,” he said. “It was an asphalt track there and we had football practices, and some soccer matches there.”
Bobby Wallace Field will feature a three-level press tower with concessions, restrooms, suites, a club level and a home tunnel that connects the home locker room to the adjacent CB&S Bank Arena, officials said. The stadium also is designed to host concerts and other community events.
Looney said he has heard a great deal of excitement from the community, especially as people see the stadium taking shape off of Pine Street.
“These things don’t happen often, when you’re building a stadium from the ground up,” he said. “When you’re seeing something this visible for the community, it really is a special time to be a part of UNA.”
He said the next phases involve additional vertical work.
“You’ll start seeing on the southwest side end zone, the locker room structure and concession structure starting to go vertical,” Looney said. “By time the students come back to campus, they’ll probably start seeing that structure elevated.
“We’ve started mobilizing on both the video boards. The baseball video board is being installed. They’ll start to see a steel structure in the northeast end zone come up. When you go through 9 to 10 months of groundwork, these are the times when it starts getting exciting.”
