INSIDE LOOK

A New Era of Spartan Athletics Begins with SAC

By Marcus Ismael

Summer 2023 will signal a renewed sense of vibrancy for Spartan Athletics in the form of ultramodern facilities.

Fly through the Spartan Athletics Center to experience the new game day experience at CEFCU Stadium and state-of-the-art facility for Spartan student-athletes.

San José State University’s South Campus will soon be the new home of the Spartan Athletics Center (SAC), which will anchor the east side of CEFCU Stadium and house Spartan football and men’s and women’s soccer. The state-of-the-art 55,000-square-foot facility provides brand-new amenities for all 22 SJSU athletics teams that will visually enhance and redefine CEFCU Stadium and all of South Campus.

Efforts for the Spartan Athletics Center began in 2018 with a $5 million commitment from alumni philanthropists Larry and Deirdre Solari to support football operations and revamp the aging stadium. Demolition of the site began in 2019 and continued through 2020 with the removal of the east side hill. The new landscaping creates an improved vantage point for fans, with sloped turf seating rising just above the sidelines.

“This is the crowning achievement for all of the facility improvements on South Campus,” said SJSU Director of Athletics Jeff Konya. “We are extremely grateful to all of our donors that committed to this transformative project that will give us a better opportunity to compete for top prospects throughout the country. Our student-athletes will enjoy a state-of-the-art facility that can provide lounge areas, a cafeteria with nutritional spaces, top-of-the-line locker rooms and, on game days, provide premium seating for our fan base to enjoy the game.”

The top floor hosts an expansive offering of VIP experiences with suites, a large football lounge and a soccer lounge for Spartan supporters. The lounge spaces give guests direct views of the action through floor-to-ceiling windows and open-air balconies that benefit from seamless integration with on-site dining and hospitality facilities. Behind the football lounge, a 180-seat auditorium can accommodate team operations as well as events, presentations and conferences.

“This is the crowning achievement for all of the facility improvements on South Campus.”

— Jeff Konya

Bringing team operations into the future entails first-class amenities, including a nearly 2,000-square-foot sports medicine facility as well as a hydrotherapy room featuring two large pool spas. New, expansive locker rooms and team facilities create a modern environment for championship-caliber Spartans.

In addition to providing space for football and men’s and women’s soccer, the SAC creates a new venue for Beyond Sparta participants and events. Beyond Sparta connects student-athletes with networking and career opportunities in Silicon Valley and offers professional development opportunities that go beyond their respective sports.

The development of the Spartan Athletic Center has been advanced primarily through philanthropic support. While the building is slated to open on July 1, 2023, ongoing development and operations still could use support. Several facilities in the new center are open to naming opportunities.

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Top video/image courtesy of SJSU Athletics.