Purdue Football: Lights To Be Installed At Ross-Ade
WEST LAFAYETTE – Permanent lights will be installed at Ross-Ade Stadium in time for the 2017 football season.
On Friday, the Purdue Board of Trustees approved the project, which is expected to cost $5.6 million.
“The pending Big Ten Conference media rights agreements will require that all stadiums have permanent lighting,” vice president and athletics director Mike Bobinski said. “As the league has expanded and the number of conference games has increased, it’s become necessary to have more flexibility for kickoff times throughout the season at all stadiums. Adding permanent lights does not mean an influx of night games, but we certainly will have some in the years ahead. Lights also are needed for 3:30 p.m. starts once the season moves into October and beyond.”
The project is scheduled to begin in March of 2017, with completion in August. The Boilermakers’ first home game of the 2017 season is Sept. 9 vs. Ohio.
No student fees or state support will be used for the project. It will be funded by Purdue Athletics gifts. Purdue Athletics is a self-supporting auxiliary enterprise.
The Ross-Ade lights are part of the Football Master Plan, which consists of six points: coaching and support staff, player development, academic support, recruiting, fan engagement, and contemporary facilities.