The Florida Tech athletics program has come a long way.
Now, in the Golden Anniversary Campaign for Florida Tech, the university is asking donors to step up to the plate to take it further to meet three priority needs.

Florida Tech razed the former, unsafe boathouse on its Crane Creek property in 2006 to make way for a modern, two-story, multifunctional facility. This is priority number one.

The new, creek-side Melbourne boathouse is expected to cost about $5 million. It will offer space to rowing team members for meetings and to videotape and evaluate their performances. All university-owned shells will be stored here, where rowing teams will be able to train comfortably indoors in any weather and stay at the top of their sport.

“Nationally recognized athletes with the success and tradition of the Florida Tech rowing teams deserve a quality boathouse. Accommodating this need has been high on my list since I arrived at Florida Tech,” said President Anthony J. Catanese.

Lighting the baseball, soccer and softball fields will cost an estimated $850,000.

Architect's rendering of the new, creek-side Melbourne boathouse

The multipurpose structure will also house an executive conference center where the university may host alumni gatherings, special lectures and offer space to the College of Business’ Executive M.B.A. program.

Rowing is also the subject of the second priority—the National Rowing Training Center. To be located at Canal 54 in Fellsmere, its price tag will be about $3.2 million. Initially, this facility should be funded by gifts. Usage fees will support ongoing maintenance.

Priority number three is the Athletics Field Lighting Project. “This is a critical need,” said Director of Athletics Bill Jurgens, “and we have already begun fundraising.”

Lighting the baseball, soccer and softball fields will cost an estimated $850,000. The light project will allow greater flexibility in avoiding athletics class conflicts for practices. Lights will extend the time available for playing games delayed by inclement weather conditions. Third, lights are expected to increase fan and sponsor support by students and the community at night games.

“When we added lights to Rick Stottler Field around 1990, there was an immediate impact on the level of support for the soccer team. The attendance grew from 50 to more than 500 spectators on a regular basis,” said Jurgens.