TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State University’s athletic director and its head football coach announced today that they would commit a total of $1 million in personal funds to Sun Devil Athletics Momentum fundraising campaign for the reinvention of Sun Devil Stadium.
The commitments by Ray and Buffie Anderson, and Todd and Penni Graham are unprecedented in the history of Sun Devil Athletics, further boosting what has been a very successful launch to the campaign to reinvent Sun Devil Stadium over the next three years. The gifts by the Anderson's and Graham's are the largest donations by a sitting athletic director and head coach in Arizona State history.
“We are keeping our foot on the pedal and there is no letup in our efforts whatsoever,” said Anderson, ASU’s vice president for University Athletics and its athletics director, who along with his wife, Buffie, committed $500,000 to the fundraising drive. “The support of Sun Devil Nation has been inspiring and we intend to convert that goodwill into building a solid foundation for student-athletes and our fans at Arizona State University.”
Coach Graham said the $500,000 contribution from his family reflects his commitment to Sun Devil football.
“I am out there every day asking our student-athletes, our student body, our fans and financial supporters to use their own initiative and to make a commitment to help build what brings us together as a Sun Devil community,” Graham said. “Penni and I are just doing our part and we couldn’t be more pleased than to support all Sun Devil Athletics by giving back.”
ASU President Michael Crow praised the commitment from the leadership of Sun Devil Athletics.
“Great athletics programs require committed leaders,” Crow said. “I want to applaud Ray Anderson and Coach Graham for the commitment they have demonstrated today, and for the leadership they bring every day to Sun Devil Athletics.”
Steve Butterfield, Momentum campaign co-chairman, made the announcement at Coach Graham’s weekly media briefing.
“I’ve been a Sun Devil supporter for decades,” Butterfield said. “To see these families make this extraordinary commitment after such a short time arriving at ASU is truly inspiring and tells you all you need to know about the direction of this program and the people who are leading the way.”
The fundraising campaign will be conducted in phases – mirroring the three-year phased reinvention of Sun Devil Stadium. The changes began this spring when approximately 5,700 seats were removed from the north end zone as a preliminary step toward transforming the stadium. The project will be conducted in the off-seasons while the Sun Devil football team continues to play its regular season games in the stadium, with construction slated for completion in 2017.
Sun Devil Stadium was originally constructed in 1958, has played host to the Super Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl, NFL games, and has appeared in several movies. The last major renovation to Sun Devil Stadium came in 1988 when 1,700 seats were added to bring the facility to a capacity of 71,706.