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Just days after launching the public phase of its $575 million fundraising campaign, DePauw University in Greencastle has received an $80 million gift to fund a major project designed to support the university’s athletics programs.
The funding commitment from an anonymous DePauw alumnus will fund the construction of a new, 70,000-square-foot athletic stadium and sports performance center, which the university says will “redefine student-athlete wellness, fan experience, and community engagement.”
The new Blackstock Stadium and Performance Center will replace the existing Blackstock Stadium, which was built in 1941. DePauw President Lori White says the time is right to enhance the stadium experience on the Greencastle campus.
“When you think about the student-athletes that we recruit to DePauw now, they are looking for more than what we have offered in terms of our historic stadium,” White told Inside INdiana Business. “This renovation will not only provide a great fan experience for people like me who love sports, it will focus on making sure that our athletes are prepared physically, that they are prepared mentally, that if they happen to get injured, that we can support their recovery.”
The $80 million gift will cover the entire cost of the project, White said.
In addition to a new playing surface for DePauw Athletics, the complex will feature modern locker rooms, versatile meeting spaces and multipurpose areas for coaching and collaboration, sports medicine facilities, an an advanced weight room, the university said.
White added that the new stadium and performance center is part of a vision to enhance the “Division III experience” for prospective athletes.
“[That’s] about making sure that somebody who chooses to come to DePauw to play a sport is getting a great education, is able to compete at the highest level, including for championships,” she said, “and also to be involved in all of the other things that we offer to students who may not be student athletes—the opportunity to study abroad, to do an internship, to engage in research.”
For the DePauw fans and Greencastle residents, the new stadium will see upgraded seating for football and track-and-field spectators, as well as improved concessions and accessible amenities.
The university said the stadium will serve as a “hub for DePauw traditions and celebrations.
“For generations, Blackstock Stadium has been the stage for unforgettable DePauw moments, building tradition and defining what it means to be a Tiger,” Stevie Baker-Watson, Associate Vice President for Student Wellness and Theodore Katula Director of Athletics and Recreational Sports, said in a joint statement. “Now with this extraordinary gift, the Blackstock Stadium and Performance Center will provide our student-athletes, athletics staff, families and fans a facility that reflects their deep passion, purpose and pride.”
Additionally, DePauw said the performance center will be fueled by a 250-ton geothermal system designed to provide sustainable energy to provide environmentally friendly heating and cooling.
The university plans to begin demolition of the existing Blackrock Stadium in August 2026. The new facility is scheduled to open in the fall of 2028.
During the demolition and construction phase, the DePauw teams that utilize the stadium will play out of a temporary home, though White said the university is still working out the details on where that will be. However, she noted that the existing practice facilities will still be available for use.
The anonymous gift will add to DePauw’s recently announced Bold, Gold & You! fundraising campaign, bringing the amount of money raised to date to $365 million.
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DePauw has such an exciting energy these days! Big things are happening, and it’s clear that the alums are supporting the vision.