UCO Football Stadium Renamed Chad Richison Stadium

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  • The University of Central Oklahoma ushered in a new era for Broncho athletics Wednesday, announcing its football facility will be renamed Chad Richison Stadium and unveiling extensive stadium improvements funded by the new namesake. Chad Richison, founder and CEO of Paycom, a 1993 graduate of Central, announced an additional $10 million gift for the stadium improvements, bringing his total investment in the university to $25 million and continuing his legacy as the largest donor in UCO history.
    The University of Central Oklahoma ushered in a new era for Broncho athletics Wednesday, announcing its football facility will be renamed Chad Richison Stadium and unveiling extensive stadium improvements funded by the new namesake. Chad Richison, founder and CEO of Paycom, a 1993 graduate of Central, announced an additional $10 million gift for the stadium improvements, bringing his total investment in the university to $25 million and continuing his legacy as the largest donor in UCO history.
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The University of Central Oklahoma ushered in a new era for Broncho athletics Wednesday, announcing its football facility will be renamed Chad Richison Stadium and unveiling extensive stadium improvements funded by the new namesake. 

Chad Richison, founder and CEO of Paycom, a 1993 graduate of Central, announced an additional $10 million gift for the stadium improvements, bringing his total investment in the university to $25 million and continuing his legacy as the largest donor in UCO history.  

“I am passionate about higher education and collegiate athletics,” Richison said. “I appreciated the experience I had at UCO and hope this gift inspires others to accomplish something they may not have dreamed possible.”

The university celebrated Richison and his previous investments in UCO with a private ceremony Tuesday night atop the Sports Performance Center (SPC) overlooking the football stadium that bears his name. The SPC, its annex, the Hamilton Field House addition and baseball stadium upgrades, were all completed over the last few years thanks to generous donations from Richison.

UCO President Patti Neuhold-Ravikumar added, "We could not provide the fullest measure of opportunity for our student athletes without Chad’s tremendous support. As the stadium’s seating and service capacity is increased by this gift, so too is our capacity for envisioning the future." 

The university also announced it will designate its athletics facilities as the Chad Richison Sports Complex, with signage planned for five prominent locations.

"Chad's multiple investments in our athletics facilities bolster our belief that UCO is a special place and Broncho athletic teams are uniquely positioned to win,” said Stan Wagnon, UCO athletic director. “His generosity, and moreso his confidence in our institution, give us a great sense of pride in representing Central. Chad's story and support of UCO inspires our coaches and students to reach higher and be assured that great things can be achieved in life, and it can all start here at UCO."

The Chad Richison Stadium improvement and expansion project includes extensive landscaping to the south end. Several hundred boulders will surround a new waterfall feature with new trees and an upgraded video board installed on the south hill. On the east side of the stadium, new stands with more than 1,900 seats will be added, increasing capacity to almost 12,000. The upper level will include new seating with a concourse including restrooms and concessions, as well as a new ticket office. New turf also will be installed on the football field. 

Blatt Architects and Lingo Construction have been selected for the project. Work is expected to be completed for the beginning of the 2022 UCO football season. 

Richison will be recognized at halftime of Saturday’s homecoming football game. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Previous investments by Richison have changed the landscape of the UCO campus. 

In 2018, Central opened the Sports Performance Center, a 45,000-plus square feet, three-story building just north of the football field, which includes an academic center, nutrition area, theatre, two-story strength and conditioning area, as well as football locker room and offices for coaches and administrators. 

Also, the UCO baseball field underwent significant improvements, including new artificial turf and a new exterior wall. Lights were installed to allow the Bronchos to play night games for the first time in school history. UCO also built a new clubhouse that includes coaches' offices, a high-tech spacious locker room, as well as concessions and restrooms.

An addition to the north side of Hamilton Field House opened in 2019 and includes one of the largest wrestling rooms in the country, a practice gymnasium, locker rooms and student-athlete lounges for wrestling, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, tennis, volleyball and soccer.

Learn more about Broncho Athletics at BronchoSports.com

 

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