Hinkle Campaign Hits Target
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowButler University's Campaign for Hinkle Fieldhouse has surpassed its public fundraising goal. The university says nearly $17 million has been raised so far, including donations from every player and coach on its athletic teams. December 2, 2013
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS—Butler’s Athletic Department is all in when it comes to the school’s Campaign for Hinkle Fieldhouse. Butler has received campaign gifts from all 374 student-athletes on its 19 teams and all 68 coaches and athletic staff members.
The campaign has raised a total $16.9 million to help preserve the 85-year-old fieldhouse’s exterior and improve interior spaces to better serve student-athletes and fans. Butler announced a $16 million public fundraising goal when it launched the campaign in November 2012.
“To get 100 percent participation in the Hinkle Campaign speaks volumes about the kind of people we have in our department and the passion and pride they have for the University and for the Fieldhouse,” said Butler Associate Athletic Director for Development Ken LaRose.
“We’re challenging our alums, donors and corporate community—all fans of the Butler Bulldogs—to express their own pride by contributing to the Campaign and supporting the ongoing renovations to Hinkle.” Contributions may be made at www.hinklecampaign.com.
Work to preserve and improve the fieldhouse exterior began more than a year ago with exterior maintenance. Interior updates, expected to continue through 2014, include construction of a new student-athlete academic center, a new strength and conditioning room, a comprehensive sports medicine center, and new coaches and administration offices. Existing locker rooms are being remodeled and improved. The fieldhouse arena will be upgraded with a new scoreboard/video board, more chair-back seating, and additional restrooms.
LaRose said getting the entire Athletic Department behind the campaign “gives us all a sense of ownership in the project.”
“Butler athletes understand the importance of the Hinkle Campaign in terms of helping current and future Butler athletics compete in the long term,” said Butler men’s soccer senior captain Jordan Burt. “Being part of that effort shows how grateful we are for what we have now. Giving to the campaign is The Butler Way.”
The famed building opened in 1928 as the Butler Fieldhouse. The 15,000-seat arena reigned as the nation’s largest basketball facility for the next 20 years and gained renown as the site for the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) basketball regional and championship games, a tradition that continued until 1971. The building was renamed Hinkle Fieldhouse in 1966, in honor of legendary Butler coach Paul D. “Tony” Hinkle.
Source: Butler Universtiy