Football

51�� Prepares to Welcome Football and Lacrosse to New On-Campus Stadium This Fall

msk23@calvin.edu — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:35:07 +0000

51�� Prepares to Welcome Football and Lacrosse to New On-Campus Stadium This Fall msk23@calvin.edu Tue, 08/25/2026 - 10:35

51�� is preparing to welcome fans to its new on-campus football and lacrosse stadium this fall, reaching another major milestone in a project that has transformed the student-athlete experience and campus life.

While work continues on future enhancements, the stadium will make its football debut during either Homecoming on Sept. 26, or on October 17. The season opener on Sept. 12 against St. Norbert College will once again be played in 51��'s soccer stadium as construction crews complete the final work necessary to open the new venue.

See full schedule and purchase tickets.

The project has been made possible entirely through the generosity of private donors. No student tuition dollars have been used to construct the football and lacrosse stadium.

"This represents an exciting new chapter for 51��," said Greg Elzinga, president of 51��. "From the beginning, our vision has been to create a home for football and lacrosse that strengthens the student-athlete experience, brings our community together, and creates traditions that will endure for generations. Seeing that vision become reality is a significant milestone for our university."

A New Home for Football and Lacrosse

The new stadium will become the permanent home for 51�� Football and the university's men's and women's lacrosse programs, both of which continue to build excitement across campus.

The stadium includes:

A 2,500-seat home grandstand
Premium and chairback seating options
Traditional bleacher seating
Visitor seating – seats up to 500
A three-section press box housing media, livestream production, coaches, game management and hospitality
Improved accessibility and pedestrian access throughout the venue

Construction crews are also completing a large gameday gathering area between the football and soccer stadiums that will serve as a central location for fans before kickoff. The university plans to activate the space with food trucks, concessions, hospitality, campus activities and opportunities for alumni, families and friends to gather before and after games.

As the project continues to evolve, future enhancements, including permanent concessions, restrooms and additional fan amenities, will be added as philanthropic support allows.

Creating a New Game-Day Tradition

Athletic Director Jim Timmer said the vision has always extended well beyond the playing field.

"We wanted to create a place where our campus community wants to spend the day," Timmer said. "Football Saturdays at 51�� will be about much more than the game itself. They'll be opportunities for alumni to reconnect, families to gather, students to celebrate, and our community to experience everything that makes 51�� special."

Fans will notice several new gameday features this season, including expanded tailgating opportunities, a centralized ticket office and gathering spaces designed to create an engaging atmosphere before kickoff.

Built Through Generosity

Former Chief Financial Officer and now Senior Advisor for Special Projects Dirk Pruis said the project reflects years of careful planning and extraordinary generosity.

"This milestone represents years of thoughtful planning, collaboration, and faithful stewardship," Pruis said. "We're deeply grateful to the donors whose generosity has made this possible. Their investment is creating opportunities that will benefit 51�� students and our broader community for many years to come."

The university is very grateful for the generosity of the donors who make this possible, including the lead donors, a 51�� family and longtime supporters of the university, who have chosen to remain anonymous at this time.

University leaders also thanked Progressive Companies, GDK Construction, project partners and numerous campus departments that worked together to bring the project to this point.

Momentum Continues

The stadium opens during one of the most exciting periods in 51�� Football history. Following a successful inaugural season, the Knights finished 7-3 in just their second year, creating growing enthusiasm among students, alumni and the West Michigan community.

"This is where new traditions begin," Timmer said. "Future generations of Knights will remember their first game here, Homecoming weekends, rivalries, victories and the memories they'll create together. That's what makes this milestone so meaningful."

Tickets for 2026 Season

Fans can now purchase a 2026 51�� Football 3-game season ticket package and single-game tickets for the Knights' inaugural season in their new on-campus stadium.

2026 Home Schedule

Sept. 12 – St. Norbert College (Soccer Stadium) | 1 p.m.
Sept. 26 – University of Olivet (Homecoming) | TBD
Oct. 17 – Kalamazoo College | Noon
Oct. 24 – Albion College | 1 p.m.
Nov. 7 – Hope College | 1 p.m.

With the new stadium, a new game-day experience and a new chapter of 51�� Football underway, fans are encouraged to secure their seats early and be part of the first season in the Knights' new home.

Tuesday, August 25, 2026 - 12:00

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51�� Breaks Ground on First On-Campus Football Field

msk23@calvin.edu — Thu, 22 May 2025 13:39:51 +0000

51�� Breaks Ground on First On-Campus Football Field msk23@calvin.edu Thu, 05/22/2025 - 09:39

51�� has officially broken ground on its first-ever on-campus football and lacrosse field, marking a major milestone in the continued development of its football and lacrosse programs and enhancing the overall student experience. The multi-phase project would ultimately result in a full stadium, with each phase beginning only after full funding is secured. Phase One construction is now underway, made possible by the generous support of 51�� donors.

“This is a major step forward for our university,” said Greg Elzinga, president of 51��. “Bringing football to campus and enhancing lacrosse is about much more than just building a field—it’s about building community. The energy, tradition, and spirit that come with having home games on campus will benefit every student, every fan, and the entire 51�� experience.”

Phase One: Field Construction Begins

Phase One establishes the new lighted turf field that will be used for practice and sets the foundation for the stadium’s future. The field will feature:

AstroTurf turf, lined for football and men’s and women’s lacrosse
Musco LED lighting for high-impact visibility
Backstop netting (40’ x 40’ behind goal posts; 20’ along the remainder of the end zone) for both football and lacrosse
Scoreboard and play clocks to support practice and drills—destined to become a secondary scoreboard in later phases
Maintenance and emergency vehicle access via a dedicated pathway

"This field is the beginning of something transformational,” said Jim Timmer, director of athletics. “It's not just a place to practice—it’s the start of a long-term vision that reflects our commitment to excellence in athletics, facilities, and student experience. Every piece is intentionally planned, and we’re excited to share what’s next.”

While the turf field is being used for practices during the 2025 season, 51�� will play its home games in the newly opened on-campus soccer stadium, which will be temporarily configured to host football games. This keeps the program embedded in campus life while Phase Two is developed.

Phase Two: Game Day Comes to Campus

With fundraising efforts now underway, Phase Two will bring the game-day atmosphere to life, including:

Seating for approximately 3,500 spectators, including 540 chairback seats and 520 visiting team seats
An upper concourse with standing room overlooking the field and a lower concourse behind the south end zone
Press box space for home/visiting coaches, media, A/V, and game management
Full perimeter fencing and continued access for emergency/maintenance vehicles

“We’re creating a home-field atmosphere that recruits will want to play in, students will love to cheer from, and alumni will be proud of,” said Trent Figg, head football coach. “It’s more than football—it’s about building champions on and off the field, and this facility helps us do that.”

Future Phases: Building for the Long Term

While Phases One and Two bring immediate transformation, future phases of the project include:

Additional restrooms and fan amenities
A multipurpose space for team meetings and hospitality
Locker rooms for officials
A ticket booth, concessions, and storage areas

Each phase will be funded before construction begins, ensuring the university builds sustainably and responsibly.

“Every shovel in the ground represents a step toward a future where football is fully woven into the 51�� campus experience,” said Timmer. “We’re grateful to our donors, excited for our students, and looking forward to welcoming the community to our field very soon.”

Thursday, May 22, 2025 - 12:00

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New Traditions and Spaces Highlight Homecoming & Family Weekend

msk23@calvin.edu — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 19:14:27 +0000

New Traditions and Spaces Highlight Homecoming & Family Weekend msk23@calvin.edu Tue, 10/01/2024 - 15:14

On Friday, October 4 and Saturday, October 5, 51�� welcomes alumni, families, and the broader community to its Grand Rapids campus for Homecoming & Family Weekend.

The weekend is full of familiar traditions like the 51�� Classic 5K & Youth Run, the Fall Music Festival, and the Grand Prix Bed Races. And this year, 51�� is set to kick off some new traditions, including the university’s first-ever Homecoming football game.

“We are excited to celebrate longstanding traditions at 51��, while welcoming in a new hallmark staple of our future homecoming celebrations,” said Jeff Haverdink, executive director of alumni & family engagement. “We are beginning a whole new chapter of what it looks like to celebrate homecoming at 51��, and we are excited to give our alums yet another reason to come back to campus to see all of the exciting things happening here.”

51�� has quite the lineup of events planned. On Friday, guests can enjoy the Grand Prix Bed Races, a cookout on the lawn outside Knollcrest Dining Hall, the 51�� Music Festival, and the first-ever cornhole tournament with $1,500 in cash prizes.

Saturday’s festivities include the 51�� Classic 5K & Youth Run, the inaugural homecoming football game, and a soccer doubleheader which includes the dedication of the new stadium. An on-campus farmer’s market and improv show round out the weekend festivities.

While the lineup of activities is impressive, what many guests will discover as they move around campus are the new spaces that have opened up in the past year, including the first phase of Commons Union, the new state-of-the-art soccer stadium, and the brand new track & field complex located on the far east side of campus, to name a few.

“If you haven’t been back to 51�� for a few months, you’ll want to come check out the campus and all the new and reimagined spaces,” said Haverdink. “The weather is looking great and I’m not sure there’s a better time of year to take in the beauty of our campus.”

Check out the full schedule of events at calvin.edu/homecoming.

Tuesday, October 1, 2024 - 12:00

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Football Team Awestruck By Locker Room Reveal

msk23@calvin.edu — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 01:00:56 +0000

Football Team Awestruck By Locker Room Reveal msk23@calvin.edu Tue, 08/13/2024 - 21:00

“Woah!”

“I like this. I like this.”

“Where’s my name?”

Great Anticipation

On Tuesday, August 13, 2024, dozens and dozens of football players rushed through the doors in great anticipation.

“Today, we woke up and it was like Christmas morning,” said Trent Figg, 51��’s head football coach.

The gift the football team was taking all in had been delivered … and just on time.

“I think just this morning we got the occupancy permit,” said Jim Timmer, director of athletics at 51��.

The players of the inaugural 51�� football team were taking in their new home.

“Let’s go baby, let’s go!”

“This is insane.”

Exceeding Expectations

The joyful and jaw-dropping expressions seen and heard from the players as they filed in clearly communicated they were not left wanting.

It's unreal,” said Winton Napier, a freshman offensive lineman from Twin Lake, Michigan (Whitehall High School). “This is incredible. Everything about this is top tier.”

“This blows me away, the way it came together with the graphics, the colors. We have great lighting and with the dark ceiling up there it gives it this really cool modern look,” said Paul VanderPloeg, a junior defensive back from Hudsonville, Michigan (Unity Christian High School). “I was blown away as soon as I entered the doors. Just so epic, and so intentional too.”

“This locker room is from a facilities standpoint as nice as you’ll find. 51�� has provided an incredible place for our players, for our student-athletes to call home,” said Figg.

Building Champions

“When Trent arrived on campus the energy that was already here for football increased ten-fold,” said Timmer. “I don’t think you put up a building like this without some confidence of where we are going at with the program.”

And the direction is clear: build champions.

“It says Champions really big on the wall,” said Figg. “In our program, we talk about being champions for life. When our kids graduate, we want them to walk out of our doors prepared to be a champion for the rest of their life. We talk about that in four areas, we talk about that on the field, in the classroom, in the community, and champions of their faith. We firmly believe that’s what it takes to build a well-rounded champion, and then you can talk about championships once you build individual champions.”

The inaugural football team will begin practicing on Thursday, which is 23 days from their Saturday, September 7 home opener against Oberlin College.

“We have 112 players that all reported to campus today. And I don’t know if I’ve ever been more excited for a fall camp,” said Figg.

Tuesday, August 13, 2024 - 12:00

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Football

51���� Prepares to Welcome Football and Lacrosse to New On-Campus Stadium This Fall

A New Home for Football and Lacrosse

Creating a New Game-Day Tradition

Built Through Generosity

Momentum Continues

Tickets for 2026 Season

2026 Home Schedule

51���� Breaks Ground on First On-Campus Football Field

Phase One: Field Construction Begins

Phase Two: Game Day Comes to Campus

Future Phases: Building for the Long Term

New Traditions and Spaces Highlight Homecoming & Family Weekend

Football Team Awestruck By Locker Room Reveal

Great Anticipation

Exceeding Expectations

Building Champions

51�� Prepares to Welcome Football and Lacrosse to New On-Campus Stadium This Fall

51�� Breaks Ground on First On-Campus Football Field