NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A big change came to Christopher Newport University’s football and track and field stadium on Friday. It's got a brand new name: TowneBank Stadium.
During the announcement ceremony at 1 p.m., President Paul Trible and a leader of TowneBank spoke.
The 4,200 capacity stadium opened in 2001 when Christopher Newport’s football team played its very first game. In addition to the football team, the stadium is also home to the Lionsbridge FC soccer team, and many community events.
During the name announcement ceremony, the CNU football team was in attendance along with university staff and students.
Friday also just so happens to coincide with the day football season ticket holders pick up their tickets.
The Captains open the 2019 season at the newly named stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7 with a 1 p.m. kickoff against North Central College.
Before Friday's new name, the stadium was called the POMOCO Stadium.
The name change comes after TowneBank pledged a gift of $1,000,000 in 2014 to support CNU's Comprehensive Campaign.
That money goes towards CNU's athletics, the Ferguson Center for the Arts and the TowneBank Leadership Scholarships.
TowneBank's total giving to CNU for the past 12 years is more than $2,000,000.
Prior to the Comprehensive Campaign, TowneBank provided scholarship support with the TowneBank Spirit of Excellence Scholarship which awards $1,000 per student per year – awarded to rising sophomores annually through their senior year.
Awards are provided to scholars with strong evidence of leadership and public service. Award can be renewed assuming student maintains 3.0 overall GPA and continue to be enrolled in the Luter School of Business.
Other support has included Annual Fund for Academic Excellence, capital support for the construction of the Chapel, and a $500,000 commitment for The Robert “Bobby” Lawson Endowed Scholarship in 2018.