View source for Flagler Credit Union Stadium

{{Short description|Stadium located in Boca Raton, Florida}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Howard Schnellenberger Field<br> at Flagler Credit Union Stadium
| nickname = ''The House that [[Howard Schnellenberger|Howard]] Built''
| native_name = 
| native_name_lang = 
| fullname = 
| former names = 
| logo_image = Florida_Atlantic_Owls_wordmark.svg
| logo_size = 100
| image = FAUStadium night.jpg
| image_size = 
| image_alt = 
| caption = The stadium at night, October 2011
| pushpin_map = USA Florida#USA
| pushpin_mapsize = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Florida##Location in the United States
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_relief = 1
| address = 777 Glades Road
| city = 
| country = 
| location = [[Boca Raton, Florida]], U.S.
| coordinates = {{Coord|26|22|31|N|80|6|1|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| elevation = <!-- {{cvt|...|ft|m}} or {{cvt|...|m|ft}} -->
| type = 
| genre = 
| broke_ground = 2010
| built = 
| opened = {{Start date|2011|10|15}}
| renovated = 
| expanded = 
| closed = 
| demolished = 
| owner = [[Florida Atlantic University]]
| operator = Florida Atlantic University
| surface = Celebration Bermuda Turf Grass
| scoreboard = 
| production = 
| cost = $70 million
| architect = [[HKS, Inc.|HKS]]/Schenkel Shultz
| builder = 
| project_manager = 
| structural engineer = 
| services engineer = 
| general_contractor = [[Tutor Perini|James A. Cummings, Inc.]]/[[Balfour Beatty|Balfour Beatty Construction]]
| main_contractors = 
| seating_type = 
| capacity = 30,000<ref name="FAU Stadium page">{{cite web |url=https://fausports.com/facilities/fau-football-stadium/79 |title=Facilities |publisher=fausports.com |author=FAU Athletics |year=2024 |access-date=2024-12-22}}</ref>
| suites = 24<ref name="FAU Stadium page"/>
| record_attendance = 30,991 (Sept. 17, 2022 vs. [[UCF Knights football|UCF]])
| dimensions = 
| field_shape = 
| acreage = 
| volume = 
| tenants = [[Florida Atlantic Owls football|Florida Atlantic Owls]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]) (2011–present)<br>[[Boca Raton Bowl]] (NCAA) (2014–present)<br>[[Florida Launch]] ([[Major League Lacrosse|MLL]]) (2014–2018)
| embedded = 
| publictransit = {{rint|trirail}} [[Boca Raton station (Tri-Rail)|Boca Raton]]
| website = {{URL|https://fausports.com/facilities/fau-football-stadium/79|fausports.com/fau-football-stadium}}
}}
'''Howard Schnellenberger Field at Flagler Credit Union Stadium''' is a [[college football]] [[stadium]] located at the north end of the main campus of [[Florida Atlantic University]] (FAU) in [[Boca Raton, Florida]], United States. Opened in 2011, it is home to the [[Florida Atlantic Owls football|Florida Atlantic Owls football team]] and is intended to be the first part of FAU's multi-use development project, "Innovation Village" as a replacement for [[Lockhart Stadium]].

After selecting an architect in 2008, the university began to raise funds for the $70 million facility with the intent to begin construction in 2009. The $70 million stadium was funded through student fees, private donations, and naming rights partnerships, some of which have yet to be determined. After fundraising efforts slowed, the school delayed construction until 2010. The stadium opened when the [[2011 Florida Atlantic Owls football team]] lost to the [[Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football|Western Kentucky Hilltoppers]] on October 15, 2011.

Starting in 2014, FAU Stadium became home to the [[Boca Raton Bowl]], a college football [[bowl game]] which features teams from the [[Mid-American Conference]] and in alternating years [[Conference USA]] and the [[American Athletic Conference]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mac-sports.com/tabid/969/Article/277185/MAC-Announces-The-Creation-Of-The-Boca-Raton-Bowl.aspx |title=MAC Announces the Creation of the Boca Raton Bowl > MAC > News |access-date=2013-11-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014063848/http://www.mac-sports.com/tabid/969/Article/277185/MAC-Announces-The-Creation-Of-The-Boca-Raton-Bowl.aspx |archive-date=2013-10-14 }}</ref>

Also starting in 2014, FAU Stadium was home to the [[Major League Lacrosse]]'s [[Florida Launch]] until 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-11-22/sports/sfl-major-league-lacrosse-finally-lands-its-longdesired-south-florida-franchise-20131122_1_hamilton-nationals-fau-stadium-south-florida|title=Major League Lacrosse finally lands its long-desired South Florida franchise|access-date=2013-11-25|archive-date=2013-12-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202230114/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-11-22/sports/sfl-major-league-lacrosse-finally-lands-its-longdesired-south-florida-franchise-20131122_1_hamilton-nationals-fau-stadium-south-florida|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The playing surface was named [[Howard Schnellenberger]] Field, after the founding coach of the Owls football program, on August 20, 2014. Schnellenberger spent the final 11 seasons of his coaching career at FAU, retiring after the [[2011 Florida Atlantic Owls football team|2011 season]].<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.fausports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/082014aaa.html |title=FAU Stadium Field to Be Named in Honor of Legendary Coach Howard Schnellenberger |publisher=[[Florida Atlantic Owls]] |date=August 20, 2014 |access-date=August 20, 2014 |archive-date=December 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226000000/http://www.fausports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/082014aaa.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History==

===Early planning and finance===
Although initial plans for a new stadium hinted at the possibility of a 40,000-seat domed facility, later plans called for a 30,000-seat open air stadium. The steel stadium would allow for future expansion up to 65,000 seats as well as a roof if needed. The architect for the stadium was finalized in July 2008 when the firms of [[HKS, Inc.|HKS]] and Schenkel Shultz were awarded the contract, finishing ahead of [[Ellerbe Becket]] and [[Populous (company)|HOK]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports/college/fau/blog/2008/07/and_the_winner_is_hksschenkels.html |title=And the Winner is&mdash;HKS/Schenkel-Shultz |last=Kurtenbach |first=Dieter |newspaper=South Florida Sun-Sentinel |date=July 15, 2008 |access-date=November 23, 2012}}</ref>
The new football stadium was projected to cost $70 million.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-07-10/sports/fl-fau-stadium-ticket-sales-0711-20110710_1_fau-football-stadium-athletic-budget |title=FAU's Football Stadium Could Produce a Profit |newspaper=South Florida Sun-Sentinel |last=Hutton |first=Ted |date=2011-06-10 |access-date=2013-02-19 |quote=Five percent of the fees now collected will go toward the stadium, an amount estimated at $467,483. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716065824/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-07-10/sports/fl-fau-stadium-ticket-sales-0711-20110710_1_fau-football-stadium-athletic-budget |archive-date=2011-07-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref> To fund the stadium's construction, FAU secured a $12 million development rights deal with Crocker Partners LLC. In return, Crocker Partners secured the right to develop up to 2,400 new apartment-style beds on the Boca Raton campus; the first phase of 1,200 beds opened the fall 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/jul/23/developers-crocker-partners-to-build-manage-fau/ |title=Developers Crocker Partners to Build, Manage FAU Dorms on Boca Campus |last=Miller |first=Kimberley |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |date=July 23, 2009 |access-date=November 23, 2012}}</ref> On July 21, 2010, FAU trustees approved $44.6 million finance plan from [[Regions Bank]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/owls/fau-trustees-approve-44-6-million-loan-for-815586.html |title=FAU Trustees Approve $44.6 Million Loan for Football Stadium Construction |last=Frank |first=Samantha |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |date=August 18, 2010 |access-date=November 23, 2012}}</ref>
FAU Stadium is one of the only collegiate football stadiums in the United States with a 180 degree view of the ocean from its highest seating positions.

===Construction===
The school initially expected to break ground in spring 2009 and play its inaugural home game in fall 2010 against the [[2010 Michigan State Spartans football team|Michigan State Spartans]]; however, fundraising efforts fell short, and the stadium opening was delayed until fall 2011. Construction managers James A. Cummings, Inc. (a [[Tutor Perini]] Company) and [[Balfour Beatty]] Construction broke ground in the fall of 2010. Dant Clayton Corporation handled fabrication and installation of the stadium.

===Opening season===
{{see also|2011 Florida Atlantic Owls football team}}
[[File:FAU Stadium North Endzone.jpg|thumb|left|North [[end zone]] on opening day, October 15, 2011]]
The venue opened for the Owls' first home game on October 15, 2011, when the team lost to the [[2011 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team|Western Kentucky Hilltoppers]], 20–0.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/fau-owls/fl-hyde-fau-stadium-opener-1016-20111015,0,1431249.column |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203041732/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/fau-owls/fl-hyde-fau-stadium-opener-1016-20111015,0,1431249.column |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 3, 2013 |title=FAU Has Day to Remember, Game to Forget |last=Hyde |first=Dave |newspaper=South Florida Sun-Sentinel |date=October 15, 2011 |access-date=November 23, 2012 }}</ref>

The announced attendance for the game was 29,103, although attendance dropped to 16,344 for team's second home game against the [[2011 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team|Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders]]. The Owls finished the season with a 1–11 record, its sole win coming against the [[2011 UAB Blazers football team|UAB Blazers]] on November 26 in front of a home crowd of 12,044.

The team's average home attendance for the year in its new stadium was 17,565, ranking it 103rd among [[Football Bowl Subdivision#Football Bowl Subdivision|Football Bowl Subdivision]] (FBS) teams.<ref name="steele">{{cite book |year=2012 |last=Steele |first=Phil |author-link=Phil Steele |title=Phil Steele's 2012 College Football Preview |page=301 |publisher=Phil Steele Publications |location=Cleveland |oclc=795742664}}</ref>

===Naming rights===
Although the project had acquired approximately $3.69 million through naming rights by June 2011, the school had yet to sell the naming rights to stadium itself by the end of the team's first season in the facility. Originally, FAU aimed for a $1 million-per-year deal, but had dropped that expectation to around $400,000 by the team's first home game of the 2011 season. During halftime at that game, FAU athletic director Craig Angelos stated that the school was "very close" to making a deal.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/sports/college/faus-new-stadium-still-without-a-name-as-school-se/nLytT/ |title=FAU's New Stadium Still Without a Name as School Seeks a Sponsor |last=D'Angelo |first=Tom |date=2011-10-16 |access-date=2013-02-20 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post }}</ref>

On February 19, 2013, the school announced that the naming rights to the stadium had been secured for approximately $6 million by the [[GEO Group]], a private prison investor and operator. The $6 million would have been paid over 12 years.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-02-19/news/sfl-fau-gets-6-million-gift-for-athletics-20130219_1_fau-alumnus-million-gift-athletic-programs |title=FAU Gets $6 Million Gift for Athletics |last=Yi |first=Karen |newspaper=Sun-Sentinel |location=South Florida |date=2013-02-19 |access-date=2013-02-22 |archive-date=2013-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225153804/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-02-19/news/sfl-fau-gets-6-million-gift-for-athletics-20130219_1_fau-alumnus-million-gift-athletic-programs |url-status=dead }}</ref> The company's chief executive officer, [[George Zoley]], is an alumnus of the school and member of the FAU [[Higher education governing board#Trustees|Board of Trustees]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/faufocus/2013/02/19/fau-finally-secures-naming-rights-for-football-stadium/ |title=FAU Finally Secures Naming Rights for Football Stadium |last=D'Angelo |first=Tom |publisher=The Palm Beach Post |date=February 19, 2013 |access-date=February 19, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130222015835/http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/faufocus/2013/02/19/fau-finally-secures-naming-rights-for-football-stadium/ |archive-date=February 22, 2013 }}</ref> In reaction to the deal, FAU play-by-play announcer Ken LaVicka dubbed the stadium "Owlcatraz".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/fau-owls/fau-blog/sfl-group-starts-petition-to-remove-geo-group-name-from-fau-stadium-20130219,0,4720673.story |last=Kurtenbach |first=Dieter |title=Group Starts Petition to Remove GEO Group Name from FAU Stadium |newspaper=Sun-Sentinel |location=South Florida |date=2013-02-21 |access-date=2013-02-21 |archive-date=2018-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510000000/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/fau-owls/fau-blog/sfl-group-starts-petition-to-remove-geo-group-name-from-fau-stadium-20130219,0,4720673.story |url-status=dead }}</ref> After public pressure from a handful of protests and significant bad publicity, Zoley and FAU president [[Mary Jane Saunders]] canceled the naming rights deal.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/fl-fau-geo-stadium-20130401,0,6857150.story/ |title=FAU stadium loses $6 million stadium gift from GEO Group, after deal draws protests |publisher=Sun-Sentinel |date=April 1, 2013 |access-date=April 1, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423061057/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/fl-fau-geo-stadium-20130401,0,6857150.story |archive-date=April 23, 2013 }}</ref>
[[File:FAUnamingrights.jpg|thumb|The official announcement and press conference of FAU's naming rights deal of Flagler Credit Union Stadium.]]

On December 17, 2024, FAU and Flagler Credit Union struck a 15 year naming rights deal worth $22.5 million. It is the largest naming rights deal in the [[American Athletic Conference]], and one of the largest in the [[Group of Five conferences|Group of Five]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Edelman |first=Isaac |date=2024-12-18 |title=FAU, Flagler Credit Union Strike Naming Rights Deal Worth $22.5 Million |url=https://flteams.com/2024/12/17/fau-flagler-credit-union-strike-naming-rights-deal-worth-22-5-million/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=FL Teams |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Notable events==
===Soccer===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Florida Atlantic Owls|color=#ffffff}}| Date
!style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Florida Atlantic Owls|color=#ffffff}}| Team 1
!style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Florida Atlantic Owls|color=#ffffff}}| Score
!style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Florida Atlantic Owls|color=#ffffff}}| Team 2
!style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Florida Atlantic Owls|color=#ffffff}}| Attendance
|-
|December 15, 2012 || align=right| '''{{fbw-rt|USA|name= United States women's}} ''' ||{{center|4–1}} || align=left| {{fbw|CHN|name= China women's}} || 10,493
|-
|May 29, 2013 || align=right| {{fb-rt|ECU}} || {{center|2–4}} || align=left| '''{{fb|GER}}''' || 5,500
|-
|February 8, 2014|| align=right| '''{{fbw-rt|USA|name= United States women's}}''' || {{center|7–0}} || align=left| {{fbw|Russia|name= Russia women's}} || 8,857
|-
|October 14, 2014 || align=right| {{fb-rt|USA}} || {{center|1–1}} || align=left| {{fb|HON}} || 14,805
|-
|January 17, 2016 || align=right| '''[[Clube Atlético Mineiro|Atlético Mineiro]]''' {{flagicon|BRA}} ||{{center|1–0}} || align=left| {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Sport Club Corinthians Paulista|Corinthians]] || N/A
|-
|January 17, 2016 || align=right| '''[[Independiente Santa Fe]]''' {{flagicon|COL}} || {{center|2–1}} || align=left| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Fort Lauderdale Strikers (2006–2016)|Fort Lauderdale Strikers]] || N/A
|-
|}

==Structure and facilities==
[[File:FAU Stadium NCAA Women's College Cup 2014-12-07.jpg|thumb|Main stand in 2014]]
The stadium is the first phase of the university's Innovation Village, a multipurpose project which will include four apartment-style residence halls, {{convert|130000|sqft|m2}} of retail shopping space,<ref name=SFBJ091807>{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2007/09/17/daily21.html |title=FAU Trustees Approve Stadium Plan |last=Bandell |first=Brian |publisher=Advance Publications |newspaper=South Florida Business Journal |date=September 18, 2007 |access-date=November 23, 2012}}</ref> and a multi-use convocation center for the basketball program modeled after [[Knights Plaza]] at the [[University of Central Florida]].<ref name=SFSS082005>{{cite news|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/highered/sfl-1205fau_stadium,0,1223728.story |title=Private Firms are Key to FAU Stadium Plan |last=Talalay |first=Sarah |newspaper=South Florida Sun-Sentinel |date=August 30, 2005 |page=6C |access-date=November 23, 2012 |quote=The proposal is modeled on a concept floated at the University of Central Florida for that school's 10,000-seat convocation center for basketball and concerts |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926225437/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/highered/sfl-1205fau_stadium,0,1223728.story |archive-date=September 26, 2007 }}</ref> The field uses natural turf ([[Bermuda grass]] "Celebration"), and while FAU has been in Conference USA for a few seasons now, it was the only home field in the [[Sun Belt Conference]] without artificial turf.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/oct/12/faus-stadium-house-that-howard-built/ |title=FAU's New Stadium: 'House that Howard Built' |last=Santucci |first=Jon |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |date=October 20, 2011 |access-date=November 23, 2012}}</ref> The stadium is one of a number of stadiums in Florida which use the same [[cultivar]].<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.fauowlaccess.com/articles/164/fau-prepares-to-lay-sod-at-new-stadium.aspx |title=On the Surface |last=King |first=Chuck |publisher=Owl Access |date=June 13, 2011 |access-date=November 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009180638/http://fauowlaccess.com/articles/164/fau-prepares-to-lay-sod-at-new-stadium.aspx |archive-date=October 9, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The skybox and press box overlook the [[Atlantic Ocean]]; FAU claims that no other football stadium in the United States offers a view of the open ocean.<ref name="FAU Stadium page"/> 
{{Clear}}

==Attendance Records==
{| class="wikitable"; style= text-align:center
|- 
| colspan=6 style="{{NCAA color cell|Florida Atlantic Owls}}; color:white"| '''Attendance Record at FAU Stadium'''
|- 
{{CollegeSecondaryHeader|team=Florida Atlantic Owls|Rank|Attendance|Opponent|Date|Result|Score}}
|- 
| 1 || 30,991 || [[UCF Knights football|UCF]] || September 17, 2022 || L || 14–40
|- 
| 2 || 30,811 || UCF || September 7, 2019 || L||14-48
|-
| 3 || 30,321 || [[Miami Hurricanes football|Miami (FL)]] || September 9, 2015 || L || 20–44
|-
| 4  || 29,103 || [[Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football|Western Kentucky]] || October 15, 2011 || L|| 0–20
|- 
| 5 || 28,481 || [[Navy Midshipmen football|Navy]] || September 1, 2017 || L|| 19–42
|- 
| 6 || 25,912 || [[Akron Zips football|Akron]] || December 19, 2017 ||W|| 50–3
|- 
| 7 || 24,726 || [[FIU Panthers football|FIU]] || October 2, 2021 || W|| 58–21
|-
|8
|24,283
|FIU
|September 14, 2024
|W
|38-20
|- 
| 9 || 24,116 || FIU || November 18, 2017 || W || 52-24
|- 
| 10 || 24,101 || [[Air Force Falcons football|Air Force]]|| September 8, 2018 || W || 33–27
|- 
! colspan=6 style="{{NCAA color cell|Florida Atlantic Owls}}; color:white"| '''Overall Record at FAU Stadium: 45–37''' 
|}

==See also==
* [[List of NCAA Division I FBS football stadiums]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website}}

{{S-start}}
{{succession box
 | title = Host of the [[Women's College Cup]]
 | years = 2014
 | before = [[WakeMed Soccer Park]]
 | after = [[WakeMed Soccer Park]]
}}
{{end}}

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[[Category:College football venues in Florida]]
[[Category:Florida Atlantic Owls football]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Boca Raton, Florida]]
[[Category:2011 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Lacrosse venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Former Major League Lacrosse venues]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 2011]]