James Madison University, Bridgeforth Stadium

James Madison University (JMU), in consideration of their growth and the overall need for modernization, sought to transform Bridgeforth Stadium into an upgraded facility that could compete against the country’s premier football programs. This required design solutions that addressed the existing stadium’s size deficiency while also incorporating premium upgrades. Moseley collaborated with stadium design architect HKS to address these issues through a phased renovation that increases capacity and features new and improved amenities, providing an elevated game-day experience for current and future students, staff, and community members.

Addressing Space Needs

Originally constructed in 1975, a primary issue with the existing Bridgeforth Stadium was its size. High enrollment and a large community fanbase led to consistently sold-out games, making the stadium’s lack of space more prominent each season. To solve this problem, our team demolished the existing west grandstands and replaced them with a two-tiered west grandstand. We also added a new north grandstand to accompany the existing east grandstand seating. Fans also have access to a new upper and lower concourse featuring an 8,000-square-foot club lounge and suites. These upgrades increased capacity from 10,000 to 25,000 in the new 213,792-square-foot stadium.

Accelerated Schedule

During the renovation process, it was important to keep the stadium operational so that JMU would not lose any revenue during their football season and could continue to play without having to rent a different facility. Therefore, while a project of this scale typically requires an unoccupied stadium and a 24-month construction schedule, our team completed it within two nine-month phases, maintaining normal stadium operations throughout.

The first nine-month span took place during JMU’s off-season. We first demolished the west grandstand and laid the deep foundations required for the site. Next, we constructed the entire lower deck, maintaining their original seating capacity for the next season. During the second nine-month span, our team completed the upper deck press box and filled out all remaining suites and clubs. Completing the project within this time span was a massive effort, requiring close collaboration and clear communication between the university, the contractor, and the design team.

Equitable and Engaging Experience

JMU’s football program garners support not only from students, but from the surrounding community. Whether tailgating or cheering on the Dukes from the stands, games bring people in and around the school together. With this in mind, it was important for the new stadium design to make games accessible and make the experience engaging.

The original stadium’s design predates accessibility standards, which were not yet in place. Therefore, a major priority of the project was to meet ADA requirements. The revamped facility is now fully compliant with current standards, providing full accessibility throughout the stadium.

When designing the new seating and amenities, the design team also incorporated socioeconomic considerations, as different seating levels allow for varied pricing. These measures help facilitate a more equitable experience for all football game attendees.

Honoring JMU’s Campus and History

The stadium is in the center of campus, at the heart of JMU. Our design team optimized this by offering stunning views of the surrounding campus from new seating areas. Its location, coupled with the stadium’s unifying role within the student body and wider community, guided our design. Elements honor JMU’s architectural context and longstanding traditions, while also celebrating past and present players, donors, and fans.

Our team accomplished this through features such as the Wall of Champions in the new club lounge space, which highlights project donors; graphics of past players showcased in the upper concourse area; images of cheering fans; and JMU’s purple and gold color scheme incorporated throughout the stadium’s modern, clean aesthetic. It was a community effort to fund, build, and support the project, and it was paramount for the new Bridgeforth Stadium to reflect that.

Looking ahead to JMU’s future, the Moseley team is currently partnering with the university on a new master plan, which may include additional stadium upgrades.

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