GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO – As community support for Colorado Mesa University athletics increases, the entrance to Brownson Arena has been improved to enhance the experience of alumni, students and CMU sports enthusiasts in western Colorado.
In an effort to lead NCAA Division II athletics in all areas, CMU worked to modernize the fan experience in the Brownson Arena lobby. The recent update included five interactive displays, floor-to-ceiling graphics and a further-enhanced “Game Day” shop that allows guests to explore the past, present
“While the update will help with recruiting, we wanted to offer donors, supporters, parents and fans a first-class sporting event experience. The experience starts with the entrance and hopefully ends with a victory,” said Tim Foster, CMU president.
Colorado Mesa University’s new arena lobby celebrates varsity sports as well as club sports. Women’s wrestling is one of the latest examples of CMU’s growth in student athletic offerings. The updated space allows visitors to connect with the Mavericks’ pride on a new level through interactive touch-screen displays showing video clips, team information, statistics and an interactive timeline that dates back to 1925.
In 2017, CMU announced plans to gradually increase the student population from 11,000 to 15,000. The additions to Brownson Arena are a step toward that goal to expand recruiting efforts of quality student-athletes that can contribute to the university’s academics while creating a foundation for future winning teams and athletes.
Bryan Rooks and Kris Mort, the university’s co-athletic directors, noted the upgrades are about more than just athletic fans.
“At CMU, we’re big on partnerships. We host community and high school events, exhibitions as well as summer camps and regional sports tournaments. Most people in our region, if they have children in sports, will at some point walk through the halls of our facilities. We want to give the community a first-class experience while they are here,” said Rooks and Mort.
In addition to hosting community sporting events, Brownson Arena is also home to many graduations, banquets
The CMU Athletic Department is scheduling community tours of the new touch screen monitors and expanded lobby. Interested Maverick fans can schedule a tour by contacting David Jahnke, [email protected].