SLIDE SHOW: WKU raises final beam on Hilltopper Fieldhouse
Published 6:00 pm Tuesday, April 22, 2025
The final beam for the Hilltopper Fieldhouse is raised and installed on the facility during a Final Beam Raising Ceremony on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The 122,000-square-foot fieldhouse, currently under construction between Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium and Nick Denes Field, will be home to the WKU Forensics and E-Sports programs, as well as provide practice and training space for the Big Red Marching Band and Hilltopper Athletics. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
WKU President Timothy Caboni signs the final beam for the Hilltopper Fieldhouse before it was raised and installed on the facility during a Final Beam Raising Ceremony on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The 122,000-square-foot fieldhouse, currently under construction between Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium and Nick Denes Field, will be home to the WKU Forensics and E-Sports programs, as well as provide practice and training space for the Big Red Marching Band and Hilltopper Athletics. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
WKU senior tennis player Sofia Blanco signs the final beam for the Hilltopper Fieldhouse before it was raised and installed on the facility during a Final Beam Raising Ceremony on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The 122,000-square-foot fieldhouse, currently under construction between Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium and Nick Denes Field, will be home to the WKU Forensics and E-Sports programs, as well as provide practice and training space for the Big Red Marching Band and Hilltopper Athletics. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
WKU President Timothy Caboni speaks during a ceremony for the raising and installation of the final beam for the Hilltopper Fieldhouse on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The 122,000-square-foot fieldhouse, currently under construction between Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium and Nick Denes Field, will be home to the WKU Forensics and E-Sports programs, as well as provide practice and training space for the Big Red Marching Band and Hilltopper Athletics. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
WKU Director of Athletics Todd Stewart signs the final beam for the Hilltopper Fieldhouse before it was raised and installed on the facility during a Final Beam Raising Ceremony on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The 122,000-square-foot fieldhouse, currently under construction between Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium and Nick Denes Field, will be home to the WKU Forensics and E-Sports programs, as well as provide practice and training space for the Big Red Marching Band and Hilltopper Athletics. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky University students, faculty, project participants, elected officials and members of the community sign the final beam for the Hilltopper Fieldhouse before it was raised and installed on the facility during a Final Beam Raising Ceremony on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The 122,000-square-foot fieldhouse, currently under construction between Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium and Nick Denes Field, will be home to the WKU Forensics and E-Sports programs, as well as provide practice and training space for the Big Red Marching Band and Hilltopper Athletics. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Warren County Judge-Executive Doug Gorman signs the final beam for the Hilltopper Fieldhouse before it was raised and installed on the facility during a Final Beam Raising Ceremony on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The 122,000-square-foot fieldhouse, currently under construction between Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium and Nick Denes Field, will be home to the WKU Forensics and E-Sports programs, as well as provide practice and training space for the Big Red Marching Band and Hilltopper Athletics. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky University students, faculty, project participants, elected officials and members of the community sign the final beam for the Hilltopper Fieldhouse before it was raised and installed on the facility during a Final Beam Raising Ceremony on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The 122,000-square-foot fieldhouse, currently under construction between Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium and Nick Denes Field, will be home to the WKU Forensics and E-Sports programs, as well as provide practice and training space for the Big Red Marching Band and Hilltopper Athletics. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
WKU E-Sports Team member Ethan Callister signs the final beam for the Hilltopper Fieldhouse before it was raised and installed on the facility during a Final Beam Raising Ceremony on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The 122,000-square-foot fieldhouse, currently under construction between Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium and Nick Denes Field, will be home to the WKU Forensics and E-Sports programs, as well as provide practice and training space for the Big Red Marching Band and Hilltopper Athletics. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
WKU President Timothy Caboni (center) stands with local elected officials behind the final beam for the Hilltopper Fieldhouse before it was raised and installed on the facility during a Final Beam Raising Ceremony on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The 122,000-square-foot fieldhouse, currently under construction between Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium and Nick Denes Field, will be home to the WKU Forensics and E-Sports programs, as well as provide practice and training space for the Big Red Marching Band and Hilltopper Athletics. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Reeves & Young Project Executive Jennifer Kinsey speaks during a ceremony for the raising and installation of the final beam for the Hilltopper Fieldhouse on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The 122,000-square-foot fieldhouse, currently under construction between Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium and Nick Denes Field, will be home to the WKU Forensics and E-Sports programs, as well as provide practice and training space for the Big Red Marching Band and Hilltopper Athletics. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
WKU President Timothy Caboni speaks during a ceremony for the raising and installation of the final beam for the Hilltopper Fieldhouse on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The 122,000-square-foot fieldhouse, currently under construction between Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium and Nick Denes Field, will be home to the WKU Forensics and E-Sports programs, as well as provide practice and training space for the Big Red Marching Band and Hilltopper Athletics. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
WKU President Timothy Caboni speaks during a ceremony for the raising and installation of the final beam for the Hilltopper Fieldhouse on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The 122,000-square-foot fieldhouse, currently under construction between Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium and Nick Denes Field, will be home to the WKU Forensics and E-Sports programs, as well as provide practice and training space for the Big Red Marching Band and Hilltopper Athletics. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
The final beam for the Hilltopper Fieldhouse is raised and installed on the facility during a Final Beam Raising Ceremony on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The 122,000-square-foot fieldhouse, currently under construction between Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium and Nick Denes Field, will be home to the WKU Forensics and E-Sports programs, as well as provide practice and training space for the Big Red Marching Band and Hilltopper Athletics. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
The final beam for the Hilltopper Fieldhouse is raised and installed on the facility during a Final Beam Raising Ceremony on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The 122,000-square-foot fieldhouse, currently under construction between Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium and Nick Denes Field, will be home to the WKU Forensics and E-Sports programs, as well as provide practice and training space for the Big Red Marching Band and Hilltopper Athletics. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
The final beam for the Hilltopper Fieldhouse is raised and installed on the facility during a Final Beam Raising Ceremony on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The 122,000-square-foot fieldhouse, currently under construction between Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium and Nick Denes Field, will be home to the WKU Forensics and E-Sports programs, as well as provide practice and training space for the Big Red Marching Band and Hilltopper Athletics. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
The final beam for the Hilltopper Fieldhouse is raised and installed on the facility during a Final Beam Raising Ceremony on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The 122,000-square-foot fieldhouse, currently under construction between Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium and Nick Denes Field, will be home to the WKU Forensics and E-Sports programs, as well as provide practice and training space for the Big Red Marching Band and Hilltopper Athletics. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
The final beam for the Hilltopper Fieldhouse is raised and installed on the facility during a Final Beam Raising Ceremony on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The 122,000-square-foot fieldhouse, currently under construction between Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium and Nick Denes Field, will be home to the WKU Forensics and E-Sports programs, as well as provide practice and training space for the Big Red Marching Band and Hilltopper Athletics. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky University students, faculty, project participants, elected officials and members of the community gathered to sign the final beam for the Hilltopper Fieldhouse before it was raised and installed on the facility during a Final Beam Raising Ceremony on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The 122,000-square-foot fieldhouse, currently under construction between Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium and Nick Denes Field, will be home to the WKU Forensics and E-Sports programs, as well as provide practice and training space for the Big Red Marching Band and Hilltopper Athletics.
Photojournalist for the Bowling Green Daily News since 2019. Any news or sports tips? Send them my way at grace.mcdowell@bgdailynews.com!
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