'A big dream realized': Grand Opening Gala of Auburn's Woltosz Football Performance Center

AUBURN, Ala. – With a chandelier hanging above an elevated piano on the 50-yard line of the indoor practice field, Auburn celebrated the opening of the Woltosz Football Performance Center at Friday’s Grand Opening Gala.

At a black-tie dinner, Tigers Unlimited honored the families and individuals who pitched in to help fund the largest athletics project in Auburn history.

The $92 million Woltosz Football Performance Center features 233,428 square feet and includes indoor and outdoor practice fields.

“You give us the opportunity to make an impact on young people’s lives so they can compete at the highest level,” said Tim Jackson, executive associate athletics director, Tigers Unlimited. “We can never thank you enough.”

Eighty-five Auburn families gave at least $25,000 for the project, including 56 who gave $100,000 or more, 11 gifts of at least $500,000 and five of a million dollars or more.  

“I’ve always said that Auburn has tremendous potential for greatness and this facility is helping us realize that potential,” Auburn University president Dr. Chris Roberts said. “One thread that weaves through the center of the tapestry of our campus is our athletic programs.

“I would like to take a moment on behalf of Auburn University to thank everyone who has played a role in helping us get to this point on this monumental day. At Auburn, we’ve earned the right to dream the biggest dreams.

“For our athletics program to be able to provide the resources for our coaches and players to compete at the highest level is what we call dreaming the biggest dreams. This is a big dream realized.”

Athletics director John Cohen told donors he had a one-word reaction the first time he toured the Woltosz Football Performance Center: “Wow.”

“I’ve seen many, if not most, of the elite football facilities in the country,” said Cohen, thanking donors for their passion for Auburn. “In my opinion, you’re sitting in the best right now.

“I hope you realize the indelible mark you have left on the football program, the athletic department and Auburn University.”

Auburn presented a crystal football to lead donors Walt and Ginger Woltosz, whose leadership gift in 2019, at the time the largest in Auburn Athletics history, provided momentum for the project to move forward.

“We felt that Auburn student-athletes deserve to have not just as good but better facilities than our competitors,” Walt Woltosz said. “To the people who had the vision for this facility, those who designed, financed and built it, it’s phenomenal.”

Ginger Woltosz summarized in three words the couple’s reaction to both the facility and the Auburn University Board of Trustee’s decision to name it after them: proud, honored and humbled.

The Woltosz Football Performance Center is already paying recruiting dividends, helping first-year head coach Hugh Freeze and his staff assemble a recruiting class that’s ascended an astounding 46 spots in the rankings in Freeze’s six weeks on the Plains, from No. 62 to No. 16.

“We’re so thankful for you because you carry the weight of the financial burden of us being a success,” Freeze told the donors. “We also thank the many fans who give of their time to do the same.

“My hope and my prayer is that we give you some moments in Jordan-Hare Stadium where you leave giddy, with so much joy where you say, ‘I can’t believe what we just saw.’ As your head football coach, I want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts."

Dedicated in August 2021 and housing Auburn's football operations since the conclusion of the 2022 season, the facility features a dozen named spaces, including the Creel Family Player Development Lab, which boosts 25,000 square feet of strength and conditioning equipment and training space.

Other named areas include the Nix Family Lobby, McKinney Family Recruiting Lounge, Dansby and Hicks Lounge, Hare Family Conference Room, Rollins Montgomery Innovation Lab, Cynthia and Jay Chapman Defensive Coordinator’s Office, Capps Family Offensive Coordinator’s Office, Philip Carroll Offensive Staff Conference Room, Ernie and Kim Wright Head Coach’s Office, Plan Family Armory Locker Room, and the Babs and Michael Anderson Recruiting War Room.

Following the dinner and speakers, the gala concluded with tours of the facility while coaches resumed recruiting.

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer