Issue link: http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/42617
When looking at the success of an athletics program, one aspect which needs to be considered is the quality of its facilities. Student- athletes involved in Liberty University's athletics program have the opportunity to showcase their talents in a number of fine athletics facilities. Like the program itself, these on-campus facilities have improved tremendously since the program's inception in 1973. Williams Stadium, named in honor of A.L. Williams, is located near the entrance of the campus and has been the home of the football program since 1989. Prior to the 2010 season, the stadium was expanded from 12,000 to 19,200 seats. The renovations also featured a five-story tower, equipped with a fully functional press box, an 11,000-square foot Flames Club pavilion, 18 luxury suites and offices for the athletics administrative staff. Future plans call for the stadium's capacity to be expanded to 30,000. During the summer of 2006, a 48,000-square foot facility was completed in the north end zone of the stadium, as the Williams Football Operations Center became the football program's new home off the field. The state-of-the-art facility gives Liberty one of the nicest FCS football facilities in the nation, housing coaching and support staff offices, a spacious locker room, academic learning areas, a training room and a weight room. The centerpiece of the facility is a 3,000-square foot room overlooking Williams Stadium, where Flames Club members can enjoy pre-game meals. A major facility upgrade to Williams Stadium was completed just prior to the kickoff of the 2006 season as FieldTurf was installed. The playing surface received a facelift during the spring of 2009 when the FieldTurf was replaced with a newer top-of-the-line version. The Vines Convocation Center, home to all men's and women's basketball games and volleyball matches, is an 8,085-seat facility which was completed in 1990. In 1998, the Vines Center hosted the 46th-best home attendance in the nation, as the women's basketball team averaged over 1,700 fans per contest. Basketball, volleyball and a number of other indoor activities can take place in the versatile Schilling Center. The men's and women's basketball teams held their home games in what was then known as Liberty Gym in this facility from 1979 to 1990. The Schilling Center has two full-court areas that are also utilized for class instruction, intramural events and special activities. In 2005, the facility was up- graded to give Liberty's basketball programs two new practice courts. Volleyball received a new facility during the 2006-07 school year, moving its offices into a new facility on Campus East that also includes its very own practice gym. Home baseball games are played at the beautiful Worthington Stadium. Recognized by Sportsturf Magazine as the best field in the nation in 1998, the facility was named in honor of Al Worthington, who began the Flames' baseball program in 1974. He also served as the Liberty athletics director from 1984-89. During the 2011 season, a new state-of-the art scoreboard and video board was installed beyond the left-center field wall. One of the largest and finest scoreboard/video boards in NCAA Division I college baseball, it measures more than 41 feet high by 54 feet wide. The Crowder-Muckel Fieldhouse is located adjacent to Worthington Stadium. The clubhouse, which is one of the finest baseball facilities in the country, includes locker rooms for both the Flames and the visiting teams, a team room, weight room, training room, umpires' locker room, public restrooms for the fans, sky box seating and full- length batting cages. 41