In an effort to raise its profile in Division I athletics, Sam Houston is upgrading three of its well-known sports facilities in Huntsville. 

The three facilities that will be receiving or have already received upgrades include Elliot T. Bowers Stadium, Johnson Coliseum and Don Sanders Stadium. 

As the upgrades continue shaping the future of Bearkat basketball, head coach Chris Mudge had a message for Sam Houston fans and students before the start of the 2025 season. 

“Last year we had some games where there was a lot of students and a lot of fans, and it was an unbelievable home court advantage. I think that students, fans, and people from the area, you’re gonna want to come watch these guys,” Mudge said. “We got a DJ this year, and new stands. Everybody’s going to be to be closer to the court, so there’s a lot of good things going on.”

Mudge’s excitement about the fan experience captures only part of the impact these renovations are having. Behind the scenes, the improvements are reshaping how Bearkat sports are seen and experienced, both in the arena and across screens around the country. 

 Jason Barfield, SHSU’s Director of Broadcasting and Digital Media, gave insight on how the football facility upgrades will elevate game-day experience for fans and how games will be better presented on broadcasts. 

“The biggest thing I am excited about is that we’re going to be able to fully cable the stadium. All our camera locations now will be wired right there at the camera location, we’re getting our stadium to a very modern broadcast-friendly stadium,” Barfield said.

Barfield added that “the biggest thing that it’s going to do is make it easier for us to get some of the bigger games.”

“If ESPN knows that they can come in and that’s an easy set up, I think our chances of getting an ESPN or ESPN 2 increases because those productions require the bigger trucks,” he said

Barfield also noted that the old facility had no infrastructure for broadcasting due to the stadium being built in 1986. With these new upgrades, they are now set up to do that.

Construction for a new press box at Bowers Stadium started earlier this year and is expected to be completed just in time for the start of the 2026 season. 

While Barfield focused on the changes and their influence on broadcasting, Ben Sorrells, Chief Operating Officer of the KatFund, emphasized how the upgrades are driving long-term financial sustainability for Sam Houston Athletics.

“The implementation of the new seats at Johnson Coliseum is a big part of it, 1for the first time they were able to sell legitimate courtside seats, and those are a more premium experience,” Sorells said. “I think the biggest part coming up with the Bowers upgrade is they’re going to have 12 premium suites. Over the next eight to ten years, you are looking at a million dollars plus in revenue just from those suites alone.”

Sorells added that due to the turf being upgraded at Don Sanders Stadium in the offseason, Sam Houston will be able to host the 2027 Conference USA Baseball tournament. 

Although ‍the courtside seats and brand-new suites will be the features that fans and students will talk about the most, these upgrades will also help student-athletes, with goals to make their training, recovery and recruiting experience better.

The upgrades at Bowers Stadium started a few years ago with upgrades to the locker room and other enhancements to the training and recovery for student athletes. Sorrells asserted that facilities are still a major factor in the recruitment of student athletes. 

“I don’t know if we would have been able to make the move to Conference USA without these facilities we have,” Sorells said. 

These upgrades to these three facilities are not just small changes as the university looks forward; they are a signal of the SHSU athletics direction. 

“One of the frustrating things from a fan base standpoint is they get used to seeing what we do, and then we go on the road, and sometimes productions aren’t always the same quality,” said Barfield. 

For Mudge, the renovations will bring louder home crowds and better environments for performance. For Barfield’s department, the upgrades are a way to bigger stages and more extensive audiences. For Sorrells and the KatFund, the upgrades will help create possibilities that could be a source of financial support for the program in the coming years.

These improvements show a dedication to the student-athletes who play for Sam Houston on fields, courts, and on national broadcasts. 

Future and current Bearkats will be able to use these upgraded facilities for years to come as a result of the university’s desire to improve the athletic program.