WFU Athletics Win Big with New Sports Facilities

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Today, a ribbon-Cutting ceremony for the brand new Sutton Sports Performance Center and Shah Basketball Complex marked a new beginning for athletics at Wake Forest. Generous support for many years from both Ben Sutton and Mit Shah has made it possible to offer these exceptional resources to the student-athletes, coaches and staff.

The new facilities are centrally located within more than 100,000 square feet of buildings with 725 tins of steel and 5,000 cubic yards of concrete. This four-level Sutton performance center is connected to the McCreary Football Field house making it easier for athletes to transition from the field to weight rooms or meetings. 

In addition to strength and conditioning facilities dedicated for football and men’s and women’s basketball, there is a strength and training area shared by men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s tennis, track & field, men’s and women’s golf, field hockey and volleyball.

The new Shah Basketball Complex connects with the Sutton Center, adding another 24,000 square feet of facilities for athletes. It includes a regulation court with seven goals dedicated to the men’s team, and a new gym for the women’s team. Both teams no longer have to drive to the Lawrence Joel Veterans Coliseum for practice; everything is now at their fingertips. Within the complex is also 6,000 square feet dedicated to strength and conditioning for both teams and easy access to sports medicine and the cryotherapy chamber. 

The Christan McCreary Nutrition Center helps to fuel student-athletes around the clock. “With student-athlete schedules, it can be difficult to refuel properly,” said Director of Sports Nutrition Kate Ruley.

“Before the nutrition area opened, our athletes would have to go to other dining areas on campus. Many wouldn’t have had time to do that before class. Now they can refuel where they train with foods to help their brains and bodies recover. Already, I’m hearing feedback that our athletes are more alert and better able to focus on their academics as a result of the convenient options for quick nutrition.”

In addition to meeting nutritional needs, athletes from all sports socialize, study and relax in the Nutrition Center. Special features include a smoothie bar, gluten-free area and soft seating.

Read more from this Wake Forest News article by Kim McGrath, Steve Shutt & Jay Garneau here.