CUW Packs the R. John Buuck Fieldhouse For Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

MEQUON, Wis. – Tuesday night was a night filled with joy and excitement as the Concordia University Wisconsin community finally opened the newly renovated R. John Buuck Fieldhouse. The CUW faithful filled the stands for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony before the women's volleyball match.

After opening in 1989, the R. John Buuck Fieldhouse received renovations over the summer.  The upgrades inside of the fieldhouse were supported by the Pat Connaughton Foundation, Matt Burow of Catalyst Construction and Three Leaf Partners, and the CUW Student Government Association.

"What an amazing night," said Director of Athletics Dr. Rob Barnhill. "I could not be happier with the way the project turned out and the way our campus community showed up to celebrate. Our partners and donors were pivotal in getting this done and I sincerely appreciate their generosity."

Of those in attendance on Tuesday night was Pat Connaughton of the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His foundation played a key role in the project getting off the ground and he was happy to see his foundation making another big impact in the community.

"It's great, it has been a testament to everyone who has been helpful with our foundation since day one, "said Connaughton. "It shows the growth that we have had, but more importantly, it shows the areas that can have an impact that extends far beyond normalcy. I think to be able to have something so prominent at Concordia University and something the student-athletes will utilize for years and years to come will be awesome for my foundation and myself to see the impact these next-generation student-athletes make on and off the playing surface. "

The Pat Connaughton Foundation exists to inspire and motivate young athletes to put their dreams into action—whatever their dreams may be. 

Captained by Milwaukee Bucks champion Pat Connaughton, the organization is focused on making a positive impact in the hearts, minds, and futures of young athletes by making the sport of basketball accessible to kids across the world. 

The fieldhouse was updated from top to bottom over the summer.

The R. John Buuck Field House now has new bleachers that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The new bleachers are blue with the Concordia Wisconsin Falcons logo, with sponsor logos on the sides. The bleachers feature railings for safety and handicap-accessible seating.

The flooring was also redone. The synthetic surface was replaced with Concordia colors. The main court was also redone and is properly marked for varsity contests. The state of Wisconsin is also prominently shown on center court. The Connaughton Courts logo is also prominently shown on the main floor.

The walls of the fieldhouse also received a facelift and are a uniform shade of white, with branding updated throughout the fieldhouse.

The Falcons sent everyone home smiling with a commanding 3-0 victory on the beautiful new court.