Dear Creighton Bluejays,
What a Great Day to Be a Bluejay!
The launch of Fly Together marks a truly transformative moment in the history of Creighton University. This nearly $300 million, donor-funded initiative will do far more than enhance our athletic facilities — it will enrich the overall student experience and deepen our connection to the city of Omaha. Situated alongside the growing Builder's District, a $650 million, mixed-use, urban village now in development, the impact of these new and reimagined facilities will be felt far beyond campus.
To call this initiative unique is an understatement.
It's rare to see a single initiative designed to serve both Division I student-athletes and the general student population in such a meaningful and balanced way. And with the involvement of Kiewit Corporation — one of North America's most respected engineering and construction firms — this partnership reaches a level of vision and scale that truly sets it apart. Kiewit's support of Creighton and Omaha's urban revitalization places this initiative in a league of its own.
But in many ways, this bold plan is no surprise. Creighton has always been committed to fostering an environment where students can thrive — academically, athletically, and personally. Our athletic achievements are built on the foundation of a vibrant, mission-driven University, backed by nationally ranked academics and a strong student body. And our role in Omaha's continued growth is undeniable. From infrastructure investments to the contributions of our graduates, Creighton has long been an essential partner in shaping one of the Midwest's most dynamic cities.
Considering all this, the name Fly Together couldn't be more fitting. It captures the spirit of unity, ambition, and forward momentum that defines both this initiative and the future of Creighton University.
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I recognize that an initiative of this scale may seem counter to national trends. Across the country, many athletic departments are focusing their resources almost exclusively on revenue sharing and NIL opportunities for student-athletes. While those priorities are undeniably important — and I addressed their significance in last month's newsletter — great institutions invest in everything that matters.
Top-tier facilities that attract, develop, and support student-athletes across all sponsored sports remain essential to building a complete, future-ready athletics program. At Creighton, we are uniquely positioned to create a campus environment that serves as a national model — especially for basketball-centric athletic departments navigating the evolving landscape of college athletics.
The reality is this: as the industry continues to shift, programs with a comprehensive, balanced approach will be best positioned to thrive. That's why it's critical that we act decisively now — to ensure Creighton remains competitive and successful for years to come.
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This initiative would not be possible without the $100 million lead gift from Cindy and Scott Heider, trustees of the Heider Family Foundation. Longtime supporters of Creighton University, the Heiders embody a deep commitment to our Jesuit mission and understand the vital role that a high-quality athletic experience plays in shaping student lives within that mission.
In addition to their generous financial support, Cindy and Scott were instrumental in bringing this vision to life, helping to engage other community partners whose contributions have moved us closer to our $300 million fundraising goal.
To all who have contributed to this effort — thank you. Your belief in Creighton University and in the lasting impact our student-athletes have on both campus and the greater Omaha community is what will make this ambitious vision a reality.
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This initiative would not be possible without the $100 million lead gift from Cindy and Scott Heider, trustees of the Heider Family Foundation. Longtime supporters of Creighton University, the Heiders embody a deep commitment to our Jesuit mission and understand the vital role that a high-quality athletic experience plays in shaping student lives within that mission.
In addition to their generous financial support, Cindy and Scott were instrumental in bringing this vision to life, helping to engage other community partners whose contributions have moved us closer to our $300 million fundraising goal.
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At yesterday's announcement, Fr. Hendrickson spoke powerfully about how the Fly Together initiative will enhance student life and strengthen Creighton's connection to the broader Omaha community.
Today, I want to focus on what this means for our student-athletes and how it positions Creighton for continued athletic excellence.
At the heart of this initiative is a commitment to build and upgrade the spaces where our student-athletes train, compete, and grow. The plan includes:
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- A new 50,000-square-foot Sports Performance Center
- A new softball competition facility
- A new baseball practice field
- A shared team facility for both baseball and softball
- Major upgrades to four existing facilities: the Ruth, the McDermott Center, the Ryan Center, and D.J. Sokol Arena
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These strategic investments will provide our student-athletes with the resources they need to develop at the highest level — in facilities that reflect our commitment to excellence across all sports.
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Sports Performance Center
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Most importantly, this new facility will serve all Creighton student-athletes. Spanning 10,000 square feet of strength and conditioning space, it will also feature a dining and nutrition center, sports medicine room, academic support center, locker rooms, coaches' offices, and dedicated space for sports psychology services.
This facility will be a game-changer for our program — dramatically enhancing our ability to recruit, retain, and develop exceptional student-athletes across all sports.
Currently, all 300 of our student-athletes share the weight room and sports medicine facilities in the McDermott Center, originally designed as the men's basketball practice facility. The addition of the Sports Performance Center will give all student-athletes access to a larger, purpose-built space that can accommodate multiple teams at once.
This shift will allow us to make much-needed updates to the McDermott Center, enabling us to optimize it specifically for basketball training and development.
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Ruth Scott Training Center
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Located immediately east of the Sports Performance Center, the Ruth Scott Training Center (commonly known as The Ruth) serves as the practice facility for women's basketball and volleyball. This facility will soon feature a striking new glass façade along its southern perimeter, bringing a fresh, modern aesthetic that complements the Sports Performance Center. Together, these two buildings will form the Athletic Village — a dynamic "campus within a campus" dedicated to the development of Creighton student-athletes.
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Opened in 2014 as the Championship Center, the McDermott Center remains a premier facility, though it has not seen major upgrades since its debut. With the addition of the Sports Performance Center, the McDermott Center will transition fully into a basketball-specific facility, undergoing important renovations including enhancements to the weight room, locker rooms, lounge areas, athletic training rooms, and practice courts. These updates will ensure the McDermott Center remains one of the top practice facilities in college basketball.
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Baseball and Softball Complex
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We are nearing completion of the new softball competition field, and work continues on the new baseball practice field, taking shape south of Cuming Street. These will be the first two Fly Together projects completed — the softball field this fall and the baseball field by June of next year, when it will also serve as the official practice site for visiting Men's College World Series teams.
Between the two fields, we will build a state-of-the-art 38,000 square-foot, two-story team facility to serve both baseball and softball programs with batting cages, locker rooms, offices, and team lounges — further elevating the experience for our student-athletes while also accommodating visiting teams during the College World Series.
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D.J. Sokol Arena &
The Ryan Athletic Center
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Since opening their doors in August 2009, D.J. Sokol Arena and the Ryan Athletic Center have served as vital homes for women's basketball and volleyball. While incremental improvements have been made, we are now preparing for a major transformation that will dramatically enhance the experience for student-athletes and fans alike.
Planned upgrades include a new public concourse, modernized locker rooms for women's basketball and volleyball, a renovated media room, team lounges, and dedicated athletic training facilities. These two teams, who excel academically and athletically, should have the facilities representative of their standing amongst the best in college athletics — and we're excited to deliver the upgrades they truly deserve.
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I hope you're as excited about this initiative — and the future of Creighton Athletics — as I am. This initiative will transform our athletic footprint, providing our student-athletes with an environment that sets us apart from our peers and empowers us to recruit and retain some of the best and brightest in the nation.
What's most inspiring is the collaboration driving this effort: between Athletics, the University, the business community, and the people who love and support Creighton most. There's a shared understanding that if we want to reach our highest goals, we must do it together.
That's why the name fits so well: Fly Together.
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