The Butler Grizzlies opened the 2012 season in the new 6,000-seat BG Products Veterans Sports Complex, which is located just northeast of the campus. The stadium is a $12 million joint venture between the college, USD 490 and the City of El Dorado. Construction began in November 2011 and was finished in time for Butler’s fall sports seasons.

The first sporting event ever held in the stadium was a women's soccer game. On Aug. 28, the No. 4-ranked Butler women blitzed Allen County 11-0 in the new stadium, the first-ever Butler home soccer game played under lights. The first goal in the new arena was scored by sophomore Alyssa Miller, assisted by Megan Snyder.

Three days later, more than 6,000 fans filled the stadium to watch the No. 2-ranked Grizzlies defeat No. 5 Blinn by a 28-10 score. The first touchdown in the new facility was scored by quarterback Billy Cosh on a 1-yard run with 11:13 left in the first quarter.

Included in the project is a scoreboard that includes two oversized video boards. The largest, at 24 feet tall and 42 wide, is the fourth-largest video board in the state of Kansas and is the largest in any junior college stadium in the country. It can display live in-game stats as well as video replays from as many as four different angles.

The field is the same artificial surface installed in many NFL stadiums. Also included are 12 luxury suites, ample room for print and broadcast media and nearly 1,000 premium chairback seats. There are locker rooms for both home and visiting teams.

*PHOTO GALLERY AT BOTTOM OF PAGE*

Stadium Facts:

Year Built: 2012

Cost to Build: $12 million

Partners: Butler Community College, City of El Dorado, El Dorado Public Schools

Capacity: 6,000

Luxury Suites: 12

Media Suites: 3

Coaches Boxes: 2

First Soccer Game: Aug. 28, 2012 - No. 4 Butler 11, Allen County 0

First Goal: Aug. 28, 2012 (Butler's Alyssa Miller, assisted by Megan Snyder)

Most Goals Scored by Butler: 11 (Aug. 28: Butler 11, Allen County 0)

Most Goals Scored by Both Teams: 12 (Sept. 16: Butler 10, Pratt 2)

First Football Game: Sept. 1, 2012 - No. 2 Butler 28, No. 5 Blinn 10

First Score: Sept. 1, 2012 (1-yard TD run by QB Billy Cosh, 11:13, First Quarter)

Most Points Scored by Butler: 84 (No. 3 Butler 84, No. 19 Garden City 13)

Most Points Scored by Both Teams: 97 (No. 3 Butler 84, No. 19 Garden City 13)

BG Products Veterans Sports Complex