Vandy United’s Next Chapter Begins to Take Shape 

After surpassing the campaign’s initial $300 million goal, the university is deepening its commitments to fuel and sustain a winning tradition 

Dear Commodore Nation, 

Tomorrow, the No. 12-ranked Commodores will take on Kentucky at FirstBank Stadium in the final regular-season home football game of a fall none of us will ever forget.  Tonight, our soccer team will host Clemson in the second round of the NCAA Tournament with hopes of advancing to the Sweet 16 for the second season in a row. In Memorial Gymnasium, our men’s and women’s basketball teams continue their blistering start to the season. At Hawkins Field, the reigning SEC Tournament champion VandyBoys used fall ball as the foundation for their next unforgettable spring. And our highly ranked bowlers are again on a roll, building on their championship tradition. Meanwhile, the nation’s top-ranked recruiting classes in men’s golf and men’s tennis wait for the weather to warm again.   

Our shared vision for what is possible for Vanderbilt Athletics has become real. And we are here at this incredible moment—the most successful, inspiring and thrilling year across our 17 varsity sports that any of us have witnessed—because so many of you joined us four years ago in declaring that the time had come for unity, investment and shared purpose. It started with Vandy United, our joint commitment to excellence. 

Since launching that bold $300 million campaign in 2021, now part of the university’s Dare to Grow campaign, we’ve seen our alumni, fans, donors, parents, former student–athletes, faculty, staff and friends step forward time and again to be part of the future we envision. Of a place where student-athletes are truly students first, leaning into incredible learning opportunities to broaden their understanding on and off the field and prepare for lives of true meaning and impact. Where they train and compete in facilities that set the standard for the nation—facilities that, through the generosity of donors, now include the Frist Athletics Village, the Huber Center, widely regarded as a best-in-class basketball training facility, the north and south end zones of FirstBank Stadium, where new premium seating immediately sold out and a new locker room left our student-athletes speechless with pride, and the Anthony Family Golf Team House. 

National Commodore Club members’ enthusiastic response ensured that the campaign’s initial phase raised an unprecedented $365 million. Yet each of us knows that was never meant to be the finish line. As is the Vanderbilt way, we are proud of all we have achieved together, but we are not satisfied. 

We now turn our focus to fulfilling the next steps in our vision for Vanderbilt Athletics. A new Football Experience Center will be a cornerstone of this next phase, supporting a program that has galvanized the community. Construction recently began on enhancements to Hawkins Field, the home of the two-time national champion VandyBoys. Doubling down on Vandy United’s original vision and the complete renovation of the outdoor courts of the Lummis Family Tennis Center, plans are underway to expand facilities with new indoor courts oriented toward an adjacent public plaza. And the transformation of Jess Neely Drive into a vibrant connector pedestrian corridor lined with food vendors, retail and more is being planned to create a shared space for friends, family and fans to gather together.

There is so much more to come. We look forward to sharing with you more details and exciting news about what is next for our places, programs and people. You are an essential part of this journey. We will never stop growing forward, and together there is nothing that we will not accomplish. 

Onward, 

Daniel Diermeier
Chancellor

Candice Storey Lee
Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs and Athletic Director

Live Construction Camera

#VandyUnited Construction Cam: Follow some of the Vandy United Tennis progress with our live construction cam of the outdoor courts at the Lummis Family Tennis Center!

This first phase includes a complete renovation of the outdoor courts at the Lummis Family Tennis Center, featuring 12 total courts, a new courtyard, enhanced fan seating, and a new videoboard, scheduled for completion ahead of the 2026 spring outdoor season.

Live Construction Camera

#VandyUnited Construction Cam: Follow some of the Vandy United Baseball progress with our live construction cam of the right field construction at Hawkins Field!

In total, the Hawkins Field footprint will encompass approximately 50,000 square feet of new or enhanced space, including student-athlete resources, additional capacity, premium seating and expanded food and beverage options.