The Friends of Football and members of the Pueblo community have privately funded the $3 million budget for the construction and upgrades of the athletic facilities at the Neta & Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl.

Included in the plan is the construction of a 10,000-square-foot weight room, renovations to the training facilities, an expanded locker room and the re-surface of the existing football field.

The home of the 2014 NCAA Division II National Champions was overdue for an upgrade.

According to Colorado State University-Pueblo Head Coach John Wristen, the project is scheduled to be completed by the end of August 2016.

The most notable part of the ThunderBowl construction project is the new weight room, which will be three times the size of the old one and will accommodate in excess of 600 athletes.  The building will be located next to the field house in the southwest corner of the stadium.

Additional features include a brand new $75,000 underwater treadmill and a cold tub that can accommodate up to 12 people.

The expansion of the existing locker room is aimed at providing the players with comfortable space to get ready for practice and games, while providing a team-friendly environment.

Until the completion, the student-athletes will make do by using the Massari Arena for weight lifting.