By Andrew Hornbeck

Since joining the Big East Conference in 2005, the University of Louisville has witnessed an overall blossoming in athletics.
Among the accomplishments achieved by the different athletic teams includes a Big East regular season or tournament titles in volleyball, tennis, softball, men’s and women’s golf, field hockey, men’s cross country, women’s outdoor track & field, baseball, and men’s and women’s basketball.
In only four years, Louisville has established itself as an elite member of a major collegiate athletic conference.
In the same span, Cardinal athletics has also developed some of the finest facilities in the country for collegiate sports, such as the Trager Stadium, the field hockey complex, which hosted the NCAA Field Hockey Final Four this past season.
Now, the two most prominent sports at U of L, basketball and football, are on the way to a new arena and expansion respectively that could further bolster the reputation of Cardinal athletics as one of the most developed programs in the country as a whole.
On April 24, 2008, U of L Athletic Director Tom Jurich announced that the state of Kentucky had given final approval to begin the expansion of Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.
The expansion, which will be completed by 2010, will increase seating capacity from 42,000 to over 60,000, as well as add 45 new luxury suites, a new south terrace, and 2,000 premium lodge seats to the stadium.
“I think it will make a huge impact,” Jahmal Lawson, sophomore quarterback, said. “I think it will make more people want to see what’s going on with the football team and it will draw more fans obviously. It’s good publicity for the team.”
As for basketball, their new home will be the Downtown Arena opening in Fall 2010. The arena will hold 22,000 compared to the 18,865 seating capacity at Freedom Hall.
In addition to being the new home of U of L basketball, the NCAA has already awarded the 2012 NCAA Division-IA Volleyball Championships to Louisville, the first major championship event that will be held in the new arena.
Jurich commented on the impact of the arena as soon as plans were finalized.
“We’re thrilled that we will be moving into such a state-of-the-art facility,” Jurich said. “With this move comes a great opportunity for U of L fans to get wonderful basketball seats over two years before we open the doors to the building. We know the demand will be tremendous for these side-court club seats.”
Cardinal athletes from every sport are excited about the new changes.
“Being an athlete, it’s always important where you play. It could also help with recruiting. I know I’m excited about having a chance to see the expanded Papa John’s as well the new basketball arena before I graduate,” Robert Hall, freshman tennis player,  said.
The new arena will be the fifth largest in college basketball, and will host a variety of other events as well.
LaMont Johnson, who has been attending games at Freedom Hall for over a decade, thinks the new expansion will be a tremendous addition to the basketball programs at Louisville.
“With the emergence of the women’s basketball program, as well as the consistent success of the men’s team, I think that the new arena will help not only on a local level, but will further help to solidify Louisville as a national powerhouse in men’s and women’s basketball,” Johnson said.