More than gameday
With the intent of making the stadium not just the home for Baylor football, but a resource to the whole community, the Waco City Council (at the University’s request) established the Baylor Waco Stadium Authority. Beginning this fall, the city-appointed board will provide general oversight of non-Baylor events at McLane Stadium through two outside companies contracted to manage such activities.
SMG, an international venue management group, has been tasked with running the stadium during non-gameday events, including taking responsibility for booking concerts, conventions, festivals, motorsports exhibitions and other athletic events at McLane Stadium. Other SMG-managed venues include Houston’s Reliant Stadium, San Antonio’s AT&T Center and Chicago’s Soldier Field.
On game days, The Baylor Club will provide food service for premium seatholders. But every other day of the year, it will serve as a private member club offering fine dining. Amenities will include a ballroom, a formal dining room, private dining and meeting rooms, and an outdoor patio overlooking the field.
The Baylor Club will be operated by ClubCorp. Members will have access to the group’s 200-plus private clubs worldwide, a list that includes The University Center Club at Florida State University, The University of Texas Club in Austin and The Texas Tech Club in Lubbock.
“The opening of McLane Stadium has brought a new level of excitement to a community that is currently enjoying a period of rapid expansion and redevelopment downtown and in surrounding areas,” says Glenn Robinson, president of Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Medical Center and a member of the stadium authority board. “The availability of this remarkable facility for a variety of entertainment and recreational options—including the fine dining provided by ClubCorp—was critical to the city’s decision to support the stadium financially, and people here are enthusiastic about all the amenities and possibilities it offers the public, not only on gameday, but every day. Waco is a vibrant, active and engaged community. SMG and ClubCorp now add new energy to a community that is already buzzing with anticipation.”