As the Lincoln University athletic department continues its quest to become a premier NCAA Division II program, one of their standard trademarks will center around the student-athletes. 

With that as a baseline, facilities serve as a hallmark for student-athlete experience. 

The 2022-23 campaign for the Lions featured a newly renovated Athletic Stadium with a $2.1 million-dollar renovation of the turf and track surfaces. In addition to the recently renovated Lincoln University Athletic Stadium, Lincoln University Director of Athletics and Recreational Services Harry Stinson III announces a $25-plus million-dollar renovation to Manuel Rivero Hall to begin in the Summer of 2023. 

"We are excited to announce the renovations that were recently completed and currently in the works.  The future is bright for Lincoln Athletics and that begins with having elite level facilities for our student athletes to excel academically and athletically and for alumni and fans to have the best experience at our events.  To be able to see a plan come into action is truly rewarding and I'm excited for the future of Lincoln Athletics."

In Rivero Hall, fans of the Lions will notice an increase in gym capacity from 1,600 to over 2,500, but the improvements to the student-athlete facilities that are the highlights. Manuel Rivero Hall will feature new locker rooms for all sports, updated office spaces for administration and coaches, indoor batting cages and throwing areas for baseball, softball & track/field, student lounge, upgraded study hall area, 100 seat film area, state of the art weight room and athletic training area, and an area to house E-Sports Area. 

The renovated Rivero Hall is expected to be completed in the summer of 2025. 

Ribbon cutting for the updates to the LU Athletic Stadium will be September 16, the day before the football home opener on September 17 against Fayetteville State University. 

The stadium received a new track surface, Rekortan BSS 13mm single pour track, which is the same surface as the Penn Relays. The state of the art track will enable the University to host USTFCCCA and USTAF certified events, and pays homage to our 15-plus indoor/outdoor Track & Field Championships. The surface is soft enough to train elite-level athletes, but hard enough to be one of the fastest competition surfaces.

A new artificial playing surface for football and women’s soccer was also a part of the stadium renovations. 

The new field is a creative approach to tell the rich history and story of the Lincoln Lions football team. The Lions Eyes within the LU logo in the center of the field is made to symbolize the attack of the Lion on the prowl. 

The end zone Lion claw marks typify the actual paws of a lion, which have five claws on the front paw and four claws on the back paws. It’s also markings to represent the attack of lions, putting opponents on notice that every time they enter Lincoln Stadium they must be prepared for a fight.