Legacy Bricks Public Debut Set Friday On Buff Walk

BOULDER – One of the most successful and popular fundraising projects in recent CU Athletic Department history is now ready for public viewing.

CU's Legacy Bricks, a major element of the public phase of the Athletic Department's Sustainable Excellence Initiative (SEI), have been installed along the new Buff Walk on the east side of Folsom Field.

The Buff Club and CU Athletics invite fans and donors to visit the new Legacy Bricks for the public debut Friday during the Football Kickoff Luncheon. The luncheon is scheduled to begin at 11:15 a.m. in Balch Fieldhouse.

Legacy Brick locator maps are available at www.cubuffs.com/legacy for a mobile or printable version of the Buff Walk map. The Legacy Brick program provided an affordable way for all fans to become a permanent part of CU history and grossed more than $660,000 for the SEI.

"We felt like this would be a great way for people to give to this project and be able to memorialize their commitment to the facilities," Athletic Director Rick George said. "It has been extremely popular and very successful. We're excited about it."

The Buff Walk is designed to elevate the experience at Folsom Field while creating a passageway connecting Colorado Avenue and Stadium Drive, where thousands of people have contributed to make an impact on fundraising. Fans who donated also had the option for a keepsake replica and display case to have as a memento of their message that will forever be ingrained at CU.

"We want people to come back and have a place to come to show their kids or grandkids somewhere down the road about their support to these facilities that we believe will be transformational and is going to be here for a long time," George said.

Due to an overwhelming response from fans and donors, the Buff Club recorded the highest number of new donors ever in the 2016 fiscal year, thanks in large part to the contributions toward more than 2,500 bricks.

Lindsey McGee, development associate with the Buff Club, managed the Legacy Brick program from its launch in June 2015 to its close in May 2016, as well as helping oversee the installation process.

"One of the best parts of the program was reading the inscriptions week by week, offering me a small glimpse into the lives of our fan base," McGee said. "Our fans love CU, the Buffs and of course Ralphie. I am thrilled to welcome fans to the Buff Walk starting Aug. 19."

As the newest feature of the SEI, the Buff Walk will create a new tradition allowing fans to greet the team as they get off the bus and walk to their locker room in the Champions Center.

"We want to start that tradition of having our football players walk down and come through that area and have a lot of fans that are tailgating out there to give them support," George said. "We hope that it creates a tradition that will last a long time."

The Champions Center, Indoor Practice Facility, Dal Ward Renovation and Buff Walk comprise the first comprehensive building project since the completion of the Coors Events Center practice facility, and the first that benefits all student-athletes since Dal Ward was completed in 1991. Not only did the Legacy Bricks program help move the needle closer to the department's financial goal of "Drive for $105 Million," it also established a community bond.

"I think people were really excited about it and to have the number of donors that we've had to support this program and this facility is tremendous," George said. "It has exceeded our expectations."

The Buff Walk includes 16 granite section markers to highlight memorable moments in CU athletics history. These moments are composed of everything from the dedication of Colorado Stadium in 1924 to the 1990 National Championship. Other bricks include graduation years, birthdays, and even two marriage proposals.

"Tying it all together, a part of the way people will be able to define their brick, is by some big moments in CU history," George said. "We were able to take some of our history and tradition out in an area the public can walk on and see."

CU officials believe the Buff Walk will be a place for people to gather and talk about great moments in CU history. If you can't make it this weekend, be sure to check it out on first home football game of the season against Idaho State on Sept. 10.

If you missed the opportunity to secure your legacy, please feel free to enroll in our program interest list or call 1-844-283-3279. You will then be notified in the event Legacy Brick opportunities become available again.

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