Jan. 11, 2007

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The BB&T Field press box that has served as host of media and Wake Forest University guests and alumni at Demon Deacon football games for nearly 40 years will come crashing down Sunday morning, paving the way for construction of Deacon Tower.

The demolition of the press box, available for spectator viewing, will occur at 8:30 a.m. Sunday morning. A series of blasts will send the old press box falling toward Deacon Boulevard.

Spectators should plan to arrive early and enter the Lawrence Joel Coliseum parking lot via 27th Street and park in the Pepsi Lot. Deacon Boulevard and a portion of University Parkway will close at 7 a.m. Upon entering the parking lot off 27th St., spectators will be directed by the police to the viewing area near Deacon Blvd. The actual viewing area is located near the Joel Coliseum box office.

BB&T Field was constructed in 1968 and there have been very few renovations to the press box since that time. The press box will be replaced by the multi-level Deacon Tower, which will house the media, suites and premium seating options beginning in the fall of 2008. A temporary press facility will in place for the 2007 season.

Winston-Salem police will begin a sweep of the area at 6 a.m. and roads around the facility will be closed at 7 a.m. By code, there must be a 1,000-foot perimeter from where the press box will fall. The police will only allow spectators in the designated area in the Joel Coliseum parking lot. Deacon Boulevard and surrounding streets should re-open by 9 a.m.

The process is scheduled to begin at 8:25 a.m. when three sirens signal that the blast sequence will take place within the next five minutes. There will be another series of sirens, followed by a 10-second audible countdown to the blast.

The demolition process is under the direction of E. Luke Green Co. and DEMTECH. Those two companies are overseen by the general contractor, Frank L. Blum.

Video of the blast is expected to be available on the athletic department website, www.wakeforestsports.com, later in the day on Sunday.