Fans of four historically black colleges and universities will cheer from the sides of freshly refurbished fields this fall thanks to $6.5 million in grants from Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank.

In a game-changing move for HBCU athletics, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank is stepping up to the field with a $6.5 million investment to revitalize student-athletes’ football experiences.

Albany State University, Clark Atlanta University, Miles College, and Savannah State University are the recipients of the HBCU Invitational Field Refurbished Program grant, which the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation funded. The grant was open to select HBCUs in Georgia and Alabama. 

According to a joint statement by the AMBFF, the NFL Foundation, and the Local Initiative Support Corporation, the invitational grant program is “designed to improve field quality, safety, and accessibility for students and local community groups serving youth through football.” 

“The HBCU Invitational Field Refurbishment Program is one of many ways the NFL is deepening its commitment to HBCUs,” said Alexia Gallagher, NFL VP of Philanthropy and Executive Director of the NFL Foundation. “We are excited to provide resources for student athletes at the selected institutions to play the game of football to the best of their ability while creating equal opportunities for all.”

The Vision

Miles College is using its share of the donation to convert its natural grass practice facility to turf; Albany State University will do the same with its grass football and soccer field, while Clark Atlanta and Savannah State will replace their current turk fields. 

“The positive impact of athletics is a driving force throughout our portfolio of businesses,” said AMB Sports and Entertainment CEO Rich McKay. “Arthur Blank and his Family Foundation recognize and prioritize community impact through sport, and supporting these historical institutions is a natural extension of our values. We are honored to partner with LISC, the NFL Foundation, and these universities to enhance the playing surfaces, with the shared goal of creating more opportunities for the students and surrounding communities alike.”

LISC manages the grant program and has refurbished hundreds of community football fields over the last 25 years. 

“Thanks to the Arthur M. Blank Foundation and the NFL Foundation, we are able to deliver capital and technical expertise to institutions that offer tremendous value to students but that may not have the types of endowments that larger universities have,” said Michael T. Pugh, LISC president and CEO. “With access to flexible resources, the schools are able to make updates and upgrades that might not otherwise be possible—creating opportunities that benefit not just the institutions themselves, but improve the health and well-being of students and community members as well.”

Clark Atlanta and Albany State will showcase their new fields for home games on Saturday, September 7, while Savannah State’s new turf will debut on Saturday, September 14.