The construction of the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex (KPAC) was announced in a 2011 Houghton College press release after Kim (Kerr) Pegula ‘91 and her husband Terry Pegula, owner of the Buffalo Sabres and Rochester Americans hockey teams, donated $12 million to its construction. By its grand opening in October 2014, the grand total cost of the facility had reached $23 million, according to a Houghton College press release. Now, two years since the KPAC’s grand opening, the question remains as to the kind of impact that 23 million dollar investment is having on the college.
In the complex’s favor are the number of events the center is able to host and the exposure it brings the college. Marshall Green, KPAC Facilities Marketing and Scheduling Coordinator, stated, “I would suggest that we have multiple events/projects in the planning stages for the next year, that if are successful, would considerably contribute to the financial well-being of the college as a whole.” According to Green, the events and projects include regular track meets between the months of December and March, “concerts, expos, elite athletic clinics, sport camps and private engagements.”
As popular as these events are currently, Green expressed the hope that they will come to have even more of an impact in coming years. “Many projects that we currently have planned we see as future investments as these event grow in popularity and engagement.” He continued, and added that already there has been an increase in the impact of the Kerr-Pegula Center. “For perspective, in 2016 we hosted about 30,000 outside visitors to the KPAC (not including collegiate sports or the Houghton College community). For 2017 we are anticipating doubling that to 60,000.”
Already, the college has benefited from the influence the center has had on its visitors. Ryan Spear, Director of Admissions, explained, “On the road and sometimes on campus, students are saying that their first exposure to Houghton was through attending an event at the KPFH [Kerr-Pegula Field House].” The introduction is intentional. Green explained, “All athletic clinics are targeted towards high school or middle school ages. We are always keeping in mind marketing opportunities for events we develop and how we can best leverage that event to engage a prospective student.” An example he names is the event Regeneration. It is a youth event aimed, according to its website, at students from sixth to twelfth grade. The introduction occurs early enough to influence any college decisions.
Betsy Rutledge, Assistant Director of Admissions Events, observed the difference it makes. She said, “The events that have been held at the KPAC have brought people to Houghton’s campus that otherwise might never have visited.” She went on to explain, “We do often have students mention it. Sometimes when we meet students at college fairs and we ask if they have heard of Houghton, they will mention the facilities as a reason why they know Houghton.”
However, Rutledge is careful to maintain a perspective on the matter. “I think it’s difficult to pinpoint the one thing that makes a student choose Houghton as their college,” she decided “It’s almost always a combination of things: they like the community atmosphere, the faculty are outstanding, they know they will grow spiritually here, they connected with current students during their visit, we have the major they are looking for, they want to study abroad, etc. The KPAC is just one feature in a long list.”