Baylor University Announces Gift, Naming of Space at McLane Stadium

WACO, Texas (Sept. 10, 2020) – Baylor University today announced the naming of the recruiting lounge at McLane Stadium in recognition of Todd and Susan Behringer of Woodway, Texas, and their support of capital improvements through the Give Light Campaign.

Baylor Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Mack B. Rhoades IV described the new Behringer Recruiting Lounge as a year-round, dynamic space for prospective recruits of all Baylor sports and their families to interact with Baylor coaches and staff, with a field-level view of McLane Stadium from its location in the North end zone.

The naming is in recognition of a recent gift by the Behringers in support of Baylor Athletics' Baylor Basketball Pavilion and the proposed Football Operations Center. The gift will provide significant momentum toward fundraising efforts for these two priority capital projects within the Give Light Campaign, helping Baylor Athletics to remain at the forefront of institutions in supporting student-athletes so that they may thrive and succeed. A portion of the gift also will provide support for the Baylor Bear Foundation.

"Baylor University is blessed to have alumni and friends who give to help this institution thrive," said Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D. "Todd and Susan are committed to the growth and success of Baylor University, as well as the greater Waco community, and their gift will truly advance the growth priorities of Baylor Athletics, benefiting all members of our Baylor Family. We are grateful for their continued support and for this generous gift, which will create so many opportunities for our student-athletes and future Baylor Bears."

The Baylor Basketball Pavilion is a $105 million project aimed at relocating Baylor's Men's and Women's basketball programs to a new, state-of-the-art facility. The Behringers' gift also provides support for the Baylor Bear Foundation, the primary fundraising organization for Baylor Athletics that supports more than 500 student-athletes across 19 intercollegiate sports. The Bear Foundation's mission is to provide scholarship funds for Baylor's student-athletes and to support and promote the interest and welfare of Baylor Athletics.

"As a family, we are excited to support our Baylor Bears and contribute to their success through this gift," Todd Behringer said. "We believe that Mack and his staff are building Champions for Life, and we are excited for the future of Baylor Athletics. Baylor Athletics has always been a common ground that brings together our Central Texas community, and we believe continued athletic facilities enhancements will benefit our community and provide incredible opportunities for our Central Texas neighbors."

The 150,000-square-foot basketball pavilion will have a seating capacity of 7,000 fans, in addition to practice and office facilities dedicated for both women's and men's basketball teams, along with shared sports performance facilities. The project was announced in May 2019 in conjunction with the University's announcement of a $100 million gift from an anonymous Baylor family, a portion of which will provide the lead gift for the Pavilion. In November 2019, Baylor Regents approved $8.6 million for the Baylor Basketball Pavilion phase one and design, which included space programming for the Pavilion and Basketball Performance Centers, project design fees, preconstruction services and development of a construction schedule.

The proposed Football Operations Center will provide much-needed space for the program's coaches and staff, while also creating room for Baylor Athletics' other sports to grow and thrive within the vacated spaces football currently occupies in the Simpson Athletics and Academic Center. The Football Operations Center also will include weight rooms and rehab facilities, team meeting rooms and team nutrition support for football student-athletes.

"Todd and Susan believe in the mission of Baylor University, they have bought into our vision of Preparing Champions for Life through Baylor Athletics, and they are committed to making sure we have the resources necessary to see our student-athletes succeed," Rhoades said. "We are grateful for their generous support through this gift to the Athletic Capital Fund, and we celebrate the momentum it is helping to generate as we continue raising funds for the Basketball Pavilion and the proposed Football Operations Center."

As Waco-area residents, Todd and Susan are committed to their communities, giving faithfully and serving through volunteering. Todd (BBA '88) is the chief executive officer of The Behringer Group LLC. He is also the director of finance and partner for Turner Behringer, which specializes in identifying, acquiring and developing commercial and residential projects in the Central Texas area. Behringer previously owned and headed Top Dollar Pawn Superstores until 2013, when he sold his company to Fort Worth-based Cash America International. He also is chairman and CEO of Bicycle World and Waco Running Company, among other ventures within the community.

Todd and Susan, who holds an art degree from California State University of Long Beach, share a love of the outdoors and athletics, which led to their purchase of The Ranch at Cameron Park, partnering to build new trails, rock gardens and berms as well as restoring the area with native Texas flora. They also have been longtime supporters of the YMCA of Central Texas, where Todd serves on the Board of Directors. Todd and Susan also were instrumental in bringing Ironman triathlon races to Central Texas, along with other ventures to generate tourism and grow the local economy. The Behringers have three children, one of whom is a Baylor student.

Baylor publicly launched the Give Light campaign on Nov. 1, 2018. The Give Light campaign has raised more than $887.8 million as of September 8, 2020, more than 80 percent of the $1.1 billion goal. Gifts supporting the University's academic enterprise have established endowed funds for 27 faculty chairs and professorships and 506 endowed scholarships. More than 70,882 members of the Baylor Family have made a gift to the campaign.

For more information or to support Give Light: The Campaign for Baylor, visit www.baylor.edu/givelight.