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** During the month of July, EIUPanthers.com will take a look back at 15 events, moments and players that helped shape the 2022-23 academic year. **

Eastern Illinois continues to do updates to its current athletic facilities with several projects completed during the past academic year along with the start of placing new turf on the O'Brien Field playing surface currently underway and scheduled to be ready for this upcoming 2023 season.
 
The biggest project was the renovation and update of the Lantz Arena Weight Room which is utilized by all of EIU's athletic teams with the exception of football which uses the O'Brien Stadium weight room   The space was renovated with a new flooring surface installed along with new machine weights and free weights.  The project was funded through lead gifts by Jerry Groniger and Niel Ellerbrook.  
 
Two facility updates were made at Coaches Stadium for baseball with the installation of a new scoreboard and updates to both the home and visitor dugouts with additional space added.
 
An update on logos and branding is underway at O'Brien Field with the entry way to the football building sporting a new look along with updated graphics in the team room and in various locations throughout the building. 
 
Following a successful season on the diamond, the EIU softball team will return to campus with a new scoreboard added to Williams Field.  The project was completed in early June following the 2023 season.
 
The EIU basketball and volleyball teams will also have a new look at their facility as the playing surface in Lantz Arena was sanded down and a refreshed look with updated logos and marks was placed on the floor.  Fans will also notice a difference in lighting in the arena with the installation of new LED lighting in the arena for home athletic events, graduation and other outside events that take place in the venue.   New LED lighting was also installed in the Lantz Indoor Fieldhouse during the academic year.
 
Many of the projects completed and currently taking place are made possible through funds raised through the EIU Panther Club and through sport specific donations by alumni and supporters of those sports.