FLORENCE, Ala. (WAFF) — After nearly five decades of planning, the University of North Alabama (UNA) is celebrating a major milestone in the construction of its first-ever on-campus stadium. On Thursday, city and university leaders came together to sign and place the final support beam on what will soon become the heart of UNA athletics — the new Bank Independent Stadium.

Construction crews carefully hoisted the last beam into place, marking the end of the structural phase and the beginning of a new chapter for both the university and the broader Shoals region, which has long supported UNA’s teams but never had an on-campus stadium to call its own.

“We’ve been looking forward to this for many years, some might say 195 years. It’s the first-ever stadium the University has had. The project’s well on now, it’s on schedule. It’s already beginning to transform the western edge of our campus. We couldn’t be more excited,” said UNA President Ken Kitts, reflecting on the historic significance of the milestone.

Now that the stadium’s main structure is complete, construction teams will shift their focus to finishing touches that will turn steel and concrete into a state-of-the-art game day destination. The venue is expected to seat more than 10,000 fans and will include modern amenities, outdoor gathering areas, and fan-friendly features to host not only UNA’s football games but also community events, concerts, and other sports.

When finished, Bank Independent Stadium will stand as a new landmark on UNA’s western edge, strengthening the university’s connection to the local community and helping recruit future student-athletes. University leaders say they hope the stadium will serve as a point of pride for Florence and the entire Shoals region — a place for students, alumni, and families to gather for decades to come.

The ambitious project has been decades in the making, with multiple rounds of discussions, funding plans, and community partnerships finally coming together in recent years to make the vision a reality.

Crews remain on track to complete the stadium in time for the 2026-2027 school year, which means UNA fans could soon watch their Lions take the field in a brand-new home — the first in the university’s 195-year history.

Local leaders say the stadium is expected to have a positive economic impact as well, drawing visitors to Florence on game days and creating new opportunities for local businesses, restaurants, and hotels.

Originally reported by Tatyana White in Waff.