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1985 is considered one of the most successful draft classes in NFL history, and its members include Hall-of-Famers Bruce Smith, Jerry Rice, and Dan Marino. Ben Thomas, current director of athletic facilities at Auburn University, was there, too, being selected by the New England Patriots in the second round, pick number 56 overall. Over five seasons, the 6’4”, 280-pound defensive lineman appeared in 54 games, becoming a journeyman with stops at New England, Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.
When Thomas’s football career came to an end, he explored a brief coaching career before finding a new passion in athletic administration. In 1997, Auburn’s athletic director invited Thomas back to his alma mater to join the university’s staff.
Thomas began working on the administrative side, growing into more senior roles. He’s spent the last ten years as director of athletic facilities, providing logistical support for events and game-day preparations, implementing facility marketing and advertising plans, and implementing security measures for the safety of student-athletes and fans.
But it’s more than that: Thomas has become an institution at Auburn. He is the institutional fountain of knowledge for his department, and his commitment to student athletes, passing along his learned professional wisdom, is well-known at the university.
The director of facilities has also helped the university move forward on a journey to elevate and enhance the gameday experience at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The improvements at the iconic stadium are designed to enrich fan engagement and position Auburn’s facilities among the best in college football.
A centerpiece of Auburn’s long-term vision is the North End Zone project at the stadium. The multiphase renovation is one of the most significant in stadium history. The North End Zone will feature a state-of-the-art multiuse facility, designed to serve both athletic and nonathletic events. The space will include premium seating, hospitality suites, and event spaces that offer new opportunities for fan engagement and revenue generation for the university.
Auburn’s Board of Trustees approved the selection of architects and construction managers for the North End Zone project in early 2025.
More immediate gameday upgrades were rolled out in 2024 aimed at making visits to Jordan-Hare Stadium more enjoyable, comfortable, and memorable. Auburn introduced streamlined entry processes, including additional entry points and upgraded security technology. The goal was to reduce wait times and improve cloud flow on busy game days.
The university also created new interactive fan zones around the stadium, offering entertainment, games, and Auburn-themed activities for all ages.
Those fan zones, and the wider fan experience, are significantly enhanced by high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the stadium. Upgrades to video boards and sound systems were also part of the refresh.
The stadium enhancements aren’t just about physical upgrades, they’re part of a strategic vision to strengthen Auburn’s brand, recruit top talent, and create more connections between the university and its community.
Thomas says that with every season that passes, his team comes together to consider what can be done better the following season. Sometimes those needs require construction or technological enhancement, and other times it’s about finding new ways to make what’s working at Auburn work even better.
The director of facilities says that in his line of work, patience is a necessity. He tries to put people first, consider the needs of the people he’s working with, and act as selflessly as possible while still trying to do the best for Auburn.
And for those students at Auburn, Thomas says he wants to be a guide and mentor who can help student athletes, and broader students at large, plot their next chapter. Not every student will be drafted to the NFL, but Thomas is an incredible example of the kind of life one can make even after living the pinnacle of their childhood dreams.
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