09/15/2011 12:00:00 AMA new era in Mean Green football is taking shape. AthleticsMean Green Athleticsstory Apogee Stadium (Photo by Jonny Carroll)   Apogee Stadium at the University of North Texas is a symbol of the university's commitment to excellence and vision for the future. UNT announced in August a 20-year, $20 million agreement with higher education technology leader Apogee for the naming rights of the new football and entertainment venue. As the largest and most ambitious building project in UNT's history, the stadium marks a new era for the Mean Green and provides a dramatic theater that will bring the North Texas region together for football games, concerts and other large events. The bowl-shaped structure, with its design reminiscent of an eagle, features seating for nearly 31,000 fans. It is a highly visible gateway to UNT — the largest public university in the region — and a destination for the community. Designed by award-winning HKS Architects, designers of the new Dallas Cowboys stadium, and built by Manhattan Construction, UNT's Apogee Stadium has luxury suites, a club level, Athletic Center terrace, spirit store and eco-friendly features unlike any collegiate stadium in the world. The power of Apogee Stadium is in the people it will serve — a pride-filled Mean Green Nation, a community with reasons to celebrate.   Spirit and traditions Find out more about gameday highlights, traditions and tailgating Build the buzz Join our UNT community at facebook.com/northtexas to share your Green Pride, gameday stories and photos. Connect with UNT on Twitter. End your tweets with #NewMG when at the new stadium. Follow Scrappy, receive news or real-time gameday coverage at: @MeanGreenFB @UNTNews @NorthTexan @MeanGreenSports @NTScrappy Check in on Foursquare to let us know you're at the game! Unlock gameday specials on spirit items and read tips from other fans. EaglePan Plan to attend the first home football game Sept. 10 at Apogee Stadium. On Sept. 12, find yourself in our EaglePan image by zooming into our panoramic picture. Use Facebook to tag yourself and friends from the game.   Dan McCarney (Photo by Gary Payne) New era kicks off Sept. 10 A new era in Mean Green football is taking shape. With more than 30 years of experience coaching football, new Mean Green Head Coach Dan McCarney arrives with credentials unlike any other coach in North Texas history. He is an expert in rebuilding football programs and engineering top-ranked defenses. And McCarney's ties to the Mean Green Nation run deep — he served on the staff of UNT Hall of Fame Head Coach Hayden Fry in Iowa. The Mean Green's 18th head football coach has been active on campus, speaking to students and incoming freshmen, and has taken his pride into the community with a Coaches Caravan tour around the Dallas-Fort Worth region. With a team that includes senior All-America running back Lance Dunbar, McCarney is ready for a debut season to be remembered in the region's most talked about new state-of-the-art football and entertainment venue – Apogee Stadium at the University of North Texas. Stadium features Lance Dunbar (Photo by Michael Clements) With nearly 31,000 seats, UNT's new Apogee Stadium offers bowl seating and excellent sightlines. Complete with a club level, luxury suites, a spirit store and numerous options for concessions and restroom breaks, the stadium will give fans a unique gameday experience. And in accordance with UNT's environmental stewardship goals and commitment to create a sustainable campus, the university is following strict Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. The stadium is built with non-toxic materials, uses non-processed water for the chilling plant, features solar cells on top of the ticket booth and will include 150-foot wind turbines — in hopes of having the nation's first new-construction collegiate football stadium that achieves Platinum LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Stadium windows maximize natural lighting, and landscaping with native plants requires less water. The three wind turbines to be installed southwest of the stadium will inject about half a million kilowatt hours a year into a UNT power grid — wind energy expected to save UNT $40,000 to $50,000 a year.   Ultimate gameday experience Touchdown Terrace and other group decks, perfect for VIP gatherings and special events State-of-the-art sound system throughout the concourse and in the bowl Giant video screens inside stadium: Giant Videoboard — 50 feet wide by 28 feet high with 15 millimeter high definition Auxiliary Videoboard — 26 feet wide by 14 feet high in the northeast corner 16 concession areas for speedy service so fans can get back to their seats to watch the game more quickly 21 concourse level restrooms for easy access and convenience Handicapped seating and parking available at every level with ADA access 26 convenient central and satellite ticket windows A full-service 1,800-square-foot spirit and athletic wear store on the ground floor of the stadium so visitors can take home Mean Green souvenirs and gear Generous tailgating on beautifully landscaped green space, the perfect location for pregame festivities Display areas for Boomer the Cannon, the North Texas Model A and the Spirit Bell Home to "Spiriki," the new bronze Eagle statue Fan-friendly, family-oriented atmosphere that includes making a human tunnel for the players and membership in the Junior Mean Green Club, with blow-up playgrounds and free ice cream at the Junior Mean Green Fun Zone; Family Fun Packs provide special pricing on seats for families of four, including food and drinks at home games A 2,000-square-foot UNT Alumni Association pavilion with views of the stadium from a 3,200-square-foot deck   Club level luxury suites Priority parking benefits and private elevator access Access to club level two hours before kickoff Flat-panel televisions broadcasting Mean Green games live, plus other games and programming 12,000-square-foot climate-controlled reception area Floor-to-ceiling glass walls with prime sightlines to the field Complimentary gameday buffet and full cash bar Complimentary non-alcoholic beverages throughout games Wide, comfortable chair-back seating with beverage holders Exclusive club level restrooms Fully accessible handicapped seating Complimentary game programs   Join us Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. Mean Green vs. Florida International Watch Party Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m. Apogee Stadium Dedication Event (invitation only) and Friday Night Kickoff at The Hill Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. Mean Green vs. University of Houston Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. Mean Green vs. Indiana FAMILY WEEKEND Oct. 8 at 6:30 p.m. Mean Green vs. Florida Atlantic GREEN OUT GAME Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. Mean Green vs. University of Louisiana-Monroe HOMECOMING Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. Mean Green vs. Western Kentucky UNT PREVIEW Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. Mean Green vs. Middle Tennessee Learn about purchasing season tickets and other gameday information at Experience the New Mean Green.   Mean Green Marching Band