Purdue to name field at Ross-Ade Stadium after Rohrman family thanks to $15M gift

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) — The Purdue Board of Trustees has approved to name the field at Ross-Ade Stadium after the Rohrman family, thanks to a gift of $15 million for the coming renovations at the stadium.

The official name will be "Rohrman Field at Ross-Ade Stadium."

Bob Rohrman and family visit Purdue during the homecoming football game against Maryland on Oct. 12

Bob Rohrman, a longtime Lafayette car salesman, was born in Tippecanoe County and graduated from Lafayette Jeff High School.

Rohrman originated his business in Lafayette in 1953. The Bob Rohrman Auto Group now consists of 30 dealerships in Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

Earlier this year, he received the Sagamore of the Wabash, one of Indiana's top honors for accomplishments and service.

The deal has been in the works for two to three months.

"This is a special moment for Purdue Athletics, and we are profoundly grateful to the Rohrman family for its leadership and extraordinary generosity," said Mike Bobinski, Purdue vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics. "Bob Rohrman and the entire Rohrman family have visibly and positively impacted Lafayette-West Lafayette and all the communities they serve for the last half century, and this gift will have a similar effect on Purdue football for years to come. It is a transformative gift in support of our most ambitious and significant project."

"Purdue Athletics is more than just a ball and games. It is a part of the social fabric of who we are as a family," JR Rohrman said. "The entire family believes this gift to Purdue University is one of the best ways that we can give back to a community that has done so much for us."

The privately funded Ross-Ade project is expected to completely overhaul the stadium in the next few years.

The total project is expected to take $120 million over time, according to Gold and Black's Alan Karpick.

Some projects have already begun.

Purdue is in the middle of tearing down its old video board to make way for one of the largest in the NCAA.

The $10 million project is set to be finished by the start of next football season.

The university also debuted a new ribbon board and the Tyler Trent 'T2' Student Gate for the 2019 season.

Purdue installed lights at the stadium prior to the 2017 season.

BREAKING: Purdue will name the field at Ross-Ade Stadium after the Rohrman family thx to $15M gift. Official name is “Rohrman Field at Ross-Ade Stadium.”

Their auto group has 32 dealerships in IN, IL & WI. Bob Rohrman & family visited during Maryland game on Oct. 12 @WLFI pic.twitter.com/3iNLfwA5TU

— Trevor Peters (@TrevorPetersTV) December 6, 2019