Colorado State committees endorse on-campus stadium
Could Colorado State be getting an on-campus stadium?
Committees reviewing recommendations for the football team's future facilities all opposed renovations to Hughes Stadium, the current home of the Rams.
In a memo dated November 14 to CSU president Tony Frank, the Campus Leadership Committee endorsed option 3, which is a phased version of an on-campus stadium proposal, unanimously supporting it as "the most viable" option. Public input was also sought about the project.
From Colorado State's stadium site:
Option 3 would involve a two-phased build-out of the current on-campus stadium design, providing an improved fan experience and expanded opportunities within the FBS football landscape by removing items from the existing design that could be added on at a later point. Under this option, the university would construct an on-campus stadium within existing resources that has the flexibility and quality to meet the long-term needs of the campus and community. This design includes an overall capacity of 36,000 patrons in Phase 1. This phased approach involves simplifying some aspects of the on-campus stadium design, removing the upper east deck, and reducing some costs for lighting, technology, seating, and a variety of “soft costs.” It could be modified as needed, within this cost framework, to accommodate recommendations of the Community Design Development Advisory Committee.
The total cost of the option 3 stadium project is viewed at $180-190 million. The other on-campus stadium option (option 4) was a public-private partnership with a total estimated cost of $225 million. The first two options were maintaining and renovating Hughes Stadium.
In September, Frank wanted CSU to explore its options after fundraising for new on-campus stadium had fallen short of goals. Former athletic director Jack Graham was a strong proponent of the on-campus stadium project and fired by Frank in August. While Graham maintained that his dismissal had everything to do with the project, Frank said it did not.
Frank is set to make a recommendation based off the reviews to the Colorado State board of governors on December 4-5. According to the Coloradoan, interim AD John Morris favors the public-private partnership if the terms are favorable.
Hughes Stadium seats just over 34,000 and was built in 1968. It sits three miles away from Colorado State's campus.
For more Colorado State news, visit GoldandGreenNews.com.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
