Citrus Bowl Renovations Could Be Scaled Back, Saving $57M

Florida Citrus Sports Might Scale Back $252M Citrus Bowl Renovation Plan

Florida Citrus Sports (FCS) officials told the Orange County Commission yesterday that they could “scale back a $252[M] renovation plan and still make enough improvements [to the Citrus Bowl] to hold on to its major-college football games and even attract other pro sports and music events,” according to Damron & Schlueb of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. A $195M plan “would add slightly less-upscale amenities and fewer roomier new seats,” but FCS “claimed it still would be enough to deliver fancier corporate-level seating and upgrade the basic bathroom facilities.” The Citrus Bowl renovation is one of three projects, along with a new performing-arts center and a downtown Orlando arena, that could cost a total $1.1B. County leaders “made it clear they want a face lift for the Citrus Bowl included in the pricey lineup ... even if the community gets nothing more than the ability to hang on to the trio of major-college football games it already hosts” –- the Capital One Bowl, the Champs Sports Bowl and the Florida Classic featuring Florida A&M Univ. and Bethune-Cookman College. County Commissioner Bob Sindler said, “To lose those events would be devastating to the community” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 8/30).

IF YOU RE-BUILD IT... : In Orlando, Andrew Carter reports ACC Commissioner John Swofford, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany and SEC Commissioner Mike Slive met yesterday for a roundtable discussion hosted by the FCS that included a talk on the state of the Citrus Bowl. Slive said, “It’s incredibly important that (the Citrus Bowl) stadium be more competitive than it is now.” Swofford added, “Improvements of the stadium would definitely enhance the possibility [of the ACC Championship Game coming to Orlando].” Carter notes the ACC is in the second year of a two-year deal to hold the game in Alltel Stadium, though the conference does hold a two-year option (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 8/30).