Knights Riders: RU Students, Faculty Oppose Stadium Upgrades

Rutgers Students, Faculty Oppose $102M Expansion Of Football Stadium

Rutgers Univ. (RU) students and faculty opposing a $102M expansion of Rutgers Stadium Thursday said that the project “is an example of misplaced priorities and questioned why the money wasn’t going toward restoring dropped classes,” according to Matthew Futterman of the Newark STAR-LEDGER. RU student Aaron Feibush said, “You are asking for $100[M] to use for expanding a stadium that is used on a handful of days but doing nothing to restore $66[M] in cuts that affect the university every day.” However, supporters of the project argued that a successful football team “will raise the school’s prestige nationally.” Futterman notes about 200 people, including RU football coach Greg Schiano, attended the public discussion, the second such meeting held before the school’s BOG votes on the proposal Tuesday. The proposed upgrades include 14,000 new seats, a dining club, 28 loge boxes, a new south end zone entrance and new concessions and restrooms (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 1/25).

FINANCIAL DETAILS: In New Jersey, Kathleen Carroll reports the renovations would require annual debt payments of $4.6M and operating costs of $500,000 annually for 30 years. Financial projections assume an extra $8M in annual revenues "based on higher ticket prices, the addition of ... seats and an 85[%] attendance rate." The plan "anticipates a profit of $2.9[M] in 2009-2010, the first year the expanded stadium would be open" (Bergen RECORD, 1/25).