Rutgers May Scale Back Stadium Expansion Amid Rising Costs

Rutgers Univ. Scaling Back $102M Expansion Of Football Stadium

Rutgers Univ. (RU) officials yesterday said that "skyrocketing costs for concrete, steel and fuel will force them to scale back the university's controversial $102[M] football stadium expansion, or risk going over budget," according to Margolin & Sherman of the Newark STAR-LEDGER. While the first phase of the project, which will "add 1,000 new 'premium' mezzanine seats," remains on schedule for RU's first home game on September 1, the problems center on the second phase of the project, including the "construction of 13,000 additional seats in the south end zone section of the stadium." RU President Richard McCormick: "We're contemplating our options and almost inevitably those options include reducing the scope of the project. However, reducing the number of seats would be a decision of last resort." In addition to end zone seating, the plans "call for the addition of a recruiting lounge, additional concession stands, locker rooms, a media room and a new entrance off River Road." RU AD Robert Mulcahy said that the university is "still examining the new construction estimates." Options include "scaling back the project, or using a different type of construction to build the larger portion of the expansion -- which could lead to delays." Mulcahy said that the "unprecedented cost of fuel never could have been anticipated." But he added, "We will deliver the stadium at $102[M]" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 7/10).

GOLDEN TOUCH: In Minneapolis, Sid Hartman reports the 642 workers building the Univ. of Minnesota's (UM) new TCF Bank Stadium "had a luncheon last week on the one-year anniversary of the start of construction." UM AD Joel Maturi is "proud of the scoreboard that will be in the stadium." Maturi: "We kind of brag about it, it's going to be the second-largest scoreboard in America" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 7/10).