In Ft. Worth, Scott Nishimura reported Apogee, the Austin-based campus networking firm that purchased naming rights to the Univ. of North Texas' new football stadium in a 20-year deal valued at $20M, "will pay $11.8 million of the total in cash." The contract indicates that the rest "will come in in-kind services." Under the agreement, Apogee "will be responsible for increasing bandwidth every year of the deal beyond what's already required under its management contract with the university." Apogee will receive a "16-seat luxury suite at the stadium," and advertising "by Apogee competitors is barred on UNT property within 1,500 feet of the stadium" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 9/6).
TIME FOR CHANGE: In S.F., John Crumpacker reported the renovation of Univ. of California-Berkeley's Memorial Stadium, which began in "early December 2010, is about 30 percent complete one year out from a hard deadline of Sept. 1, 2012." As "progress is made on a daily basis, the four anchor foundation boxes supporting what will be a six-level press box on the west side are in place, as is the sloping foundation for seating on that side of the stadium." In addition, a "seismic retrofitting on the north and south ends of the stadium" are taking place. Cal AD Sandy Barbour: "It's moving along at lightning speed. We knew it was a very ambitious timeline. We're making great progress" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/4).
SLOW AND STEADY: Florida Int'l Univ. AD Pete Garcia on Monday said that after this football season, FIU Stadium's "north side bleachers will be demolished and replaced by seating that fully encloses the stadium." The project will begin Nov. 13, "the day after FIU's final regular season game, against FAU, and will be finished in time for the 2012 season." There will be "north sides suites and a second Stadium Club, but the "full expansion to 45,000 seats with a second deck is a few years down the road." Garcia: "This is needed right now. We need finish out our stadium" (MIAMIHERALD.com, 9/5).
