In Houston, Joseph Duarte cited sources as saying that Rice Univ. officials “will unveil next month a nearly $40 million project that includes the construction of a football complex and improvements" to the 62-year-old Rice Stadium. A source said that the renovations and construction “are part of a larger-scale initiative that ‘will go toward the long-term revitalization of the football program.’” Since opening in '50, Rice Stadium “has undergone only minimal improvements.” A formal announcement of the project “is expected in early November” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/20).
MORE FUNDING: Rose Bowl stadium officials said that the facility's $156M renovation project “is now facing an estimated financing gap of $16.2 million, nearly $2 million more than the shortfall projected in July.” Officials also said that the exact figure “won’t be known until more construction bids come in this week and in December.” In California, Brenda Gazzar noted construction on the three-year renovation “began in January.” Rose Bowl Project Dir Margo Mavridis said that the renovation “is now estimated to cost $156.2 million, up from $152 million at the project’s outset.” But Rose Bowl CEO & GM Darryl Dunn said, “I still believe at the end of the day, we’ll be fine.” Bernards/Barton Malow’s project manager Michael Cawlina, the principal in charge, “blamed the projected increase on a spike in some material costs, the recent finalization of some design components and undervaluing the costs of constructing the press box in two phases” (Whittier DAILY NEWS, 10/20).
PROACTIVE APPROACH: In Ft. Lauderdale, Ted Hutton wrote Florida Atlantic Univ. AD Craig Angelos met with staff Monday and Tuesday “to go over all areas” concerning the school’s new stadium that “need improvement -- ticket sales, concessions and parking.” Most of the complaints from fans “were about the lines encountered at the ticket and will call windows, at the student entrance and at the concession stands inside the stadium and confusion on parking areas” (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 10/18).
