The Univ. of Louisville is “looking into another expansion to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium,” according to a front-page piece by Jonathan Lintner of the Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL. UL on Monday “submitted a request for proposal commissioning a feasibility study to examine potential additions to the stadium’s north end zone.” The study "should include market analysis, peer review and economic outlook, according to the RFP, regarding what could be added." That means "number of seats, pricing and amenities, as well as suggested financing methods for the university." The stadium expanded to 55,000 seats prior to the '10 season, and Monday's request "represents the first official motion to consider" further expansion. UL sold in excess of 45,000 season tickets this year, and the stadium was "designed with the ability to expand to an 80,000-seat capacity" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 11/21). UL AD Tom Jurich yesterday told a group of boosters, "I don't have any numbers in mind, and to be honest with you, I don't know yet if we’re going to do it. All we're doing is a feasibility study. I'm not going to move forward on anything I don't feel comfortable with. I want to make sure that it’s right and it looks great" (UOFLCARDGAME.com, 11/20). In Louisville, John Karman III noted responses to the RFP "are due by" Dec. 1. Papa John's Stadium was completed in '98 at a cost of $135M and "at that time, it had 42,000 seats." The '10 expansion cost $72M. The stadium "includes more than 70 luxury suites and 2,000 loge seats" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 11/20).
