In Tulsa, Bill Haisten noted with the completion of eight new units at the west end of the Oklahoma State's Boone Pickens Stadium, the school "now is outfitted with 123 enclosed, private suites -- 110 of which are contained within the stadium itself." As recently as '03, there "were no suites in the stadium." OSU’s total of 123 suites "is No. 1 in the Big 12 Conference." Texas’ Darrell Royal-Memorial Stadium has 120. No other Big 12 stadium has more than 71. OSU expects to make $6.4M on club-level ticket sales this season and $8M on suites. Prices of suites "range from $47,000 to $100,000 a year." As of Tuesday night, 118 of the 123 suites "had been sold" for the six-date home schedule (TULSA WORLD, 9/4).
JERSEY STATE: In New Jersey, Ryan Dunleavy noted Rutgers "currently is putting the finishing touches" on a reported $1.8M worth of improvements to High Point Solutions Stadium. The improvements are "highlighted by a handful of new video ribbon boards, including five on the field and two in the north end zone." Rutgers "widened the lower level concourse northern exit walkways by eight feet and added two more men’s bathrooms" (ASBURY PARK PRESS, 9/4).
PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE: In Las Vegas, Alan Snel noted UNLV President Don Snyder's decision to delay a new stadium proposal by two years "means UNLV will not ask the Legislature for financial help for a new stadium" until '17. Now improvements to Sam Boyd Stadium "could have a more compelling edge to them." Stadium Exec Dir Mike Newcomb this week said that those potential improvements "include adding more hospitality space, party platforms, an end zone building and a smaller tower on the opposite side of the field from the current large tower" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 9/4).
THE TRUMAN SHOW: In K.C., Tod Palmer noted Missouri is "renovating the basketball locker rooms and other support areas" at Mizzou Arena. Fans "certainly will notice a new Panasonic video board set to be installed" for the '14-15 season. Plans "also are advancing for a new indoor football practice facility behind the Mizzou Athletic Training Complex" and a new softball stadium. Mizzou AD Mike Alden said that both projects "are in the general design phase, but he expects an architect to be selected in January and approved by the Board of Curators with the goal of opening a new softball stadium" for the '17 season (K.C. STAR, 9/4).
ALUMNI RELATIONS: In Texas, Regina Dennis reports Baylor is "creating a new professional locker room space to accommodate the increasing number of NFL players returning to their alma mater for off-season training." The school on Thursday "announced a $500,000 gift" from donor Charline Dauphin to create the Charline Dauphin Pro Locker Room. Work on the new space is "expected to be completed by December" (WACO TRIBUNE-HERALD, 9/5).
