Having "fallen short in the private fundraising campaign to build" a new on-campus football stadium at Colorado State Univ., school officials "project tens of millions of dollars from the general fund might be needed" for a new venue or renovate Hughes Stadium, according to Kelly Lyell of the Ft. Collins COLORADOAN. CSU's upper-end general fund estimates for "each of the four options being explored" range from $38-55M for an on-campus stadium to $37-86M to "maintain or renovate Hughes Stadium." That money would provide CSU with "many of the revenue-generating and experience-enhancing improvements the school was seeking in an on-campus facility" (Ft. Collins COLORADOAN, 10/8). In Denver, Terry Frei noted CSU President Tony Frank on Monday e-mailed members of "two committees involved with the ongoing study" of CSU's on-campus stadium debate, "summarizing the four options he outlined" recently for the CSU system's BOG. Frank attached a nine-page "Blue Book," also "laying out those options -- two of which call for the football program remaining at Hughes Stadium and abandoning the on-campus stadium project, and two of which call for attempting to move forward with the project under revised plans." Options outlined by Frank include to "remain at Hughes Stadium and maintain it," at the cost of $36-42M. They also include committing to Hughes Stadium "for the long haul," at the cost of $149-209. Frank's third proposal includes building "an on-campus stadium in 'phases,' starting with a scaled-down model," at a cost of $180-198M. His final proposal is to rebid on the on-campus stadium project, "seeking a public-private partnership at a total cost" of $225M. Frank will "report back to the board at its December meeting with his recommendation on which path to take, and the members of the two committees will offer him feedback" (DENVER POST, 10/7).
WHAT'S FOR LUNCH? In Boulder, Alex Burness reported following "long, slow-moving concession lines" at Folsom Field during the Sept. 20 Hawaii-Colorado game, CU "ordered up 18 more points of sale for Saturday's Oregon State game, bringing the stadium total just above 100." CU also has "brought on 34 mobile vendors." CU AD Rick George said, "We did not perform well off the field." Burness noted the "many fan complaints post-Hawaii also nagged" at Levy Restaurants Boulder Office Dir Joseph Smith. Levy "replaced Centerplate food services seven months ago, signing a 10-year contract to provide catering and concessions at Folsom Field and the Coors Events Center on game days and all non-game athletic events." Smith said, "Obviously, taking over a new account presents its own set of challenges. I think the best thing we can do is learn from game to game and move forward" (Boulder DAILY CAMERA, 10/5).
