The Univ. of Oklahoma Board of Regents yesterday approved a $160M renovation plan to Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium that “includes bowling in the south end zone, 22 enclosed suites, 60 open-air boxes and nearly 2,000 club seats,” according to John Shinn of the NORMAN TRANSCRIPT. The project will bring capacity to around 84,000 and is "expected to be completed in less than two years.” The plan also includes "a new locker room, strength and conditioning room, training room, nutrition center, meeting rooms and coaches offices.” Yesterday’s vote “gives the go-ahead to Part One of the plan,” but whether the master plan is “ever fully executed hinges on several factors.” Any work done to the west of the stadium, “which was a major part of the original master plan, will go into effect when funding is available.” OU has raised $43M “through donations and athletic department revenue.” The Board of Regents approved $117M in 30-year bonds to “pay for the rest.” Anything “more ambitious will depend on the economy.” OU AD Joe Castiglione “expects construction to begin on the new training facilities within four-to-eight weeks.” Tulsa-based Flintco Construction “has been approved as the construction company” (NORMAN TRANSCRIPT, 3/11).
GETTING TO YES: In Tulsa, Eric Bailey notes “instead of scrapping” the $370M original plan, OU President David Boren “started looking for ways to get part of the renovation complete before the 2016 football season, which was the original timetable for stadium improvements.” Boren described the scaled-down version as “focused” and “frugal.” He said, “I was skeptical myself. The jury was out with me even if we could move forward with this first phase. But the resiliency of the fan base -- the strong support from them and the athletic department revenues -- have convinced me that this is very doable.” Bailey notes no taxpayer funding or student funds are “going to the project.” Castiglione: “We’re one of six remaining programs in the United States that are truly self-sustaining. We have to keep all of that in mind as we’re being good stewards of our financial resources” (TULSA WORLD, 3/11).
