In Phoenix, Doug Haller notes the first stage of the $256M renovation project at Sun Devil Stadium, which is "supposed to wrap up" before the '17 season, "is on course." The stadium's first phase -- the South end zone project -- "addressed the students first." They will be "seated in the lower level in both end zones, approximately 6,500 seats in each section." The ASU marching band "will be seated in the north end." The football team will be playing this season "in a partially built stadium" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 7/15).
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS: UCLA on Tuesday announced that work on the Wasserman Football Center "will begin in mid-August." CBSSPORTS.com's Sean Wagner-McGough reported the new facility, which "will measure in at 75,000 gross square feet of space, will be located west of Spaulding Field." It will "include a strength and conditioning center, locker room, training rooms, meeting rooms, players' lounge, recruiting lounge, and coaches' offices." The school will hold an "official groundbreaking ceremony" Aug. 27. UCLA said that it has now raised $54M of the $65M "needed to meet its 'phase-two' fundraising goal" (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/14).
RIDE THE WAKE: The AP's Joedy McCreary reported Wake Forest is "mapping out some plans" for Joel Coliseum. WFU AD Ron Wellman said that he "hopes to release them later this summer." The options "could include adding loge and club seating and space for groups." The school, which purchased the arena from the city of Winston-Salem two years ago, is "considering the sale of its naming rights." Wellman said, "That is something that will be on the table, but our first step is to really finish the strategic facility plan so any potential naming rights-holder will have the opportunity to see what the vision for the coliseum really is, rather than what it is today" (AP, 7/14).
EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS: ESPN.com's Alex Scarborough noted when renovations to Kyle Field are complete, it "will seat more than 102,000 fans, making it the largest stadium in the SEC." Texas A&M OT Germain Ifedi witnessed the "towering bleachers, the limestone facade, the opulent suites" of the $485M improvements firsthand. He said, "It's going to be a ridiculous stadium. It's going to be a sight to behold, honestly, when they're done with it completely." Football coach Kevin Sumlin said, "It will be the finest football facility, college football stadium, in the country: 102,500, smart stadium, they've got all the bells and whistles in there with Internet, all that Wi-Fi, all the stuff that fans need" (ESPN.com, 7/14).
