Completion of the second major phase of Sun Devil Stadium's $256M renovation "could be up to a week after the originally scheduled" date of Aug. 15, which "would still be almost two weeks before the season opener against Northern Arizona on Sept. 3," according to Metcalfe & Haller of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. ASU VP/Athletics Ray Anderson said, "I've got to be confident because our construction folks Hunt/Sundt, our architects and certainly our project rep Isaac Manning constantly assure me that I need not worry. I'm saying their names out loud so they can hear and know they, too, are accountable for delivering on the promises we are making." Metcalfe & Haller noted by the end of this summer, ASU "expects to have raised" more than 80% ($70M) of its $85M fundraising goal, "up from an original goal" of $35M before Anderson took over the role in January '14. The stadium project is "being financed without tuition or taxpayer funds." Amenities coming this fall "include seats with backs and more leg room in the lower bowl, new premium seating on the west side, restroom and concession improvements, construction of a new student section in addition to the student-athlete building on the north end." A patio area, concessions and restrooms on the roof of the student-athlete facility also "will be open for spectators this season" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 5/9).
GET IT GOING: In Virginia, Harry Minium noted although Old Dominion quickly turned down an unsolicited bid from Ballard Construction to build a 25,000-seat, $124M football stadium, state Delegate Barry Knight said that he "still hopes that the bid will jump-start the oft-delayed process of trying to determine where and how to build a new stadium." Knight echoed comments made by fans "frustrated by what they see as a protracted stadium study process." ODU booster Sheppard Miller III is "urging officials -- albeit gently-- to make a decision." The school "has been studying the stadium issue" since late '12 and "appears to finally be closing in on a decision." The Board of Visitors "next meets on June 9, when it is expected to hear results of a year-long stadium study by Populous Architects." ODU is preparing for their third FBS season in a 20,118-seat stadium that, and while "always sold out, lacks creature comforts and FBS-like amenities." Although ODU officials said that they "won’t have a firm timeline until after the Populous report is done, it now appears likely a stadium will not open until" '19 or '20 (Norfolk VIRGINIAN-PILOT, 5/8).
