In Reno, Ben Ross noted Nevada's "new and improved Mackay Stadium is starting to take form." Nevada AD Doug Knuth said, "I like all of the improvements. The chairback seats, the handrails, the wheelchair accessibility. That's a big one for me because it impacts all of our fans." Nevada President Marc Johnson said, "Our access to the stadium with disabled individuals will be much more improved. We have handrails going in the aisles, which we've gotten lots of complaints in the last few years about safety, so we're improving the whole fan experience." Upgrades include a "brand new club level on the west side and a new high definition scoreboard and sound system." The scheduled date of completion is Aug. 15, with the "first home football game" on Sept. 2 (KOLOTV.com, 6/21).
BALLPARK PITCH: In Tulsa, Bill Haisten notes Oklahoma State AD Mike Holder during Monday night's College World Series game against Arizona "hosted several prospective donors." Holder said that each of his guests has the capability of providing the "naming-rights donation that would result in the start of the process of building a new ballpark in Stillwater." Holder "estimates the cost of a new park -- which, for the most part, already has been designed" -- at about $40M. The new park "would have 4,000 permanent seats, with berm seating beyond the outfield walls that could accommodate an additional 3,000 spectators" (TULSA WORLD, 6/23).
RUNNING WITH THE BIG DOGS: In South Carolina, Jeff Hartsell notes a "master plan for Citadel athletics facilities approved" by the Board of Visitors calls for more than $33M in improvements and new buildings. The athletics facilities plan includes a new $28.9M, 95,000-square-foot building that "would house Citadel athletics, as well as upgrades to McAlister Field House and the Bulldogs' track and football practice facility." Citadel AD Jim Senter yesterday said that the plan represents the athletic department "'getting its ducks in a row' for when the time is right to begin a fund-raising campaign" (Charleston POST & COURIER, 6/23).
GOING BIG: In Michigan, Peter Wallner noted Grand Valley State is "building a new video display board at Lubbers Stadium that will be nine times larger than the out-going display." Construction on the scoreboard has already begun. The board will be the "largest for an NCAA Division II institution, would rank second among all FCS schools (South Dakota State) and third in the state behind Michigan and Michigan State" (MLIVE.com, 6/21).
COUNTRY COURTESY: UAB announced that Thompson Tractor Co. President & CEO Mike Thompson has made a $500,000 commitment from his family's foundation in support of the school's new Football Operations Center. Construction on the center is scheduled to begin later this summer (UAB).
