Univ. of Washington Looking At Major Upgrades To Husky Stadium
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UW Hoping To Begin Major
Stadium Renovation Next Year |
The Univ. of Washington (UW) hopes to begin a "major renovation” of Husky Stadium in December ’08 with the goal of playing football in the updated venue by 2010, though a “more likely timetable” would have construction starting in December ’09, according to Don Ruiz of the Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE. Under the later start date, UW would play the 2010 season at Qwest Field before moving back in 2011 or 2012. The project would include expanded concession areas, added luxury suites and a pedestrian plaza near the west end zone, while the current 72,500-seat capacity would not be cut. UW AD Todd Turner said, “Ideally we wouldn’t move any seasons off campus. But if it speeds the construction process up and enables us to do it less expensively, then we’d like to do it” (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 9/21). In Seattle, Tom Wyrwich notes the “best early estimate for completion” is 2011. The Sound Transit will begin work in August '09 on an underground station near the stadium due for completion in 2013, which "figures to significantly complicate UW’s plans” (SEATTLE TIMES, 9/21).
FINANCING AND COSTS: Turner estimated the project will cost "several hundreds of millions of dollars.” The NEWS TRIBUNE's Ruiz notes funding could come from seat-related fees, premium seating, donations, ticket surcharges, corporate naming rights and increased student and faculty fees. UW Stadium Renovation Committee Chair and former Washington Gov. Dan Evans said that his committee “would like to avoid asking the university for money, but likely will seek governmental participation of delaying sales taxes on construction, which would account for almost 10[%] of the costs” (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 9/21). Turner said, “If we only do the low end of $100[M], that’s what we’ll do. It’s less than [Sonics Owner] Clay Bennett is asking for.” In Seattle, Dan Raley notes the proposed project “dwarfs" the $38M UW spent to renovate its basketball arena in '99 (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 9/21).
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