ASU Plans To Renovate Stadium; UW Stadium Plans Advance
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ASU Planning Renovation To Transform
Sun Devil Stadium Into More Modern Facility |
Arizona State Univ. (ASU) is "planning a face lift for its aging Sun Devil Stadium that could cost as much as $170[M] to transform into a modern sports and entertainment venue," according to Jeff Metcalfe of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. ASU officials "propose levying a tax on new commercial development on university-owned land to fund the refurbishment of the decaying 50-year-old stadium," and they plan to "ask state lawmakers to create a special Arizona university-stadium tax district in 2009 in the hope that work could begin on improvements" in about three years. ASU officials said that "improved seating and facilities would allow the stadium to be used for other events besides college football." An athletic-facilities planning committee appointed in May '07 by ASU President Michael Crow found that $60-65M is "required for structural work that needs to begin within roughly a decade." Metcalfe notes private fundraising is "not realistic for a project of this magnitude," and it is "unclear what sort of reception the plan would receive in the state Legislature, where some conservative legislators want to hold off on all building projects during the economic downturn." Work also is "needed on Wells Fargo Arena, Packard Stadium and Sun Angel Track Stadium," and there also are "plans for a new aquatics center" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 10/17).
HUSKY STADIUM: In Seattle, Amy Rolph reports Univ. of Washington (UW) regents Thursday voted to "authorize negotiations with a contractor" for a Husky Stadium renovation, a "giant and potentially expensive step toward the project's design phase." UW plans to "negotiate a contract" with Houston-based real estate firm Hines, and if negotiations are not successful, the school "will move to talks" with Seattle-based firm Nitze-Stagen. But regents acknowledged that it "could be a risky move for the university, since funding for half of the project has yet to be obtained." UW wants to finance "half of the $300[M] project through private funding and the rest through public tourist tax revenue." UW President Mark Emmert: "The funding is not fully in place for this. We're moving this process along so as not to lose time." Rolph notes UW's plan is to "start construction on the project at the end of next year," and in order to "keep on track, a development contract would be awarded in June" (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 10/17).
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