Kansas State Univ. is "wasting little time pursuing" new facility upgrades after renovating Bill Snyder Family Stadium last year, as a "new wave of athletic facility upgrades is on the way," according to Kellis Robinett of the K.C. STAR. Among the upgrades planned is an "overhaul of the north end zone of Snyder Family Stadium, where the football team’s offices and training facilities are located." The school also "wants to add new video boards and sound improvements to its football, basketball and baseball venues." The upgrades "carry a projected cost" of $62M, "again paid for by donors." School AD John Currie said, "Iowa State, Baylor, Texas Tech, TCU and Oklahoma State all have extraordinarily improved their football training facilities, weight rooms and locker rooms. We still function very efficiently in the Vanier Football Complex, but that is something we need to address at some point." He said that the north end zone at Snyder Family Stadium "needs permanent restrooms and upgraded seats," but Currie "isn't sure" when the school will break ground on that project. However, fundraising is "under way, and preliminary designs have been discussed, but setting a timetable for construction is complicated." Currie also "wants to replace the dated video board at Bramlage Coliseum with a state-of-the-art model found in NBA arenas," and "promises HD-quality video and new stat capacities" (K.C. STAR, 1/23).
