The Univ. of Missouri athletic department is "planning to build a new south end zone complex at Memorial Stadium that is expected to include new football offices, a weight room, training room and new locker room," according to Tod Palmer of the K.C. STAR. The idea for the expansion "came out of a conversation" between MU coach Gary Pinkel and AD Mike Alden six weeks ago. MU will "push back already approved plans for a full-length indoor football practice facility to build the new complex." Alden on Thursday said that the project also could "include new premium seating and set the stage for an eventual upper deck and enclosure of the south end of Memorial Stadium." Palmer notes after the athletic department "finalizes details of the new project," the Univ. of Missouri System Board of Curators would "have to approve the revised plan before bids could be solicited for design and construction." Alden said that such a project would typically "require nine to 12 months to design and, after the bid process, 24 to 30 months to build." He added that until final plans "are ironed out, it won’t be possible to put a price tag on the project." Maggard said that some money that was "slated for the indoor facility can be redirected to the south end zone project, 'but there’s more money to be raised.'" Palmer notes capacity eventually would "increase to roughly 80,000 with the addition of a south upper deck, but ticket demand will dictate when that happens." MU and other SEC schools "expect an influx of cash from the SEC Network." But Alden said that he "doesn’t expect to have revenue figures for the first year of the joint SEC/ESPN venture until May or June" (K.C. STAR, 12/5). Maggard said that once planning begins, MU officials will "travel around the country to look at similar facilities at other schools." Alden said the current capacity of 71,004 is “right where we need to be.” He added that the school "needs to sell out Memorial Stadium consistently before expanding capacity." Missouri "had two sellouts this season" (Columbia MISSOURIAN, 12/5).
