Oregon State on Friday unveiled "conceptual renderings and floor plans" of the school's expanded Valley Football Center -- a project that will reconfigure Reser Stadium’s north end zone and "become the latest in a series of ongoing enhancements," according to the Corvallis GAZETTE-TIMES. The school's $42M "Victory through Valley" fundraising campaign will expand the facility "by 55,000 square feet to nearly 100,000 square feet." The undertaking will be the "third major overhaul to the original building and focus on recruiting, competitiveness and functionality." Funded "entirely by private donations, the larger, upgraded VFC will double the size of the current locker room and will add approximately 9,000 square feet to the equipment room and about 4,000 square feet to the athletic training facility." Approximately 80% of the total cost "has been raised and the campaign is trending well ahead of pace." The goal is to "complete fundraising" by the end of the '15 season so construction "can start as soon as possible" (Corvallis GAZETTE-TIMES, 4/18).
SPACE INVADERS: In Boulder, Kyle Ringo noted Colorado AD Rick George "wants to significantly increase the amount of non-game-day business the athletic department attracts to its facilities." With four new sizable areas opening in the next eight months, the department's "bottom line could get a boost in the coming years with the ability to host larger groups and meetings than any other facility in Boulder." The athletic department and campus are investing $181M "in upgrades and parking in and around Folsom Field, including a 110,000-square-foot indoor practice facility that will open" by January. Three other areas "will be open for business this fall in the Dal Ward Center and the new Champions Center next door." CU officials believe they are "meeting a need in Boulder for larger, more appealing meeting spaces." George brought in Associate AD/Business Development Lance Carl to "lead the efforts toward attracting new non-game-day business." Carl in recent years said that the athletic department has "averaged 130 non-game-day events mostly held on the club level at Folsom Field." The department last year "hosted almost 150 non-game-day events and they're hoping to grow that number significantly in the future." One of Carl's "big targets is once again hosting summer concerts at Folsom Field" (Boulder DAILY CAMERA, 4/19).
