Fresno State on Friday unveiled "ambitious renovation plans for several athletic fields including a privately-funded project at Bulldog Stadium," according to Hannah Esqueda of the FRESNO BUSINESS JOURNAL. Fresno AD Jim Bartko said that he is "committed to seeing the football field updated to better reflect the strength of the program." He added, "It’s got to happen. Whether its the next five years, 10 years, whatever. This facility needs to be updated. It’s dated." Esqueda reported the project "will be privately funded to avoid taking away money from the college’s core budget." Bartko said that he "estimates the budget" to be between $50-70M. Reps from architectural firm AECOM said that they are "capable of completing renovations during the off-season." The renovations "call for a district approach to the stadium to allow for more fan activity and tailgating space," as well as a new press box, upgraded suites and clubhouse, locker rooms and team space. Preliminary plans "show a seating capacity of 39,000, meaning the stadium will lose some seats." Bartko said that the athletics department "has also identified needs within the other sports programs and will be working to update facilities" (THEBUSINESSJOURNAL.com, 6/26).
MORE DETAILS: In Fresno, Robert Kuwada noted "fan access" also was an important part of Bartko's plan. As part of that effort, Bulldog Stadium will be "divided into quarters, with tunnels at the northwest, northeast, southwest and southeast from ground level into the middle rows of the seating bowl." A cross aisle then "ties together the sections on the west and east sides." AECOM "designed a tower for the west side of the stadium that includes premium seating for all levels of ticket buyers -- a suite level, a stadium club and club seating and loge seating at the top rows of the bowl -- as well as signage and sponsorship opportunities to add to the revenue stream." A renovated stadium also "could put Fresno State in line to sell naming rights, which could be worth more than" $1M anually. The "final phase is the football operations building, which along with a new locker room and office space will include a reception lobby and an alumni lounge while retaining the ramp the Bulldogs players use to get from the locker room to the playing field" (FRESNO BEE, 6/27). Kuwada also reported the installation of the HD videoboard, which will be "twice the size of the existing scoreboard, already has started." The new videoboard is "expected to be in place my mid- to late August." The videoboard, which "will be accompanied by a 104-foot ribbon board, will be installed, serviced and operated by ANC Sports Enterprises" (FRESNO BEE, 6/27).
CART BEFORE THE HORSE? In Fresno, Marek Warszawkski wrote this "ambitious proposal, bringing Bulldog Stadium up to 21st century standards in terms of design, comfort and amenities, dwarfs everything." Bartko "can only hope Bulldogs fans and donors are mesmerized by what they see." Teasing everyone with a "dazzling vision of Bulldog Stadium when there’s so much left to be done certainly qualifies as bold." The plan is "daring, audacious or reckless." Because if five years from now the venue "looks exactly the same, or nowhere near as splendid as it does in those renderings, Fresno State is going to look awfully silly" (FRESNOBEE.com, 6/26).
