Utah AD Chris Hill announced that a feasibility study for a Rice-Eccles Stadium renovation will include the "sending of 100,000 emails" this week to ticket holders, alumni within 100 miles of the university and "other folks with an interest in Utah athletics." In Utah, Dirk Facer noted the email will include an "invitation to participate in an 8-10 minute survey set to analyze market demand for what different interest levels are regarding stadium alterations." Hill is hopeful that "sketches of what stadium renovations might look like will be available this spring." Proposed renovations include "expanding the stadium beyond its current capacity of 45,807 seats" (DESERET NEWS, 11/12).
LONG TIME COMING: In Delaware, Kevin Tresolini noted the 22,000-seat Delaware Stadium "will undergo" a $60M transformation. It will include "installing chair-back seating in the three middle sections ... of the west (home side) grandstand and box-seat area just above Tubby Raymond Field." It includes "construction of a five-story, 90,000-square-foot, glass-and-steel building that will run the length of the stadium outside the west grandstand." The school is "kicking in" $25M of the $60M cost. The university has already raised $23M of the remaining $35M from "private donors." Construction "will not begin" until UD has "raised all the money, which they hope to conclude" by the end of the '18 football season (DELAWAREONLINE.com, 11/10).
THE SEASON TO GIVE: In Tampa, Claire McNeill noted philanthropists Pam and Les Muma announced another "massive donation" to USF. The $15M donation will go to "boost athletics programs, create a women's health center and help build a football center" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 11/11).
