Arizona State has begun the "third and final major phase" of Sun Devil Stadium's reconstruction, and like renovations in '16, it "will be a race to the finish," according to Jeff Metcalfe of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. The field "has been covered with dirt and construction vehicles moved into place for the demolition of the east side, expected to begin this weekend." The reconstruction "began with a preliminary phase" in '14, south side in '15 and west side in '16. East-side work was "postponed for a year to expand on original plans" in '17. This past summer was "spent on completing the new football facility at the north end, interior work on west side suites and clubs and installing a massive video board." Now comes the east side rebuild "followed by more interior finishing" in '19 to "bring the project to a close." Ft. Worth-based Trinity Works President & CEO Isaac Manning, whose company is overseeing the project, said that the major differences in the revised east-side plans are "air conditioned club space on the 300 and 400 levels and office space on a newly added 450 level." All those levels "will be built" between now and Sept. 1 kickoff of the '18 season. The new east side also will include "three primary seating sections in the center with folding seats like on the west side" and two sections of bench seating with backs. A 4,000-square-foot club area will be "in the center of the 400 level." Some seats will be "wider than the 18-inch width on the west side" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 12/1).
