Penn State AD Sandy Barbour said that the uptick in football attendance this season "doesn't impact the facility masterplan, which calls for reducing the capacity in Beaver Stadium to roughly 103,000." The capacity changes "won't be impacted regardless of how attendance ends up the next few seasons." Barbour: "The plans around Beaver Stadium are around fan experience. We think those are needed regardless" (DKPITTSBURGHSPORTS.com, 12/28).
TIME TO CRANK IT UP: In Louisville, Jake Lourim notes the "busiest work" on the $63M renovation to Univ. of Louisville's Papa John's Cardinal Stadium is about to start now that football operations have been concluded for the season. UL and Cincinnati-based Messer Construction Company have a contract to "complete the project in the next eight months, before the start of next season." Messer Senior Project Manager Jason Larkin’s goal is to "finish by the beginning of training camp in July." UL interim AD Vince Tyra said that the school is "currently in the 'low-to-mid $50 million' range for funding committed to the project." Larkin said that the construction company has incurred 38% of its "cost thus far" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 12/29).
MONEY MATTERS: In Ft. Worth, Carlos Mendez noted if TCU can raise $100M, it will "start work on building a club and suites on the east side" of the 45,000-seat Amon G. Carter Stadium. The plan is to have the work "complete in time for the start" of the '19 season. Raising the money is the "single most important factor for TCU." For new AD Jeremiah Donati, "raising the money and completing the project is the No. 1 priority as he begins his tenure" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 12/28).
