Camp Randall Stadium's capacity will shrink by around 3,000 seats due to venue renovationsGETTY IMAGES
The cost of construction at the Univ. of Wisconsin’s three "most prominent athletic facilities weighs heavily into an 18% budget increase requested by the athletic department for the next fiscal year," according to Todd Milewski of the WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL. While operational expenses are projected to climb 3.5% in '20-21, funding for capital projects will "more than double." UW is set to "embark on renovations to Camp Randall Stadium, the Kohl Center and the Field House" in '20, with a total price tag of around $130M by completion. The budget for capital projects is "due to increase" from $22.65M in '19-20 to more than $46.5M next year as the work gets started. That will take the total budget to more than $186M in '20-21, up from $157M. Meanwhile, UW is "expecting to gain more revenue from football tickets despite having only six home games" in '20 instead of seven. UW Associate AD & CFO Adam Barnes said that a 50/50 split from the game against Notre Dame at Lambeau Field is "projected to be more lucrative than a home game" (WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL, 2/13).
WHISTLE WHILE YOU WORK: In Milwaukee, Jeff Potrykus noted work on Camp Randall Stadium's south end zone project is "set to start after" the '20 regular season and be "finished in time" for the '21 opener. The project includes "premium club seats, loge boxes and club space, topped by an open terrace with concessions." Camp Randall Stadium’s capacity (80,321) is "set to decrease by about 3,000 seats." The project is "expected to cost" about $77.6M. Construction on the Field House is "set to begin in April and be completed by August." The plan calls for the exterior of the Field House to be "renovated and windows added." Finally, the "multi-level addition" to the Kohl Center will "provide enhanced athletic and academic services as well as new offices for the men's and women's basketball staffs" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 2/13).
