The University of California-Davis plans to upgrade its football facility in making the move from Division II to I-AA, building a $25.5 million stadium targeted to open in fall 2005. Construction begins early next year.
Designed by Ellerbe Becket, the venue will have initial seating capacity of 10,000, with potential to expand to 30,000.
"We hope to get [to full capacity] as quickly as possible," Athletic Director Greg Warzecka said. "We want to attract other events. We've turned away touring professional and international soccer teams that could have drawn 20,000 to 25,000 easy."
Student user fees worth $18.5 million and a $7.7 million capital improvement campaign are the two sources of financing. The additional $700,000, part of the capital improvement campaign, is to help facilitate fund-raising efforts.
Unique to the stadium will be theming that reflects the school's arboretum, a forest and creek that are among the most prominent features on campus, said Bill Crockett, principal architect for Ellerbe Becket.
Blueprints include vegetation that "weaves through, in and out of the stadium, with native trees and grasses and brush," he said. There will be a grass seating berm.
— Don Muret
