wkukid
September 7th, 2005, 06:03 PM
Specific plans for the renovation include:
-Adding 5,000 seats to the south end of the complex, opposite the existing seating.
-The football playing field will be moved west towards the Avenue of Champions. A berm (hill) will be built in the west endzone with seating available for 2,000 to 3,000 fans. There will also be a walkway connecting the two sides of the stadium.
-The football offices, a training room, weight room and locker room will be moved to a three-story complex to be built in the east endzone (closest to University Avenue). The complex had been slated to be built on the practice field south of the stadium.
-The existing seating sections will be waterproofed to prevent leaks in the offices and classrooms beneath the seating.
-The possibility of adding luxury suites and club seating is still being "evaluated," Selig said.
Full Article:
Academic buildings across the Hill have been receiving facelifts for the past few years. Western's one-sided stadium is next in line for restorations.
Smith Stadium will undergo a $33.5 million renovation that is scheduled to be completed by fall 2008. Changes to the 37-year-old football stadium include adding nearly 8,000 seats, building a three-story athletic complex at the end of the stadium and moving the playing field west.
Athletic Director Wood Selig said an architectural firm from Atlanta was hired a month ago to work on the specifics of the project, which will increase the seating capacity from about 17,500 seats to about 25,000.
Western averaged 8,769 fans at its five home games last season.
Selig said he hopes the larger stadium will draw more fans.
Construction on the project could begin as early as spring 2006.
The funding for the project will come from a tuition increase approved by the Board of Regents last year that takes effect in January.
Heery International, the architectural firm, was behind football stadium renovations at schools such as Ohio State University, University of Florida and University of Texas.
Heery was hired by Western two years ago to do a feasibility study on renovating Smith Stadium and produce preliminary drawings, Selig said. The $100,000 study was paid for through private donations.
The firm will be working on the plans and develop a timeline for construction, Selig said.
The track will be relocated to an undetermined location following the spring season before construction on the stadium can begin. Selig said moving the track will cost an additional $1.5 million.
Possible sites for the track and field complex include the old football practice field across University Boulevard and the train tracks and the Intramural Complex on Campbell Lane.
The Department of Physical Education and Recreation also uses classroom and lab space beneath the seating on the north end of the stadium.
Talk of Western possibly pursuing a move from Division 1-AA to 1-A has no connection to the need for a renovated Smith Stadium, President Gary Ransdell said.
"Whatever we do, it will have to be the solution for the next 40 years," Ransdell said.
Football Coach David Elson said the renovation will be a recruiting tool for the program.
"It is immeasurable what it could do for football at Western," he said. "Kids want to know they are in a place where facilities can be provided."
Reach Michael Casagrande at [email protected].
-Adding 5,000 seats to the south end of the complex, opposite the existing seating.
-The football playing field will be moved west towards the Avenue of Champions. A berm (hill) will be built in the west endzone with seating available for 2,000 to 3,000 fans. There will also be a walkway connecting the two sides of the stadium.
-The football offices, a training room, weight room and locker room will be moved to a three-story complex to be built in the east endzone (closest to University Avenue). The complex had been slated to be built on the practice field south of the stadium.
-The existing seating sections will be waterproofed to prevent leaks in the offices and classrooms beneath the seating.
-The possibility of adding luxury suites and club seating is still being "evaluated," Selig said.
Full Article:
Academic buildings across the Hill have been receiving facelifts for the past few years. Western's one-sided stadium is next in line for restorations.
Smith Stadium will undergo a $33.5 million renovation that is scheduled to be completed by fall 2008. Changes to the 37-year-old football stadium include adding nearly 8,000 seats, building a three-story athletic complex at the end of the stadium and moving the playing field west.
Athletic Director Wood Selig said an architectural firm from Atlanta was hired a month ago to work on the specifics of the project, which will increase the seating capacity from about 17,500 seats to about 25,000.
Western averaged 8,769 fans at its five home games last season.
Selig said he hopes the larger stadium will draw more fans.
Construction on the project could begin as early as spring 2006.
The funding for the project will come from a tuition increase approved by the Board of Regents last year that takes effect in January.
Heery International, the architectural firm, was behind football stadium renovations at schools such as Ohio State University, University of Florida and University of Texas.
Heery was hired by Western two years ago to do a feasibility study on renovating Smith Stadium and produce preliminary drawings, Selig said. The $100,000 study was paid for through private donations.
The firm will be working on the plans and develop a timeline for construction, Selig said.
The track will be relocated to an undetermined location following the spring season before construction on the stadium can begin. Selig said moving the track will cost an additional $1.5 million.
Possible sites for the track and field complex include the old football practice field across University Boulevard and the train tracks and the Intramural Complex on Campbell Lane.
The Department of Physical Education and Recreation also uses classroom and lab space beneath the seating on the north end of the stadium.
Talk of Western possibly pursuing a move from Division 1-AA to 1-A has no connection to the need for a renovated Smith Stadium, President Gary Ransdell said.
"Whatever we do, it will have to be the solution for the next 40 years," Ransdell said.
Football Coach David Elson said the renovation will be a recruiting tool for the program.
"It is immeasurable what it could do for football at Western," he said. "Kids want to know they are in a place where facilities can be provided."
Reach Michael Casagrande at [email protected].