Construction tentatively to start in November

 
South side addition as seen across Martin Stadium from the northeast. (See more drawings
at the end of the article)
 
 
PULLMAN, Wash. – The Washington State University Board of Regents discussed the financial plan for the proposed $80 million improvement project for Martin Stadium at a special meeting Tuesday.
 
President Elson S. Floyd, Director of Athletics Bill Moos, Vice President for Business and Finance Roger Patterson and other members of the administration’s business team answered questions from regents regarding the plan for financing the construction, which is planned to begin in late November subject to regents’ approval.
 
Wilson Road entrance to the south side addition.
The meeting was called to give regents a chance to ask questions about the project, but no action was requested or taken. The project is scheduled to be on the regents’ agenda for action at its Nov. 18 meeting at WSU Spokane.
 
Debt service for the project, which will add premium seating and a new press box to the south side of Martin Stadium, will be funded through revenues coming to the athletic department as a result of the new Pac-12 television contract.
 
The plan calls for the project to be done in two phases, with work commencing immediately following this football season on the press box and premium seating. The goal is to have the press box completed by the beginning of the 2012 football season and the premium seating ready in time for the annual Apple Cup game with the University of Washington in 2012.
 
The second phase would be construction of a football operations building behind the west end zone of Martin Stadium. That building would include a weight room, training facilities, locker rooms, coaches’ offices and meeting rooms.
 
In the summer of 2012, Patterson said, the university will assess the costs of that project and the potential revenues that could fund it. The regents will be asked to approve that construction and financing plan before it goes forward.
 
Both Floyd and Moos stressed that WSU’s Pac-12 rivals have either already upgraded their athletic facilities or are in the process of doing so, making it important for WSU to move ahead with facilities improvements if it wishes to remain competitive.
 
 
Stadium side, top, and Wilson Road side of south
side press box and premium seating construction.
West end, top, and east end of the south side addition.
View of the club level of the south side construction. Another view of the club level (level 7). Above it are suite and loge seating (level 8) and the press box (level 9).