Join us at our brand new blog - Blue Country Gazette - created for those who think "BLUE." Go to www.bluecountrygazette.blogspot.com

YOUR SOURCE FOR TRUTH

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Smaller Sun Devil Stadium will be shaded

ASU's Steve Patterson, vice president for university athletics and athletics director, and ASU head football coach Todd Graham have announced the early stages of a renovation project set to revitalize Sun Devil Stadium over the next couple of years.

Patterson and Graham met with media, fans and staff, April 4, to share some of the basics of the revitalized stadium in addition to some of the initial renderings of the updated and upgraded stadium, which will remain in its iconic location in between the Buttes in Tempe, Ariz.

The renderings are not finalized, but the tentative plan would create a shade canopy over the stadium that will allow the passage of natural light and the passage of air into the stadium while also allowing the Sun Devils to play day games earlier in the year to accommodate Pac-12 Network obligations.

The addition of the shade canopy, in addition to other alterations, will decrease seating to an area between 55,000 and 65,000 seats. As such, larger seats will be provided with more leg room and the potential of more seats with a seat back.

The stadium will be updated with a state-of-the-art sound system, video board and scoreboards, and ADA amenities and features.

The site development will provide enhanced aesthetic value for the fan experience while also allowing for improved sight lines with decreased capacity and new angles and the mezzanine design allows for future build-out of club seating if necessary.

The cost of the stadium has not been determined at this time. There also are two different options available for the build: one that would allow the team and fans to stay in Sun Devil Stadium during construction or another that would move ASU out of the stadium for a season or two that would allow time to complete the project faster. The stadium can be built in up to five stages, but a timetable has not been established yet.

Pac-12 teams have spent more than a billion dollars in the last 10 years in building or renovating football stadiums. The current stadium proposal would provide increased revenues in the long term and also take recruiting to a new level.

Sun Devil Athletics will continue to provide updates and new information to the fans and general public as it becomes available. Stay tuned to www.thesundevils.com/stadium for future releases on this new and exciting stadium project.

No comments: