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Kansas State Football / Facility upgrades from Coloradmommacat's son
« on: September 08, 2010, 03:52:09 PM »Quote
Again, my son is supplying me with info he's receiving in his office...says an announcement is forthcoming about these improvements....I'm just cutting and pasting his email so the board police can ignore any misspellings or gramatical errors because he's writing in between projects. tongue
· Due to fire code and ADA issues, the new basketball practice facility will be a separate building on the west side of Bramlage instead of truly integrated into the building. It will be connected via enclosed walkways, etc., but a full connection would have triggered a full (and expensive) upgrade of Bramlage to meet all modern fire and ADA standards.
· The existing east side upper deck will get new restrooms and concessions in a structure built off the side of the existing one.
· A new structure will be built on the west side, replacing the existing press box and suites. One poster strongly suggested we look closely at what has been done by VaTech at Lane Stadium. They indicated the structure will be a major improvement, with a nice (limestone?) façade, and will include new suites, club level seating, and press areas. It might stretch end zone to end zone, with 3 or 4 levels that will overhang the current seating bowl.
· The existing east club level will be renovated to match the new west club level.
· They weren’t sure if it was a serious consideration now in this phase, but there are talks to add permanent seating on the NE and NW corners of the stadium by curving the seating bowl around and over the existing grass/ landscaped areas to further enclose the stadium and further increase the noise level. This seating would replace the existing aluminum bleachers placed on the concourse level.
· Additional fan amenity improvements (new bathrooms, concessions) on the concourse.
· The new football practice facility is a long term goal (possible north of Kimball Ave and connected to the Vanier Complex via skybridge), but could change with a major donor.
· They have $45 million in state-issued bonds already, with at least an additional $12 million in private donations lined up for the projects. Still no lead naming rights donor for the basketball practice facility though. It wasn’t clear, but if I understood it correctly, we may be looking for more bonding authority at an upcoming regents/ state bond authority meeting. Either that, or the meeting is to discuss the existing bond sale.
· After being almost $2 million in the red when he took over, Currie has the athletic department in the black now.