"Coach Snyder and his staff have done an extraordinary job of rebuilding our football program over the past five years. Our fans have stepped up too, with the best attendance in our history, highlighted by a current streak of 13 consecutive sell-outs at LHC Bill Snyder Family Stadium. However, we all know that in any competitive environment you are either getting better or getting worse. There really is no standing still and treading water. We have to continue to strengthen the foundation of our program, and thus we have identified the North End Zone of LHC Bill Snyder Family Stadium as Phase III - our next major priority.
The current Vanier Complex, which houses both our football and Academic Services operations, has served our program well, with around eight renovations and additions since its original construction in 1968. It is time for a major upgrade to better position not just the football program, but also enhance the experience of all 450 of our student-athletes in our 16 sports whose scholastic and athletic pursuits are supported from the Academic Learning Center, sports medicine, strength and conditioning and equipment infrastructure located in the north end zone. Every Big 12 school and most of our peers at other colleges have made tremendous recent investments in these areas.
But these improvements would not just benefit Wildcat student-athletes. K-State's fan support spans the economic spectrum of Kansas - our fervent grass-roots fan base has always been a huge factor in the growth of the program.
And, we are committed to maintaining and improving the family-friendly environment in the north end of the stadium which has become one of the signature elements of Saturday game-days at LHC Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Seeing our fans slap hands with players and coaches as they come down the ramp or head to the locker room after another victory showcases the family connection of our teams with the K-State Nation. The generosity our fans have shown these past 24 months has been humbling, and the lead fundraising response we have received for Phase III has been even more exciting.
For our initial planning concepts we have engaged world-renown Kansas City sports architectural firm Populous, the same firm that designed our award-winning Basketball Training Facility. No final decisions on design or a timeframe for the project have been decided, but we will update you as we are ready for the next step in the process.
We are also glad to update you on our plans for dramatic improvements for audio, video and data connectivity infrastructure at LHC Bill Snyder Family Stadium. We are working hard with consultant WJHW on the long-term technology plan for both BSFS and Bramlage Coliseum about which I am really excited! Obviously we have to replace the small board currently located on top of the Vanier Complex, but since we are also working on the much larger plan to transform that entire section of the stadium we will not have a new north end video board for the 2014 season. Instead, we will have very cool broader concepts that I look forward to sharing with you as soon as we have final cost and implementation details."
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