LennyD23
12-01-2007, 02:40 PM
Stadium plans see light of day (http://media.[url=www.dailytargum.com/media/storage/paper168/news/2007/11/28/PageOne/Stadium.Plans.See.Light.Of.Day-3118333.shtml)
U. confirms draft of football arena expansion, with Board decision to come
Steven Williamson / News Editor
Issue date: 11/28/07
While plans for the possible expansion of Rutgers Stadium on the Busch campus have been kept in the dark thus far, recent documents obtained by The Daily Targum may help to shed light on the issue that has polarized the University.
The documents, which are dated June 18 of this year, have been confirmed by the University as an original set of plans drafted by HOK Sport.
HOK Sport, the architectural firm that was selected by the University to handle the stadium expansion, has worked on such major league football stadiums such as the New England Patriots' Gillette Stadium and the Pittsburgh Steelers' Heinz Field. Currently, the Rutgers Stadium expansion project has been quoted at $116 million or more.
Although the University confirmed the plans to be authentic, they would not confirm any specific details in the document other than the total number of seats to be added.
"The proposed expansion does involve the addition of 13,000 to 14,000 seats," said E.J. Miranda, a spokesman for the University.
The University is unable to confirm any of the other details, as the decision process is still ongoing, Miranda said. The final plans will be revealed, along with the Board of Governors' decision, at the board's upcoming meeting on Dec. 6.
Miranda said that the plans are an older version and that changes may have been made to the document since it was drafted, although he said the University could not confirm what they are.
"Specifics are still subject to change," he said.
According to the June plans, the expansion of the stadium would include a net increase of 11,052 seats in the lower section. The entire south section, currently the location of a grass hill, will be built up completely with numerous rows of seats. Additionally, the opposite end of the stadium will be built up to include an extra 3,500 seats, a net gain of 1,500.
Atop the new south end would be a large, new scoreboard, adorned with the University's block 'R' on the back. The 'R' would face the new entrance of the stadium, which would be constructed to include a large, sloping ramp and stairwell.
Inside the new south end, both a home team and an away team locker room would be constructed, as well as a post-game media room. A kitchen and commissary facilities would also be included.
On the second level, a large room devoted specifically to prospective football recruits will be constructed and will house 300 seats and a lounge. The lounge will connect to an outdoor terrace that overlooks the field.
Along the east and west sides of the stadium, 20 revenue-generating suites will be added that can accommodate 320 fans. Six non-revenue generating suites will also be constructed, and would seat 118 people. The press box will also be expanded to include 110 seats.
A club seating section, which will contain 856 seats, will be built along the eastern side of the stadium, in addition to 28 loge boxes that will seat four fans each.
New stairwells, elevators and metal roofs are also in the works, according to the June plans.
While these plans have not been confirmed, they received a negative reception from several members of the Rutgers 1000, a student-led steering committee staunchly opposed to the expansion.
Christopher Swasey, a member of the group, decried the University for a lack of transparency.
"The University has an obligation to make known publicly all the details and particulars of this project well before [the Dec. 6] vote," he said. "The fact that they haven't seems to strongly indicate that they have something to hide."
Swasey said the extensive cosmetic and non-revenue construction projects undermined the administration's claim that the project will be self-sufficient.
"Rutgers football continues to require annual direct institutional support of as much as $2.3 million, and Rutgers cannot afford frivolities," Swasey said.
Adrian Barr, the treasurer of the Rutgers 1000, said he is not surprised that the University did not release the information to the public.
"One group is given access to everything, and every proposal they have gets rubber stamped," he said. "I think we all feel that the University is using as little accountability and as little transparency as possible."
U. confirms draft of football arena expansion, with Board decision to come
Steven Williamson / News Editor
Issue date: 11/28/07
While plans for the possible expansion of Rutgers Stadium on the Busch campus have been kept in the dark thus far, recent documents obtained by The Daily Targum may help to shed light on the issue that has polarized the University.
The documents, which are dated June 18 of this year, have been confirmed by the University as an original set of plans drafted by HOK Sport.
HOK Sport, the architectural firm that was selected by the University to handle the stadium expansion, has worked on such major league football stadiums such as the New England Patriots' Gillette Stadium and the Pittsburgh Steelers' Heinz Field. Currently, the Rutgers Stadium expansion project has been quoted at $116 million or more.
Although the University confirmed the plans to be authentic, they would not confirm any specific details in the document other than the total number of seats to be added.
"The proposed expansion does involve the addition of 13,000 to 14,000 seats," said E.J. Miranda, a spokesman for the University.
The University is unable to confirm any of the other details, as the decision process is still ongoing, Miranda said. The final plans will be revealed, along with the Board of Governors' decision, at the board's upcoming meeting on Dec. 6.
Miranda said that the plans are an older version and that changes may have been made to the document since it was drafted, although he said the University could not confirm what they are.
"Specifics are still subject to change," he said.
According to the June plans, the expansion of the stadium would include a net increase of 11,052 seats in the lower section. The entire south section, currently the location of a grass hill, will be built up completely with numerous rows of seats. Additionally, the opposite end of the stadium will be built up to include an extra 3,500 seats, a net gain of 1,500.
Atop the new south end would be a large, new scoreboard, adorned with the University's block 'R' on the back. The 'R' would face the new entrance of the stadium, which would be constructed to include a large, sloping ramp and stairwell.
Inside the new south end, both a home team and an away team locker room would be constructed, as well as a post-game media room. A kitchen and commissary facilities would also be included.
On the second level, a large room devoted specifically to prospective football recruits will be constructed and will house 300 seats and a lounge. The lounge will connect to an outdoor terrace that overlooks the field.
Along the east and west sides of the stadium, 20 revenue-generating suites will be added that can accommodate 320 fans. Six non-revenue generating suites will also be constructed, and would seat 118 people. The press box will also be expanded to include 110 seats.
A club seating section, which will contain 856 seats, will be built along the eastern side of the stadium, in addition to 28 loge boxes that will seat four fans each.
New stairwells, elevators and metal roofs are also in the works, according to the June plans.
While these plans have not been confirmed, they received a negative reception from several members of the Rutgers 1000, a student-led steering committee staunchly opposed to the expansion.
Christopher Swasey, a member of the group, decried the University for a lack of transparency.
"The University has an obligation to make known publicly all the details and particulars of this project well before [the Dec. 6] vote," he said. "The fact that they haven't seems to strongly indicate that they have something to hide."
Swasey said the extensive cosmetic and non-revenue construction projects undermined the administration's claim that the project will be self-sufficient.
"Rutgers football continues to require annual direct institutional support of as much as $2.3 million, and Rutgers cannot afford frivolities," Swasey said.
Adrian Barr, the treasurer of the Rutgers 1000, said he is not surprised that the University did not release the information to the public.
"One group is given access to everything, and every proposal they have gets rubber stamped," he said. "I think we all feel that the University is using as little accountability and as little transparency as possible."