Covering University of Colorado sports, mostly basketball, since 2010

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Quick Post: Folsom Improvements

Last night in Colorado Springs, Mike Bohn, Phil DiStefano, and Mike MacIntyre finally introduced the long-awaited plan for facility upgrades at Folsom Field.  Tabbed at $170 million in total outlays, and organized into three phases, the plan includes improvements to seating on both sides of the stadium, a new academic facility under the east stands, a massive expansion of Dal Ward, and, of course, a permanent indoor practice facility.
The academic center phase would be first up.  From: the BDC
The goal is for the first $50 million of the project to be sourced through private donations, with the remaining $120 million to come from leveraging the increased athletic revenues pouring in as a result of the move to the Pac-12.

While it doesn't appear to be the grand, sweeping re-design that was leaked last fall, it's nice to finally see some public movement on fundraising.  BuffNation now has a goal - $50 million.  That may seem like a lot to a layman, but it's a drop in the bucket for modern college football. If we can't raise that kind of dough, we don't deserve a big-6 football program. 

In addition to the $170 million injection into Folsom Field and the football program, the released plan also includes a phase of improvements to the Coors Events Center.  This would entail a series of expansions to the cramped concourse, the creation of premium seating areas along the top of the aisles, and the founding of a hall of fame.
Of course, I'm most interested in the CEC expansion...  From: the BDC
The CEC improvements are not included in the $170 million price-tag announced yesterday, and should be considered separate from the football-centric phases.

I love the plan, and the sentiment behind it - doubling-down on the recent upswing on the south side of campus.  We've seen the kind of near-immediate impact facility improvements can have on the basketball programs in recent years, and these kind of improvements would help to continue that burgeoning success. Hopefully, the CEC plan comes to fruition sooner then later, and doesn't get lost in the commotion of the improvements to Folsom.

Everyone break open your piggy bank.  It's time to make good on all of those drunken promises you've made over the years...

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