Arizona Daily Star, Patrick Finley
Arizona Stadium’s north end zone construction could begin as soon as January, athletic director Greg Byrne said Monday after the school announced three donations to the project.
The Arizona Wildcats plan to present a financial model to the Arizona Board of Regents capital committee in May and then meet with the full board in June.
The athletic department plans to show the board how it can pay down debt service over the course of 20 to 30 years, likely with revenue from multimedia rights and other sources.
Byrne announced an $11 million gift Monday from an anonymous source he described as “longtime supporters of the athletic department and the university.”
Local auto dealer Jim Click donated $2.5 million, the school announced Monday.
Jeff and Sharon Stevens, who in November 2009 gave $10 million toward the proposed multi-story structure, added $2 million Monday.
The UA has received another $1.5million, bringing the donation total to $27 million for the $72.3 million upgrade.
The structure beyond the north end zone will house a club area, football offices, weight room, medical treatment center, lockers and cafeteria in about 80,000 interior square feet.
Heery International drawings, shown Monday, feature glass and copper accents.
UA football coach Mike Stoops said his team has “outgrown” what he called an “overpopulated” McKale Center.
The new facility would open McKale Center’s former football offices to other UA sports.
Pending regents approval, construction would take 15 to 18 months, Byrne said, and could affect end-zone seating during the 2012 football season. The project will add about 800 seats.
The UA will present a naming-rights proposal for the structure – not stadium – to an on-campus committee.
Ideally, Byrne said, the football team could move in during summer 2013.
UNO also plans to add football by 2015.
UNO will offer athletic-based scholarships for the first time in two years. The University has not offered new athletic scholarships since prior to the 2009-10 academic year, after former Chancellor Tim Ryan’s decision to reclassify to Division III.
UNO officials are finalizing membership with the Gulf South Conference. GSC Commissioner Nate Salan said the conference has informed UNO of its intent to bring the Privateers into the league.
UNO is expected to join Alabama-Huntsville, Christian Brothers, Delta State, North Alabama, Valdosta State, West Florida, West Alabama and West Georgia in the GSC. The GSC also is expected to announce further expansion for 2012-13 and beyond, with the expectation of growing to 12 members by 2014-15.
“We are excited by the opportunity to add a large public institution in a destination city, one whose facilities are top-notch and whose sports offerings align nicely with ours,” Salant said in a statement released by UNO. “Obviously, we are especially pleased that by 2015, UNO will be playing football.”
“Given that UNO will be the only D-II school in Louisiana, it could quickly become a power across the boards, thereby strengthening our league and adding a school in the home base CoxSportsTV, the second-largest member of our GSC-TV LIVE Network.”
