North Carolina football spokesman Kevin Best was in the Kenan Football Center suites last week beyond the west end zone at the stadium, explaining that players use them for study periods during the week because the school's student academic enrichment center is so cramped.
School officials are determined to solve that space problem, announcing Friday that the public sales phase for the planned Student-Athlete Center for Excellence - and more suites and club seats - will begin Saturday.
Located just beyond the east end zone at Kenan Stadium, the expansion is scheduled to include:
・The academic support center for athletes.
・The Carolina Leadership Academy.
・A strength and conditioning center for the school's Olympic sports program.
・Locker rooms for visiting teams.
・Club seats and individual suites for football games.
Though the premium seats are the last item listed in the school's news release, they are a vital part of the project. Plans call for sales of the club seats and suites to pay for most of the project even though they account for less than half its cost, according to the school.
The project is expected to cost $70 million to $85 million. The Board of Trustees and university administration must approve the project after the necessary private funding is secured.
"Kenan Stadium is a campus treasure, but it was built more than 80 years ago and we have been studying plans for the last decade to modernize the facility, improve the fan experience and provide better academic support for our student-athletes," North Carolina athletic director Dick Baddour said in a statement.
Baddour said the revenue from club seats and suites will help the school fund the athletic program over the next 30 years.
The academic center will measure 30,000 square feet and will triple the size of the one that opened 23 years ago.
"We are in need of a bigger facility to provide academic counseling, support and programming," said John Blanchard, senior associate director of athletics for student-athlete services.
Beyond the east end zone, the school plans to build 1,986 club seats a few feet from the field, 924 on the fourth floor and a total of 320 seats in 20 suites on the fifth floor.
The project will add 3,230 seats to the stadium's capacity.
Comments
good blog
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Great, more aluminum to see.
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Timing is Everything
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 14:53 — heelsno1Baddour & Company have done it again. Often, timing is everything to ensure a successful launch with a huge capital fund-raising campaign. Not many people would elect to make this announcement just a few days after one of the most pathetic displays of football imaginable last weekend in Atlanta.
i think...
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 09:40 — izzykareema great gesture to start all this off would be BD giving back his first year raise.
2ndly, i'd want to know if the high school bleachers they brought in are still being used
Nice catch though Mr. Tysiac on how the club seats only pay for half of it, and how they are the last thing mentioned and that the current academic support building is "just so cramped." Sounds like RamsClub members need more elbow room for their wine and cheese tastings.
(hahah, couldn't resist tarheel fans)
Did you guys see the video where BD uncomfortably brushes Woody Durham's hand off his back, classic!!!