Jim Sterk is traveling around the state for phase three
What is phase three?
How does phase three affect the students?
What will Phase three bring to the university?
When is the next meeting?
WSU Athletic Director Jim Sterk announced the construction plans for the next step in the renovation process of Martin Stadium on Sept. 22, and is hosting six town hall meetings throughout all of Washington and in Portland to discuss the process.
Four of the six town hall meetings have already taken place; one at Fireside Grille in Pullman, one at the Hyatt in Bellevue, one at The Hub in Tacoma, and another at the Rose Garden in Vancouver.
Sterk is working in coordination with the WSU Athletic Foundation to raise 34 million dollars for the completion of construction. All funding for the project will be philanthropic donations, meaning students will see no influx in tuition costs.
“The students did their part back in 2006 when 65 percent of them voted to put $50 of their annual tuition toward the earlier phases of the renovation,” said Sterk at the Pullman town hall meeting on Thursday, Oct. 29. “Phase III will not take one dime out of the students’ pockets but will bring in more revenue for all 17 athletic programs we have here at WSU.”
Phase III looks to add 1,800 luxury suites to the north end of the stadium, which will offer alumni the opportunity to experience the game from a completely different setting said Sterk. He believes that the luxury seating could potentially double game-day revenue from $2 million to $4 million.
Some students believe that the money spent on stadium renovation should be put to more important use than athletics.
“I understand the sort of revenue that football games bring in,” said Ben Kappler, a sophomore at WSU. “But I think that at the end of the day we are here to learn, and the money should be spent on student scholarships and education.”
However, not all students are singing the same tune.
Junior Kathleen Bresnahan thinks it’s an important step for the university.
“Football is by far one of the highest grossing revenues for our university, so it makes sense that we would want to make improvements to increase profits,” she said.
At the Fireside Grille town meeting, Sterk echoed Bresnahan's point, stating that football makes the most money for athletics by far and that athletics are solely here to benefit the university.
“Many students believe that money should be spent on enhancing student education,” said junior Jeff Peugh. “What they don’t realize is that the stadium enhancements will pay themselves off in a short matter of time, and all the extra money will be recycled back into the university.”
If Sterk and the Athletic Foundation can sell 80 percent of the luxury seating by Dec. 18, the construction will begin early, and stadium renovation will be completed by the 2011 football season. If they fail to do so, construction will be delayed and the Phase III upgrades will not be finished until 2012.
The next town hall meeting is scheduled for Nov. 11 at the Meadow Springs Country Club in the Tri Cities and the final meeting is at the Northern Quest Casino in Spokane on Nov. 12.
Sources
Ben Kappler – 425 444 3157
Kathleen Bresnahan – 509 590 7439
Jeff Peugh – 253 224 6817
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