Sun-Sentinel Stadium Update!
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#176774
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First Flight
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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-pspfaustad08nov08,0,1911033.story?coll=sfla-sports-headlines
FAU trustees endorse open-air football stadium
Venue could be expanded for more seats, dome
By Sarah Talalay
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted November 8 2006
FORT LAUDERDALE ? Florida Atlantic University's Board of Trustees took a conservative approach Tuesday to building an on-campus football stadium, endorsing an open-air venue that could one day have a roof.
Despite the urging of football coach Howard Schnellenberger and Athletic Director Craig Angelos, who preferred a more expensive and elaborate proposal for a 40,000-seat domed stadium, the board directed university staff to pursue the "phased project" option at a meeting on FAU's Fort Lauderdale campus.
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The smaller version of the stadium, projected to cost $98.7 million, would be constructed so more seats and a dome could be added later. Or the university could decide instead to keep the stadium small and build a basketball arena next door.
The university is working with KUD International, a team of private companies that designs, builds and manages sports venues, to develop a private-public partnership that includes the stadium, dormitories and retail stores on the Boca Raton campus.
The idea is the housing and businesses could generate most of the dollars needed to finance construction of the football stadium and possibly a basketball arena. The university and KUD plan to spend the next six months hashing out the details and full scope of the project, including the stadium's seating capacity.
The team hopes a football stadium can open for the Owls' 2010 season.
Trustees expressed reservations about the proposed domed stadium's $146 million price and FAU's needs for such a large building that could also host concerts and other events.
"I had to consider the magnitude of the project in relation to our history and our history of athletics," Trustee Nancy Blosser said. "We are not a University of Florida that has a long history of winning football teams or the University of Miami, for that matter."
Blosser said it will take time for the Owls to build a winning tradition and that a domed stadium would face competition for events from plenty of other sports venues across South Florida.
The Owls currently have a year-to-year lease to play at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Trustee Armand Grossman said he preferred a domed stadium because it would serve as a showpiece that would make students and alumni proud.
"I dream big. I would love to see that happen," Grossman said. He said he would accept the smaller version if it would be "the best stadium we can build until the dome goes on."
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Wise Owl
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Wise Owl
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2017 and 2019 Conference USA Champions
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owlfan1 said
Track doesn't generate much, but neither does our football team. Let's not get in a pissing match with track people.
Football generated a MINIMUM of $1.8M this year…
BTW, im not trying to get into a "pissing match"…i am making a valid point that you build the top revenue sport first…then the rest of the sports come alot easier…they are spending good change on this track…that's my only point ;)
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Wise Owl
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Sun-Sentinel Stadium Update!
Was the track paid for with Borders gift cards?
President of the No Homers Club. Keepin' it real since 2001.
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Bird of Prey
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Recruiting will be hurting until the shovels are in the ground.
Lessons learned :(
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Wise Owl
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Sun-Sentinel Stadium Update!
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