6A SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015 FORT COLLINS COLORADOAN JULY 1 MID-JULY MID-SEPT. OCT. 1 DEC. TO AUG. 2016 MAY 2016 TO APRIL 2017 SEPT. 2016 TO MAY 2017 SEPT. 2017 PICTURE THIS S ome design details that won’t have an impact on early construction are still being modified, said Mike Harms, senior vice president for Icon Venue Group, the project manager for the stadium. So we don’t know yet the precise number of seats the stadium will contain or the number and locations of concessions and restroom facilities, or details about where the university will allow tailgating and alcohol sales and consumption on game days. But we do know: • The basic structure will have about 36,000 seats and a total capacity of 40,085. • It will consist of two decks of seating on the east and west sides of the playing field, and three stories of luxury suites, coaches booths and a press box on the west side. • The north end zone will open up toward campus with some open seating and standing-room capacity for fans. • The support for the stadium will be built of steel, with an exterior covered by stone, brick, glass and metal. LIGHTING AND SOUND The stadium will use a directed lighting system to minimize the impact on surrounding neighborhoods. It will have an upgraded distributed sound system to minimize “leakage” into the surrounding area. AMENITIES The current plans call for: • 17 luxury suites • 40 large boxes, seating four people each • 96 indoor club seats • 800 outdoor club seats • Student seating along the east side and into the south end zone Those figures, posted last month on the “frequently asked questions” of CSU’s stadium website, colostate.edu/stadium, could change as the final design plans are completed. KEY FEATURES • A high-quality wireless Internet system for fans throughout the stadium. • A wide array of concession choices in and around the main concourse level. • The stadium will be designed to meet all Americans with Disibility Act accessibility requirements, with premium seating ADA options and access. An updated artist’s rendering of CSU’s new on-campus stadium. RENDERING COURTESY OF CSU • Fencing will be put up around stadium site. • Asphalt from parking lots at stadium site to be milled so material can be recycled and used as base material for new surface lot on east side of Centre Avenue west of the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital. • Parking lots will be bulldozed to dirt to provide underground access for utility work and excavation. • Work on utility lines is set for summer to minimize impact on traffic during the academic year. • A stormwater quality pond will be built on CSU-owned land behind the Hilton Fort Collins, east of Centre Avenue and north of Spring Creek. • The relocated Plant Environmental Research Center will open along Bay Drive south of Prospect Road and west of Centre Avenue. • Demolition will begin on old PERC buildings and greenhouses following opening of new facility. Excavation begins on the stadium site, and the foundation work begins. Remaining PERC gardens bulldozed to dirt following completion of growing season. The stadium starts to take shape, as the project starts to build upward. Drilled caissons are installed for vertical support along with raker beams to hold up the stadium’s seating bowl. • Glass curtainwall, stone, brick, precast concrete and metal wall panels are installed around the exterior of the venue, a process expected to last seven months. • On the inside, all fixtures like lighting and electrical outlets are configured along with heating, cooling and emergency systems. • Locker rooms, football operations offices, press boxes, suites and concession kitchens are built. • Lights will be attached on top of the west grandstand. • Seats installed to the stadium bowl. • Artificial turf installed on playing field and goal posts erected. Stadium opens. CSU will be able to play its first football game in the new stadium as early as Sept. 9. Continued from 1A COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY STADIUM
