The multimillion-dollar renovation of Amon Carter Stadium could begin as early as the end of next football season after the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the initiative Friday, officials said.
The project will be entirely donor-funded and has a total budget of $105 million. Officials did not say how much has currently been pledged for the project.
“If we are able to complete fundraising by July 1, 2010, by securing the necessary pledges, then the project could begin as early as the end of the 2010 football season subject to and dependent upon Board of Trustees’ approval,” said Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Brian Gutierrez.
Gutierrez and Athletics Director Chris Del Conte made a presentation to the board last week reviewing the latest status of the project.
“Amon G. Carter Stadium is in need of upgrades to facilitate better access to basic amenities such as restrooms, concessions and the upper deck,” Gutierrez said. “The overall fan experience will be significantly enhanced by the renovation as well.”
The Board of Trustees includes 46 voting members, and in order for a resolution to pass, it must get at least 24 votes.
The renovation project is being managed by HKS Inc., which has prepared multiple renderings that have popped up on TCU-centric blogs in the past few months.
Gutierrez said the renderings “reflect the schematic design work to date” and “detailed architectural/engineering drawings are in the process of being developed.”
On Friday, the board also approved an increase to the student body fee, raising the fee from an annual $48 to $90 starting in fall 2010. The initiative, pushed by the Student Government Association Executive Board, will raise funding for the Activities Funding Board from $70,000 a year to $100,000. It would also boost funding for the annual fall concert, which would be allocated $150,000 instead of $23,000. Programming Council would receive $250,000, according to SGA. It currently receives $150,000.
The proposed budget for SGA for the 2010-11 school year is $625,000, according to SGA officials.
Staff reporter Andrea Drusch contributed to this report.
