JMU unveils plans for stadium
$52 million budget includes $132 increase in student fees over three years
Posted on January 14, 2008
Updated 1.14.08
The Board of Visitors has approved a $52 million renovation of Bridgeforth stadium on Friday.
Charlie King, vice president of administration and finance, said the fact that JMU has sold out every home game for the past three years is a sign that the stadium needs more space.
“We think the time is now,” he said.
Jeff Bourne, athletic director, said that not only is there not enough seating in the stadium, but there are no premium seating options, not enough handicap accommodations, no way to host an event and inadequate press space.
Bourne said officials evaluated two options before settling on a three year plan, which includes increasing the seating from 15,778 to 24,878, adding suites, creating club seats or a lounge area, adding concourses, concessions, restrooms and ADA seating to meet code requirements, increasing stadium lighting and moving the press box to the west stands.
“We spent a lot of time and used a conservative approach,” King said. He added that he used the university’s current enrollment even though JMU is continually expanding and only estimated selling 50 percent of the seating, while believing more than that will sell.
The plan will include a $132 increase in student fees over three years, according to King.
“We feel we’ve done a nice job on being conservative and feel very comfortable with the number we’re presenting today,” King said.
President Linwood Rose said he felt it was important to look at this project in the context of the entire university, that even though it was a lot of money it was time to make the investment.
“If you look at our comprehensive facilities plan I think we’ve been exhaustive in looking at all the needs of the university,” he said.
Rose added that even though this may not be the best time for the renovation he still believes it will be successful.
“I wish that we were beginning this project with an economy that was stronger,” he said. “It’s not the best time to start a fundraising campaign, but I think we’ll get a lot of support from people who have wanted this to happen for some time.”
Rose also said that the timing may lead to more competitive bids from contractors, and that they can start the project without being committed to see it through to the end at this time.
“There are some places we can stop this and start it again later,” Rose said. “This doesn’t commit us blindly to moving ahead.”
Several board members spoke, many saying that even though the project is expensive and the timing is not ideal, they felt it was necessary.
“Football generates an interest in the college; look what happened when we won the national championship,” said Lois Forbes, a member of the BOV. “JMU was everywhere and everyone wanted to come here.”
They voted orally and unanimously.
Next week JMU will be asking the General Assembly for $4.78 million, the amount that was previously cut during a budget reduction, and $40 million for the stadium renovations. JMU already has $12 million set aside for the project.
The expansion is expected to be complete before the 2011 season.
Correction: At time of publication, Bourne was attributed stating that the three year plan would increase seating to a possible 40,000 when in fact the current plan calls for an increase from 15,778 to 24,878. However, there still exists the possibility for an increase up to 40,000 in the future.
