Despite campus-wide interest in a new football stadium, evidence from university administration and SGA executives suggests that such a project will not be possible in the near future.
The possibility of a new stadium was among topics discussed in the SGA’s Feb. 15 meeting, as reported in the Feb. 18 issue of the Spectator.
“It has not been decided to build a stadium, nor has it been approved,” Kelli Cody, SGA president, said. According to Cody, SGA cannot make any decisions regarding a new stadium without proper authorization from the university administration.
Micah Hollimon, head of SGA’s University Coordination Committee, says that the committee “has initiated, internally, the possibilities of building a stadium.” Hollimon also stated that “no action will be made without proper consent from administration or a majority of the student body.”
David Dean, head football coach, claimed to know nothing about the announcement, but was excited to hear the possibility.
“Everybody involved with football wants a new stadium,” Dean said. “It’s like the difference between owning and renting a house; we’re renting out the stadium right now, and it’s a great space to play. But we’d really like to have one of our own. Instead of seeing the yellow on the field, we’d all like to see the red and black.”
“We are always open to the possibility, because we’d like to have one,” Herb Reinhard, VSU Athletic Director, said.
The idea for a new stadium stemmed from surveys of students at last semester’s SGA outreach barbeque, as well as from “general interest from members of the student body who have questioned why the university plays at a high school stadium with distinctive colors and [a] mascot that contrast with the university colors and mascot,” according to Hollimon.
Even though the demand for a new stadium is high, the cost would be even higher.
According to Dean, the cost of an average football stadium is roughly $7 to $8 million, and for an even nicer one, the school would “probably be looking at around $12 million.”
“We can’t do any more budget cuts,” Dean said, “and I really don’t want to see student fees rise anymore; the players have to pay, too, and those guys are already maxed out. The best thing we could have for funds would be a very generous donation.”
According to both Dean and Reinhard, VSU does not currently have the funds or the land to build a new football stadium.
“There’s nowhere to go and nowhere to grow,” Dean commented.
“However we do currently have a stadium fee, so it is economically feasible, but location is a minor concern,” Hollimon said.
Despite rumors of a new football stadium, Reinhard said that the Athletic Department’s only immediate plans for expansion are for a new soccer stadium, which is still in the beginning phase.