Artist’s impression of proposed improvements to the Utah State University football stadium.
LOGAN — Plans for additional east side seating and other renovations at Utah State University’s Maverik Stadium were received last week at the Radio Ranch of the headquarters offices. The proposed seating renovations and expansion appeared in nonstate-funded capital development applications for fiscal year 2023 to the Utah Legislature.
USU wants to expand its football stadium (https://t.co/17Ft81fWHB). Much of this has to do with ADA compliance issues with the existing Arena, but also calls for more seats.
— Eric Frandsen (@efrandsen) February 24, 2022
appearing in the Full Court Press program last week on 106.9 The Fan, director of athletics John Hartwell said no one in athletics was aware these plans had been released. He added that they are obsolete.
“We must fill what we havesaid Hartwell. “Yeah, I absolutely think from a perception perspective, we need a 30,000+ seat facility, from a national perception perspective. But we have to do a better job filling in what we have.
“And a lot of that comes down to us, we have to balance the whole issue of ticket pricing, being fully aware that a lot of football’s revenue generation for us comes from those premium seating areas, the club seats, the suites.
He said there are plans to modify the areas on the east and south sides of the stadium and that construction is expected to start after the 2022 football season. He said the initial work will not include additional seating but will work on other priorities.
“It’s really going to be more on that southeast corner where the restroom is and where that lobby is, or the hallway that’s crowded even with moderate crowds, let alone a sold-out house,” added Hartwell. “Cutting into the hill there, totally redoing those toilets, putting in new concession areas.
“So that’s the immediate thing. We have other interpretations on the drawing board, but I think they’re a bit overdue.
Hartwell said it’s important to maintain affordability because a critical part of the Aggies’ fanbase is the Cache Valley family of five or six people who USU doesn’t want to pay to attend American football games. Aggies.
