First phase of Sun Devil Stadium renovation nearly complete
Sep 8, 2015, 5:23 PM
PHOENIX — Crews are set to put the finishing touches on the first phase of construction at Arizona State University’s Sun Devil Stadium this week, just days ahead of the team’s home football opener.
The construction includes new elevators, sewer and storm drain improvements and other behind-the-scenes work. About 6,500 bleacher seats have been added to the south end zone, while a few sections of the north end zone have been completely removed. All student seating was moved to the lower bowl.
“It will make a huge difference to our football team to maintain a true home field advantage by playing in Sun Devil Stadium with new student sections that will be loud, energized and on top of the action,” ASU Athletic Director Ray Anderson said in a press release. “We are ready to go.”
Anderson said fundraising efforts to pay for the improvements are moving right along.
“We’re one-third of the way through the project,” he said. “We’re at $45.3 million. That’s over halfway toward our stated goal of $85 million.”
Anderson said that the money is coming from private donations.
“There’s no student tuition or student fee money going to this project,” he said. “There’s no taxpayer money going to this project.”
The Sun Devils will look to bounce back against Cal Poly on Saturday after suffering a tough loss in the season opener to Texas A&M.
Phase two of the renovations will start in November after ASU’s final home game. The stadium’s final phase is expected to be completed in 2017.
