With its construction deadline rapidly approaching, the expansion of Scott Stadium at the Carl Smith Center is set to open before the Cavs kick off against the Brigham Young Cougars at the first home football game Sept. 6.
When completed, the expansion will add 16,500 seats to the stadium and will cost $86 million -- $36 million more than an initial estimate of $50 million -- funded solely through private donations.
The University underestimated the cost of the project in the preliminary study, but increased the budget because of changes in the administration's goals, said Colette Sheehy, vice president for management and budget.
"The budget increase was not a budget over-run -- rather it was a result of studied decisions to expand the scope of the project," said Leonard W. Sandridge, executive vice president and chief operating officer.
Such changes, which were made after the construction already had begun, include the plan to finish Bryant Hall and also the construction of 44 luxury suites.
"We thought that we would build about 20 because we weren't sure we would sell them all," Sheehy said.
But interest in the suites was much higher than expected. Only eight of the suites -- which go for $50,000 a pop -- remain for the upcoming football season, said Richard Laurance, director of the Carl Smith Center Expansion at Scott Stadium.
Sheehy said the administration also considered the cost-effectiveness of adding to the current project; it is considerably cheaper to bundle several projects together than to do each project separately.
"If you have all the contractors and everyone onsite now, it's the easiest time," she said. "Fundraising was going very well and we felt we could put the finances together" for the additions to the main project.
Such additions included an $11 million parking garage and the completion of the stadium's north wing and upper deck sections, which cost $7 million, Laurance said.
The construction has not always gone over well with local residents, who have complained about the noise ever since the project began and griped about the stadium's large concrete wall, which they claimed was an eyesore. But Laurance said the most recent meeting between the University and residents went smoothly.
"We had another meeting with the neighborhood two weeks ago and it went very fine. They see the end coming now," he said.
Construction officials have until noon on the day of the first football game to finish the main portion of the project -- and Laurance said he will utilize every last minute.
The Cavs kick off the football season at 3 p.m. Sept. 2 against Brigham Young.
But even after the first game there will be minor details to attend to, which will be completed in the ensuing few weeks, he said.
"We won't have the parking garage completely completed," he added. "You have 'substantial completion' from the code position," meaning facilities can legally be used even if it is not entirely finished.
Also, some of the landscaping and painting can be completed after the Sept. 2 deadline, Laurance said.
The stadium expansion is not the only major athletic department endeavor approved by the University. In October 1998 the University's Board of Visitors passed a resolution asking the University to develop concrete plans for a new basketball arena.
The stadium and the proposed arena projects are completely independent, and are to be funded through a different set of private donors.
For now, stadium officials are poised for an on-time completion of the expansion.
"It's coming together real well in the end," Laurance said.
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