Iowa seeking approval for $90 million upgrade to Kinnick Stadium
Iowa is about to spend a healthy chunk of change on its football program, and no, it’s not all going to Kirk Ferentz.
According to Mark Morehouse of The Gazette, Iowa is seeking approval from its Board of Regents to make a $90 million upgrade to Kinnick Stadium. The proposed plan is to renovate the north end zone inside the stadium, which hasn’t undergone any improvements since the 1980’s.
From Morehouse’s report:
The project is now on the docket for next week’s Regents meeting. The UI has pledged to raise $100 million for the $89.9 million budget. According to the documents released Tuesday, the project would replace the north end zone seating, which hasn’t been renovated since the early 1980s. It’s an area that has drawn complaints from some fans on how cramped and uncomfortable it is.
Iowa plans to replace the general-admission area with “upper and lower general admission seating bowls, two general admission concourses and a premium club level.”
UI athletics officials will not comment on the project until after the Regents meeting scheduled for next Thursday in Cedar Falls.
The athletic department plans to use the revenue generated from the B1G’s new television deal involving Fox Sports and ESPN. If approved construction is estimated to be completed prior to the start of the 2019 season.
Morehouse also tweeted out photos of what the newly renovated north end zone would look like at Kinnick Stadium.
Here you go on renderings. Go freak out about the Cubs now. Like me. pic.twitter.com/SK2cyz315R
— Marc Morehouse (@marcmorehouse) October 12, 2016
Spending has become a theme with Iowa football through the early months of the 2016 season. After the first week of the season, head coach Kirk Ferentz received a 10-year contract extension worth $30 million that will keep him with the program through 2026.
The Board of Regents meeting is scheduled for Oct. 19.