The controversial proposal to expand Rutgers Stadium was finally approved by the University Board of Governors yesterday after months of debate.
The stadium's seating capacity will be increased to 56,000 after the addition of 14,000 new seats and will be funded through ticket sales revenue and private donations, according to a University press release.
The expansion project will cost $102 million in total - $30 million of which will be raised through a private fundraising campaign led by Gov. Jon S. Corzine and Sen. Ray Lesniak, D-20th, and $72 million in bonds to be repaid with the expected increase in revenue - according to the release.
University President Richard L. McCormick stressed in an e-mail to the community that the project will be self-supporting and will not impact tuition or any other planned construction.
"Let me be especially firm on this point," McCormick wrote. "This project will not divert any money from academic programs, faculty and staff compensation or student services. Over time, in fact, additional revenue from the expanded stadium will allow us to reduce the current subsidy of athletics and invest more University funds in academics, student life and other priorities."
Approximately 1,000 mezzanine seats will be added to the stadium by the beginning of the 2008 season with 1,000 bench seats to be added to the north endzone and 12,000 seats to be added in a new south endzone section. The expansion will include a new sound system, scoreboard and video screen as well as new elevators, concessions and restrooms. A new entrance off of River Road will be built to help alleviate traffic. Construction is set to begin almost immediately, according to the release.
Amidst rumors of the possibility of the University charging students for Scarlet Knights' game tickets, it was stated in the release that students will not be charged.
Brendan Kirchner, a Rutgers College sophomore, said he is excited about the expansion.
"I think if you want to build a big-time football program, then you need to build a big-time stadium," he said. "If it's going to generate revenue, then it's going to help the whole University."
But some students weren't as comfortable with the board's decision.
"President McCormick is really good at sidestepping issues," said Brandon Gulyo, a Rutgers College senior. "Every statement I've heard him make about the stadium expansion has made clear that this isn't money that would be taken away from academics and maintenance. But that isn't the point."
"Yes, money is not literally being taken away from anything, but why does this money exist for football and not anything else? If his focus is the real needs of his students, he needs to check himself, but if it's commercialism and attention then he's doing a wonderful job," he said.
Rutgers College senior Michael Peterson asked what would happen if the success of the Scarlet Knights is only temporary.
"Would the stadium expansion even be necessary if the team [reverted] back to the way they were before their winning streak?" Peterson said.
Cook College sophomore Theresa Horezga said she feels the stadium expansion is unnecessary.
"If I was donating to the University, I'd like a budgeted list of what exactly my money was going to fund," she said. "The University is finding funds for the stadium but couldn't they have found funds to be allocated for academics instead."
In his e-mail, McCormick insisted academics remain the University's first priority.
"At the public forum held last week, a serious concern was raised again and again by students and faculty," McCormick said. "With Rutgers' budget so constrained and so many other priorities to fund, why aren't we spending $102 million on fixing classrooms, restoring class sections, and hiring faculty instead? The fact is that we don't - and won't - have this money unless we add the stadium seating to generate it."
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