FORT COLLINS — In a rarity for any $20 million project, Colorado State’s new athletic facilities are within budget and ahead of target date completion.
Now the school needs to raise approximately another $17 million to retire the bond issue.
The $13 million indoor football practice facility and adjacent multipurpose gym are scheduled for completion July 31. The $7 million academic/weight training building is expected to open by early September.
CSU has raised roughly $1.2 million since the original seed money was announced with the plan nearly two years ago. “If not for the economic crunch, we’d be more towards our goals,” CSU associate athletic director for development Mike LaPlante said.
Naming rights are available for both buildings.
CSU associate athletic director for facilities Doug Max said completion within the budget is a welcome change from the tremendous raw material cost overruns during the stadium renovation a few years ago.
Football coach Steve Fairchild, on hand before Wednesday’s media tour, said of shrinking the facilities gap with the rest of the Mountain West “I think so.” As for silencing the construction noise that permeated fall and spring practice, Fairchild said “They can make as much noise as they want if they keep building.”
Max listed the bells and whistles as a four-angle video system, a separate training room and a synthetic track for offseason conditioning. The FieldTurf is already a few generations improved from the carpets at the stadium and outdoor practice field.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
