FORT COLLINS — Colorado State president Tony Frank was looking past the Rams’ game against Minnesota on Saturday.
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He wasn’t looking ahead to next Saturday’s game against Colorado, but approximately 20 months ahead to a boisterous celebration honoring the opening of CSU’s new on-campus football stadium, which is projected to open in late spring to early summer 2017.
Although the field’s building site was filled with dirt and tents holding upwards of 200 Ram Club alumni Saturday, the vision was still clear: renewal of the fan base and year-round engagement are central parts of CSU’s next step.
“I think we ought to call Coach (Jerry) Kill at Minnesota and tell him we’re going to play out here right now today,” CSU coach Mike Bobo said at the shovel turning ceremony.
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Bobo left quickly after giving a short speech that drew many alumni and fans to their feet. He talked about the beauty of the campus and he envisioned walking out to a sell-out crowd at the 2017 home opener in a new stadium.
“The saying is ‘coming home,’ ” Bobo said. “It’s not just about football, it’s about the people coming back and it’s about memories.”
The street along the construction site was littered with approximately 25 protesters holding signs such as “Stop the new stadium” and “Renew Hughes Stadium.”
Protesters stressed tradition and keeping sanctity of their community, but CSU officials said they welcomed the comments and felt the disapproval was not a negative light on the university.
“Their criticisms caused us to check everything not twice, but three or four times. To sharpen our pencils, to be careful and I believe they made this project better at the end,” Frank said.
Athletic director Joe Parker said Hughes Stadium is planned to be offered to the highest bidder for redevelopment, and the money will be used for the new stadium.
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Previously an unpaved parking lot, the $220 million dollar stadium will hold up to 41,000 fans, including a 10,000-seat student section. Parker said the facility will also be used as a multipurpose building for academics, recruiting and other sports.
CSU officials hope the new stadium will bring more alumni and students to the games, and continue to vault the Rams into national relevance.
“Settling for anything less than excellence is an unacceptable outcome,” Frank said. “It is not the CSU way, it never has been the CSU way and it never will be.”
Cameron Wolfe: 303-954-1891, cwolfe@denverpost.com or
