The following is a timeline of the major events that led to the construction of the on-campus stadium at Colorado State University.
Fall 2011: Former CSU quarterback and booster Jack Graham pitches the idea of an on-campus stadium to then athletic director Paul Kowalczyk, who then sets up a meeting between Graham and CSU president Tony Frank. The president was such a fan of the idea that he soon after hired Graham to replace Kowalczyk as athletic director and lead the stadium project.
Spring 2012: CSU hires ICON Venue Group to create a feasibility study for the stadium and Populous as the architecture firm to design the stadium. The feasibility study is made public in August.
October 2012: Colorado State University Board of Governors unanimously voted to support plan of building an on-campus stadium, budgeted at the time to cost $246 million. The one caveat being half of the funds had to be raised in private donations. Frank promised no taxpayer money would be used.
Fall 2013: Stadium plan shrinks in scope and cost by about $20 million. Total seating decreases from more than 40,000 to 36,500. Hughes Stadium, the Rams’ previous home off campus, held 32,500.
December 2014: CSU Board of Governors votes 8-0 (one abstained) in favor of plans to move forward with the stadium despite not having half of the funds raised from private donations.
February 2015: Board approves financing of $220 million on-campus stadium through use of revenue bonds with an 8-1 vote.
September 2015: Ceremonial groundbreaking happens on the stadium construction site, located at the corner of Pitkin St. and Meridian Ave in Fort Collins. Stadium capacity expected to be 41,000 with 36,500 seats.
March 2016: An anonymous single donor pledges $20 million to name the field at the on-campus stadium “Sonny Lubick Field” after the legendary CSU football coach who led the Rams from 1993-2007. The field at Hughes Stadium was named after Lubick.
August 2016: Stadium construction reaches unofficial halfway mark. CSU holds a celebration with media, boosters and construction crew and puts the final structural beam into place on the east side of the stadium.
June 9, 2017: “Substantial” construction officially completed and keys to the building were handed to CSU.
Aug. 26, 2017: First game at on-campus stadium to be played against Oregon State. Rams have announced a sell-out crowd of 41,000.