For the Colorado State Rams, the year 2016 marked a dramatic period of transition. While it was the final year for Hughes Stadium, the football program’s venerable home, 2016 was also a year that was embodied by the significant progress on the university’s new football stadium.
Set to open for the 2017 college football season, the new stadium–tentatively known as Sonny Lubick Field at Colorado State Stadium–is expected to enhance the program. Included in a seating capacity of over 41,000 will be an estimated 10,000 student section seats, along with numerous levels of premium level seating.
The premium areas have proven to be a major hit. This fall, Colorado State announced that it had already sold out its premium seating stock for the 2017 season. That included 849 outdoor club seats, 149 indoor club seats, 23 suites, and 43 loge boxes.
In addition, Colorado State announced some corporate partnerships relating to the facility. New Belgium Brewing Company signed on as a partner for the New Belgium Porch, the result of a $4.3 million donation that allowed for the construction of a party deck at the new stadium’s north end zone.
Meanwhile, Colorado State also announced that Orthopaedic & Spine Center of the Rockies was the naming rights partner for the Orthopaedic & Spine Center of the Rockies Field Club. The field club will be located in the facility’s west stands.
According to the most recent stadium report to have been released by Colorado State, the venue is on pace to be substantially completed by June. That would allow plenty of time for a soft opening on September 2 (a pending date), one week before the Rams’ first game at the stadium on September 9.
Under that schedule, the new Colorado State stadium will still be a big story in 2017. In 2016, however, the university made tremendous progress on the facility and set the course for a new era.
Rendering courtesy Colorado State University.
Previously in our Top Ten Stories of 2016 List: