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Bulldog Stadium Renovation Could be Delayed

 

Bulldog Stadium renovation rendering

A planned renovation to Bulldog Stadium could be delayed, as Fresno State has to address cracks that have been spotted in the facility. 

Unexplained cracks have been reported on the stadium’s east side, including the seating bowl and walkways. The issues are surfacing as Fresno State continues to plan on executing a variety of renovations that will affect the fan experience at Bulldog Stadium. Among the upgrades included in the project are a new tower on the west side that will feature suites, a stadium club, and press box, as well as improved access.

Fresno State has been intending to wrap up the project by the beginning of the 2019 NCAA football season. The issues on the east side, however, are something that the university will have to address. Though the cracks are not expected to affect the 2017 home slate, Fresno State is still seeking answers on the extent of the damage, and still have to determine if the renovations will be able to continue on schedule, or if the scope of the repairs will cause the project to be delayed. More from The Fresno Bee:

The fix could be as simple as patching the cracks, which would allow Fresno State to remain on a timeline that wraps up on Sept. 7, 2019 with a season-opener against Minnesota in a newly renovated stadium.

It also could require a complete teardown, which university officials said could cost as much as $20 million and would force Fresno State to split the project over two years; the east side would be repaired one year, and the renovation would be completed the following year.

Funding for that project, if necessary, could come in part from the California State University system as deferred maintenance. But Fresno State might also have to raise a significant portion of the money to repair the east side of the stadium, which could be a tricky endeavor considering the price tag on the renovation already could run to $60 million.

“The east side is the one kicker,” [athletics director Jim] Bartko said. “It might be ’19 half of it and ’20 half of it, because we’re not going to be able to do it all at one time.”

Bulldog Stadium originally opened in 1980.

Rendering courtesy Fresno State athletics. 

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