Colorado State University is planning to demolish Hughes Stadium, the former home of its football program.
Originally opening in 1968, Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium was home to Colorado State football for decades. The facility staged its final game in November 2016–a 49-31 victory for Colorado State over New Mexico–and the football program began the 2017 NCAA season at its brand new on-campus stadium,
Now that the football program is settled in its new home, the university is moving forward with a plan to demolish Hughes Stadium. The Colorado State University System Board of Governors voted unanimously on Thursday to approve the facility’s demolition or deconstruction, and plans to either sell the property or enter into a long-term lease of the site. More from The Coloradoan:
The nine- to 14-month process could cost $4 million to $6 million, according to Executive Vice Chancellor Amy Parsons. Part of the cost will depend on efforts to deal with hazardous materials such as asbestos. The plan is to recoup the cost to demolish the building through the sale or long-term lease of the property.
“This deconstruction is not only important for the disposition of the property and our process but also because we are paying minimum maintenance and utilities on the property to prevent it from becoming a nuisance and keep it in a safe condition,” Parsons said.
Colorado State played its first game at its new stadium in August of this year.
Image courtesy Colorado State University.