A replacement for Aloha Stadium could be ready by the 2023 college football season, according to officials involved in the project’s planning.
First opening in 1975, Aloha Stadium is currently used for University of Hawaii at Manoa football and other events, but its aging condition and high maintenance costs have raised doubts about its future. That has prompted some state officials to push for a larger redevelopment of the Aloha Stadium site to include a new stadium, with the project also leading to ancillary development.
Discussions about the new stadium project continue, and a potential timeline is emerging. As was reported Thursday by the The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the owner and senior principal of Kansas City, MO-based Crawford Architects believes that completing the new stadium in 2023 is an achievable goal. More from the AP:
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Thursday that the owner and senior principal of the firm hired to shepherd the process says a 2023 opening date can be achieved.
The state is paying $5 million to Crawford Architects of Kansas City, Missouri, to develop a master plan and conduct an environmental impact statement, which is mandated by law….
The state Legislature approved $350 million for the construction of a new stadium as a so-called “P3″project involving public and private partnerships.
Earlier this week, three concepts for the construction of the stadium surfaced as part of a preparation notice for an environmental impact statement. Those included one that would see Aloha Stadium demolished in phases as its replacement is built on the existing footprint, while the others call for building the new stadium elsewhere on the 98-acre property and then demolishing Aloha Stadium to make way for another purpose. No decisions have been made yet, as the public will have the opportunity to weigh in during a comment period.
Aloha Stadium has had a number of unique uses throughout its history. It was once a regular home for the NFL Pro Bowl, and hosted a Minor League Baseball franchise in the form of the Hawaii Islanders (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) from 1976-1987. The facility is currently included on our Endangered Stadiums page.
Image courtesy Aloha Stadium.
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