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Q&A on Husker Nation Championship Drive
General Questions...
When will this project be completed?
Our plan is for the seats to be installed so that fans could be using them in the 2006 season. The Tom and Nancy Osborne Athletic Complex is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2006, while the new indoor fieldhouse is expected to be ready for use in the fall of 2005.
How much will it cost?
Phase I of this project will be $40 million to build the expansion of Memorial Stadium and the athletic complex, expand the concourses, restrooms, etc. Phase II is another $10 million to build the indoor workout area. $15 million was raised privately with the remaining being sold through bonds.
Why do we need this project?
To ensure the success of our football program for the next 40 years
How can you do a project like this when the rest of the campus is hurting so badly?
First of all, it is important to us to keep our athletic department strong and our football program strong so that we can continue to be not only self-supporting, but a supportive member of the academic campus. We do not receive state funding or student fees, so a successful program benefits the entire university. Most universities receive general operating funds to help support athletics. Nebraska is a rarity, and in fact, the Nebraska Athletic Department annually gives $1.5 million back to the University of Nebraska. Additionally, we are donating a $10 million south stadium office building to the department of Computer Sciences and Engineering to create a better academic environment on this campus. So we are excited to be able to do our part to help the campus during some tougher budgetary times.
Are we using tax dollars?
No, the athletic department does not receive any state tax dollars or student fees. This project will be privately funded.
How will this project benefit the people of Nebraska? The University?
The computer science department will benefit from the gift of the South Stadium Office Building, which is valued at $10 million. This helps strengthen our University as a whole. The economic impact of the football season is more than $40 million annually to the community, and this only enhances that.
Is it for football only?
No, football is a tremendous beneficiary of this project, but all of our student-athletes will use the strength and conditioning area as well as the expanded athletic medicine area and a majority of our athletes will use the new indoor workout facility as well. This is a real benefit for every student-athlete here.
What percentage of this project would you say is going to the football program?
Certainly football is the greatest beneficiary of the expansion of this, but we think we have something in here for just about everybody, including fans.
Who will benefit from this project?
The Nebraska fans, the Nebraska student-athletes and our football program and athletic department overall.
Are you going to name anything after a big donor?
While there will be naming opportunities in the facility for people who are willing to make large commitments, this project will depend on every Nebraskan to contribute large and small gifts.
On Stadium Expansion
How can I reserve seats in the new expanded area of the stadium?
Our first priority is to get the money raised to be able to do this. At an appropriate time, we will be announcing details of how tickets can be obtained.
How many new seats will be added?
6,460 seats are required in the project.
How soon will the 6,460 seats be ready?
We hope to have the stadium expansion completed by the fall of 2006.
How much will the new tickets cost?
We have not set dollar figures on the new ticket pricing, and it will all depend on getting this money raised first.
Can I purchase season tickets in the new area?
At a later date.
Will you have to make a donation to get the new seats? Can I relocate my seats to the new seating area?
We will lay out those plans at a later date.
What things are you going to do for the North Stadium fans?
We will have concourses with restrooms, concession areas and improved traffic flow from ground level to seating areas. It will be on par with the things we have done in the West Stadium.
Will anyone have to move out of their seats during construction?
No, this will not impact any current season ticket holders.
Will any seats in North stadium be affected during renovation?
No fans will be inconvenienced or moved out of their seats during construction.
Are there going to be any new seats for non-donors? the general fan?
Yes there will be. We have not set specific numbers yet, but there will be seats in Memorial Stadium that will not require a contribution.
Are there new restrooms in the North stadium?
Absolutely, there will be new restrooms and concessions.
Are there going to be any more suites?
No suites are currently planned for Memorial Stadium.
Why not expand on East Stadium?
In looking at the overall plan, we felt that it was best to expand to the north because of the proximity to all the current functions for our student-athletes. The Cook Pavilion is already there, the grass practice fields are already there, and we already have the baseline to build an efficient and effective facility there.
If I sit in North Stadium, how will I see the new big screen?
We will install a screen that will take care of the needs of those sitting in the north stadium. We have not finalized any of those plans yet, but we will.
What will you do with the other two big screens?
The current HuskerVision screens are coming toward the end of their useful life. We will have to evaluate what the next phase is for those screens and how they might be incorporated in this facility.
How will the football team enter the field in the future?
The football team will take the tunnel walk as they did from early days until 1973 when we moved to the south end. They will come out of the north end and enter at the corner where the visiting team currently enters.
Was any of this project designed/put in place by previous administrations?
The new concept contains some elements of the University’s previous Master Plans, but this is a totally new project and design.
Specific New Facility Questions...
Why do you need another indoor workout facility?
Because we currently share time in the Cook Pavilion with student recreation, our student-athletes have less time indoors than our coaches would like. We spend a tremendous amount of time working in our facilities in the off-season, much of that takes place indoors. By having two indoor workout areas, we gain a tremendous edge in our training and we have a great opportunity to improve performance of our teams. By doing this project the way we are doing it, the indoor field also serves as a third field for football which means that we take care of all of the football needs and at least 10 of our other teams that utilize indoor facilities as well are the great beneficiaries of having the two indoor facilities.
Who will be getting new offices?
Football will be getting new offices, women’s soccer and the athletic administrative offices will move to this building to make way for the department of Computer Sciences and Engineering in the South Stadium Building.
Are you going to name anything after Bob Devaney?
The Bob Devaney Sports Center was built in honor of our legendary coach and athletic director. We will certainly memorialize Coach Devaney in this new facility, but as you know, the name has already been chosen.
How many lockers will there be in the new locker room?
At least 140 lockers will be included.
Where will the visitors’ locker room be located?
It will be located in the current location of our present home locker room.
Why do we need a new weight room?
We already have the best weight equipment in the country and we will not have to buy new weight equipment when we move to this new facility. However, it is in the best interests of our student-athletes to have a new strength complex in order to have direct access between athletic medicine, strength and conditioning and an enclosed walkway to our practice facility. In addition, the strength complex will have exterior windows and will provide much more usable space than we currently have.
What happens to the old weight room area?
It will be used partially for expanded academic areas, while plans for the rest of it will be unveiled at a later date.
How big will the new weight room be?
While we don’t have exact sizes, we know it will be just a little larger than the current weight room.
How many sports will use the new indoor field house?
Between the Cook Pavilion and the new Championship Indoor Facility, at least 10 of our sports use it on a regular basis and probably over the course of time a majority of them will as well.
How big is the new Championship Indoor Facility?
The size of a full football field, very similar to Cook Pavilion, but it will also have soccer offices, locker rooms and an area for clinics.
Will you still need the Cook Pavilion?
Because our sports use so many indoor practice times that we need every minute we can in both facilities.
How does this project affect Track & Field?
Our fabulous Ed Weir track will remain in tact and will not change.
How does the project affect the Soccer Building?
The soccer building will be removed and the soccer offices will be located in the new Championship Indoor Facility. Our soccer team will move back to campus and play in the area inside the outdoor track.
Are we building anything on the east side of the stadium?
No.
Is the ticket office moving?
No.
Are you building a parking garage?
No.
Is Avery Ave. closing?
Yes, Avery Avenue will go away as it has been planned all along through the master plan.
Will all of the football players be in the same locker room?
Yes.
Will any sports be able to compete in the new indoor facility?
We actually don’t know that yet. We do anticipate, however, that there could be some events that could take place in there that would be appropriate and as time goes on, we will unveil plans for that.
Will the women and the men still share the strength complex and training room?
Absolutely, the new athletic complex will benefit all sports, men and women.
Where will the Academic Center be?
The Academic Center will remain in its current location in West Stadium. However, this will give us the ability to expand and improve that area as well.
Will we build a Hall of Fame?
We would like to eventually build a Hall of Champions to showcase the greatness of all of our athletic teams. However, at the current time, our priority is to focus on the project at hand and then we will take a look at the options for building a Hall of Fame.
What will go in West Stadium?
Currently we will expand the academic area in West Stadium, but we are not ready to lay out any other plans at this point.
Gifts and Donations
It is tax deductible?
Yes it is. You can choose to have this gift be 100 percent tax deductible or if you choose to receive priority points for athletics, this would be 80 percent deductible. It’s your option.
Will I receive/Will it help my priority points?
Yes, if you choose so.
May I spread it out over one year? Two Years? Three Years?
You may give a one-time gift up front, or spread your gift out over one, two or three years if you choose.
What kind of payment plan do you have?
We will structure a payment plan that works for you. We would like the money all within a three-year period. However, it helps the project tremendously if people are willing to give the money in an upfront payment.
Will I get a receipt?
Yes, a receipt will be mailed to each donor.
May I designate to a particular area or program?
If you choose, certainly. But because the project is all one project, all the money will go toward the structure of every area of this building.
Have the athletic coaches and staff made contributions?
I have asked every member of the athletic staff to make a contribution to this project.
If I give, will my name be displayed? and Where?
As we design the building we are going to find an appropriate place to display the name of every donor who makes a gift of $100 or more. We will be laying out plans for that once the building is further along and designed.
If everyone in my family gives $100, will our name be displayed four times?
Yes.
What is the minimum donation?
There is no minimum donation, except to be recognized in the facility, you would need to make a donation of $100 or more.
Would it do any good if I only sent $50?
Every dollar counts toward this project.
Does my donation go specifically to the Athletic Department?
Yes.
Can I see the new facility when the team and coaches move into it?
We will announce plans for an Open House after the building is complete.
I don’t have any money, how else may I help?
We would hope that you could make a gift of $100 over the three-year period. It doesn’t turn out to be very much each month if you are willing to do that. However, if you just feel that you cannot afford to, if you could find somebody else who can give and encourage them to make a gift, that would help as well. If you cannot make a monetary donation, your vocal support would be appreciated.