Ticket demand fuels expansion: UA trustees will be asked Thursday to formally approve stadium
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 4
Confident that demand for seats, especially premium seating, will remain strong enough to pay for an expansion to Bryant-Denny Stadium, University of Alabama administrators will ask trustees Thursday for formal approval of the project…There is a waiting list of about 10,000 people wanting tickets and another 3,000 season-ticket holders who want more tickets to the football stadium that holds 92,138, he said. Also, out of the 34 new skyboxes and two expanded skyboxes included in the project, 27 are reserved, which cost $500,000 a unit, he said….On Thursday, administrators will ask trustees to approve an $80.6 million expansion of the south end zone as a four-part project, and they are seeking permission to return to the board’s executive committee later to award contracts…Demand for tickets from all fans has rocketed since Moore hired coach Nick Saban in January 2007…’There’s no question … the excitement of coach Saban coming in and then the success of the team this past year has made a difference in our decision and helped pushed that forward,’ Moore said. In a statement released Tuesday, Saban said the decision to expand the stadium is a positive sign of momentum and vision for the entire university. ‘We are very optimistic that this expansion will make Bryant-Denny Stadium one of the finest facilities in the country and give our fans an even greater venue to continue their positive support of our team,’ Saban said. ‘The leadership and support of Dr. Witt and Mal Moore is indicative of the dynamic period of growth and success we are experiencing.’…UA plans to pay for the expansion up front through debt, issuing a bond for the cost of construction. Donations will also help pay for the project, Moore said. However, the expansion should more than pay for itself over time, according to board documents…
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Opinion: Stadium expansion a welcome addition
Crimson White – Feb. 4
We couldn’t be more excited that the proposal to enlarge Bryant-Denny Stadium has moved into its next step and is being submitted for Board of Trustees approval. UA Athletics, in keeping with longstanding practices, will cover the entire cost of the project without any assistance from the state or even the University. In an economic climate like this one, we are extremely pleased that the proposed expansion will not cause the state or the University any more financial hardship…Our only concern is for students. With enrollment breaking records every year for the last five, we think more students should be given the opportunity to attend home football games than the current stadium allows. At the very least, we expect the number of student seats to remain proportional to the number we have currently. We would — as many of you would, too — like to see that proportion increase, however. After all, the reason the University exists is because of the students. All of us, football players included, are here to receive an education and we appreciate the fact that our football team is a major source of entertainment during the fall semester. Given that, we definitely welcome any proposal that adds student seats to the stadium and couldn’t be more pleased with the expansion in a larger sense.
UA wheelchair teams host invitational Friday
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 4
The University of Alabama Wheelchair Athletics program is hosting the Bama Fever Invitational on Friday. The Alabama women will square off against the University of Missouri at 5 p.m. and the Alabama men play the University of Arizona at 7 p.m. The games will be played at the student recreation center. Big Al will be in attendance and admission to the event is free.
Party honors life of German composer Felix Mendelssohn
Tuscaloosa News – Feb. 5
…Dozens of people filled the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library’s foyer for an afternoon of music, acting and cake to celebrate the 200th birthday of German composer Felix Mendelssohn…The event was collaboration between the University Of Alabama School Of Music, the University Libraries and the Department of Theater and Dance. Faculty and students performed several pieces by Mendelssohn, including portions of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” featuring Mendelssohn’s music…
Israeli journalist lectures students on Middle East
Crimson White – Feb. 4
Khaled Abu Toameh will speak to students on the issues facing that area of the Middle East. The Committee for Accuracy in the Middle East Reporting in America is hosting Toameh. He will speak from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Mortar Board Room Ferguson Center…
Gorgas to host climate lecture
Crimson White – Feb. 4
…the University will have its first teach-in on climate change Thursday in Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. The teach-in will be comprised of a variety of professors who will lecture on climate change in different contexts. There will be topics ranging from campus energy savings, a lecture given by Robert Martin, an energy engineer, to state and local initiatives for climate change, a lecture given by Tuscaloosa’s Mayor Walt Maddox, according to the event’s Facebook page…