Fiu Breaks Ground On Football Stadium

[NT80]

May 26, 2007

FIU breaks ground on football stadium

North Texas' Sun Belt Conference rival Florida International broke ground on its new football stadium on Friday.

The facility is expected to be ready for FIU's home opener against South Florida in 2008. The first phase of construction will give FIU 18,000 seats while the finished product will have 45,000.

The following is a link to the story on the FIU Web site.

http://www.fiusports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?...p;ATCLID=900295

Posted by Brett Vito at 5:51 PM | Permalink

[UNT_playmaker]

[Guest GrayEagleOne]

No need to be mad; in fact, you should be happy. An on-campus stadium built to expand to 45,000 is good for the conference.

The fact that FIU has already turned dirt on their new stadium shouldn't affect the building of our own stadfium. If it did, it should be in a positive manner. It would signal that the conference is here to stay and might influence a donor who is uneasy about the conference's future.

[ADLER]

It looks like it's going to be nice once it is completed.

This illustration shows only what the Phase 1 version will look like since that area of 'prime' seating still shows obsolete stands from the existing structure in the west stands. Phase 1 is 18,000 intimate seats placed as close to the action as possible. I haven't seen a drwaing of the completed design but the next phase will add another 27,000 seats in that west section, and perhaps with an upper deck on the east side.

Like Central Forida, FIU appears to be interested in the ability to host major division 1 programs.

Florida International University Finalizes On-Campus Stadium Deal With Odebrecht Construction, Inc.

Courtesy: FIUSports.com

Release: 05/23/2007

A rendering of what FIU's stadium will look like after the first phase of construction.

MIAMI (www.fiusports.com) – Florida International University’s dream of a state-of-the-art, on-campus stadium is one step closer to reality after FIU and Coral Gables-based company Odebrecht Construction, Inc. signed a contract to begin construction, it was announced today.

“I am pleased that we have reached an agreement that allows us to get started on the stadium expansion," said FIU President Modesto A. Maidique. "The new stadium will become a landmark and a gathering place for the FIU community.”

The first phase of construction will bring the stadium’s capacity to approximately 18,000 and will feature 1,400 club seats, a 6,500 square-foot Panther Club, an upper concourse and 19 suites. Seating will include chairback seats and bench seating, all with backrests for fan convenience. Additional phases of construction will include a student support complex and will bring the stadium’s seating capacity to approximately 45,000.

“This will be the crown jewel of FIU’s athletic department,” Athletic Director Pete Garcia said. “The stadium will be the vehicle that will take the athletic department to the next level.”

“We look forward to building an excellent facility; one that will enhance the campus environment and contribute measurably to FIU athletics, student life and the broader community,” said Gilberto Neves, CEO of Odebrecht Construction, Inc. The company, which has been operating in Florida for 16 years, is responsible for building two of Miami’s most important architectural icons – the American Airlines Arena and Carnival Center for the Performing Arts – as well as the expansion of Miami International Airport’s North and South Terminals.

The new stadium is set to open for FIU’s 2008 football season and will be the only Division I on-campus football stadium south of Orlando in Florida.

“This puts FIU on an even playing field, in terms of facilities,” head football coach Mario Cristobal said of the deal. “Now local athletes have one more reason to stay home and build a championship program, and athletes from all over the state and country will have one more reason to come here. This will have a huge impact on recruiting and will give our students and fans something to rally around. It is a great foundation to build on.”

Edited May 27, 2007 by ADLER

[ColoradoEagle]

Is it just me or is the grandstand further away from the field than Fouts?

[UNTflyer]

Is it just me or is the grandstand further away from the field than Fouts?

That looks like the student section side of the field.

[ADLER]

Is it just me or is the grandstand further away from the field than Fouts?

That's the existing structure apparently which will be maintained while PHASE 1 is being built. Being that those are the West Sideline Seats, I am sure that Phase 2 will have it's most prominant structure planted along that sideline. That stadium could insure that FIU is able to remain in Division 1.

I admire the fact that they are trying to entice fans to attend by actually placing them inside the stadium where they would have desirable seating. People should enjoy that a lot more than being seated across the street, down the block, or on top of and behind the press box. Those kind of bad ideas could lead to low attendance and futures in 1AA.