BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Montana State University plans to expand and
renovate Bobcat Stadium and enhance most aspects of its facilities over
the next decade, Peter Fields, Director of Athletics, announced on
Thursday.

"This is an exciting time to be a Bobcat," Fields said.
The plan, slated to begin once funding is in place, begins with
the addition of 38 SkySuites above the east grandstands. That piece of
the project is expected to provide an annual revenue stream of
approximately $500,000, which will help supplement private donations in
funding the remainder of the projects. Fields indicated the stadium
expansion plan includes six phases that could take up to a decade.
Interspersed with the Stadium expansion are enhancements to
other areas of the Bobcat Athletics physical plant, particularly those
directly impacting MSU student-athletes. Projects include a new academic
center, improved strength training and sports medicine facilities, an
indoor football practice area, and dedicated practice areas for the
men's and women's basketball squads.

"Our primary mission is to help our student-athletes gain a
quality education while competing in their chosen sport at the highest
possible level," Fields said. "Establishing a high-quality academic
center to aid in their educational pursuits and providing top-flight
facilities that help them improve speaks directly to this mission.
That's why we see this as a very important project."

The initial stages of the football stadium expansion will
supplement private fund-raising in the ensuing stages of renovations and
additions. Fields emphasized that Bobcat Athletics and Montana State
University will use no state funds and no student fees to fund these
projects, and that, taken in total, "will positively impact each of our
nearly 300 student-athletes. That's what makes this project truly
exciting, and truly significant."

-msu-