Sun Devil Fans,
I want to thank you for your patience throughout the reinvention of Sun Devil Stadium and provide an update on the most recent developments for Phase III.
Arizona State University was recently approached with a unique opportunity, which is the result of our fundraising success, creative partnerships and plans to expand the stadium's activity beyond football season to a 365-day-a-year experience. This opportunity would launch us beyond the initial scope of the stadium reinvention and in a way that reflects the forward thinking and innovation for which Arizona State is known.
These new ideas, and the new support behind them, mean making the stadium even better than originally planned. We will add terrific amenities to the fan experience, create an unprecedented solarization of the stadium and increase the exciting events at the stadium throughout the year.
This also requires us to pause in order to effectively plan our next steps. Phase III will be enhanced, which will take longer.
What does this mean now?
The scope of Phase III and the Sun Devil Stadium reinvention has now changed. Season ticket holders located on the east side of the stadium WILL NOT be impacted until 2018. After this season's final game, Hunt/Sundt Construction will finish the premium areas on the west side, the student-athlete facility in the north end zone and install the much anticipated north end zone video board. Following the 2017 football season, construction will move to the east side and the newly-planned enhancements. This means Sun Devil Athletics will postpone the stadium-wide reseat until 2018 to maintain the equity of seat selection for our season ticket holders.
What does this mean for the long term?
Sun Devil Stadium was built in 1958, and this reinvention is the most substantial improvement the stadium has seen. Arizona State intends to build a facility that will thrive for the next 60 years. This opportunity to completely overhaul a premiere NCAA football and university facility comes along once in a lifetime, and we have the ability to set the highest standard for a stadium and its fan experience.
I want to thank you again for your patience because the decisions made will impact generations of Sun Devil football fans and their experiences for years to come. We will continue to provide more details to our fans as they are made available.
Ray Anderson
Vice President for University Athletics
Athletics Director
Sun Devil Athletics