Details Emerge on Ross-Ade Stadium Renovation

Nov 2, 2013; West Lafayette, IN, USA; A general view as the Ohio State Buckeyes play the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Purdue’s Ross-Ade Stadium renovation plans were in the spotlight this weekend. Athletic director Morgan Burke outlined a number of the upcoming upgrades this weekend before the spring football game.

There isn’t a final budget for the remodel, but it is expected to be somewhere between $30 and $60 million. The athletic department will lean heavily on donors to fund the project but have also earmarked television contract earnings for the project.

The plan is still waiting approval by the Board of Trustees and wouldn’t be completed for another two to three years.

“If the board approves the architect, you’ve got a year of planning and a year of execution,” Burke said. “I’m presenting something to you that’s two to three years out, but this is the right time to get input and feedback from our fans in a way that doesn’t rush us.”

Burke pointed out a number of things that were going to be altered (via the Indy Star):

• The main objectives are to improve the fan experience, upgrade the seating, and general maintenance of the facility.
  • There are seats in the stadium that date back to the 1970s that will be replaced.
  • The sound system will be replaced and the video boards in each endzone will be upgraded.
• Current plans have a pair of bridges in the south endzone that would connect it to both sides of the stadium. This would improve foot traffic around the stadium, making it easier for fans to move about and prevent bottlenecks.
• Part of the renovation would include a club seating area that would target towards younger alumni. This area is expected to offer finer amenities including alcohol, something that isn’t permitted in the stadium. Selling alcohol in the stadium is a tricky situation. While plenty of the students are of age to drink, many are not and could end up imbibing while underage. The upside is that the stadium would make massive amounts of revenue via beer sales.
• Permanent lighting may also be added to the stadium. The Big Ten Network is wanting to broadcast more night games which would make the lighting a longterm investment.

The plans go before the board this summer. There currently isn’t an exact timetable on when this will all happen, but a final plan should be ready for approval in the next six months.

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