In June 2006 the Board of Regents for the University System of Maryland gave approval for the University of Maryland Athletics Department to borrow $35M to enhance Byrd Stadium. A $50.8 million renovation is planned. Since that announcement, a few fans have criticized the preliminary plans as being too modest. Perhaps some background on the project will be helpful.

Nearly two years ago, Intercollegiate Athletics (ICA) sought permission for a Byrd expansion that would demolish Tyser Tower and rebuild the entire south sideline. The project (Plan A) was to include 48 suites, 2300 club seats and over 5000 regular seats. Stadium capacity would have been a little over 60,000, with the eventual opportunity to add end zone seats to increase stadium capacity even more. The expansion would not have been quite as tall as the north side, but would have looked similar, to give the stadium a balanced perspective. The total project cost was approximately $90M (in pre-Katrina dollars) and ICA developed a plan to pay for the project. Unfortunately, the University System told ICA there was no way the system could allow ICA to assume that level of debt, due to concerns about System debt capacity, bond ratings and academic priorities. ICA accepts the fact that there are other system-wide priorities that take precedent over Maryland athletics at this time. ICA tried to phase the project (Plan B) so that the regular seats would be built in a later phase. That cost (approx. $70M in pre-Katrina dollars) was still deemed much too high to be manageable. Since Katrina, construction costs have escalated in some areas 20-25%. Those costs would have increased the Plan A cost to near $110M and Plan B near $90M.

The current project proposed by ICA is reduced enough in scope and cost that the Regents, System and UM Campus have agreed to support it. We have been approved to borrow $35M and we secured another $20 million through the field naming rights. THE PROJECT WILL GENERATE ENOUGH REVENUE TO PAY FOR ITSELF. Most importantly, it will create a major enhancement to the stadium. The stadium will look much more balanced and will contain an appropriate number of suites and some additional mezzanine seats. The existing Byrd contains no premium seats, which is out of step with the stadiums of our ACC and BCS opponents and unusual for a stadium located in one of the top business markets in the US. Adding hand rails to the aisles in the lower bowl will enhance the customer experience and improve fan safety. Lowering the field will improve the 3000 seats (located in the first ten rows along the sidelines) closest to the field from obstructed view to prime seats. Adding chair backs to the 200 level on the north side will significantly improve those seats. Adding a 200 level in the end zone is already anticipated in a future expansion and will boost capacity by several thousand seats. The quality of Byrd Stadium will rise dramatically with these improvements, to be made over time, as private funding sources are identified.

We are excited about the opportunity to improve Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium. We are in the process of hiring an architect. Design work should begin almost immediately. We will keep all Terrapin Club informed about our exciting progress and will provide renderings of the plans when available.

Go Terps!