Western Colorado University leaders and supporters have broken ground on what will likely be a $15 million project—renovating the nation's highest football stadium. The renovation is being made possible through a generous lead commitment by alumnus Paul M. Rady (class of 1978) and his wife, Katy. The gift comes on the heels of another transformative gift which established the Rady School of Computer Science & Engineering in partnership with the University of Colorado, Boulder. The groundbreaking ceremony signaling the commencement of construction was held Friday, June 3. Among the special guests at the event were Paul Rady, Rick Watkins of Mesa Properties, Gunnison City Manager Russ Forrest, County Commissioner Jonathan Houck, Board of Trustees members Kara Buckley and Erich Ferchau, and representatives from the Mountaineer Football Alumni Association.
"We are thrilled. The Mountaineer Bowl is a highly visible pillar of our campus and is a gateway for the community. In its current condition, it does not represent the level of excellence we aim to achieve," said Interim President Nancy Chisholm. "We hope to inspire our alumni, community, students, and their families when they attend events at the complex. Now, with Paul and Katy's generosity, we will have a facility that matches our one-of-a-kind, majestic views from Mountaineer Bowl."
The renovation of the Mountaineer Bowl Events Complex will include:
- A new 10,000 square-foot press box which will include locker and training rooms to accommodate women's soccer and their visiting team opponents, a scorekeeper's box, coaches' boxes, broadcast booths, hospitality suites, filming platform, restrooms, and a concession area with a concourse
- A new 20,000 square-foot gateway entrance to the Mountaineer Bowl Events Complex, which will include a new ticket office, two locker and training room facilities for football game days and track meet usage, officials' locker room, and restrooms
- The addition of an artificial turf playing surface and lighting that will allow for expanded use
- A new video/scoreboard with a filming platform
- A resurfaced track to enhance our men's and women's track and field teams
"Understanding the important role that athletics plays on campus, Katy and I want to complement Western's expanded academic programming with a well-deserved enhancement of the athletic core," said Paul Rady.
Fundraising for the project began in earnest this last fall, with $1 million raised prior to Paul and Katy's commitment. Donations, including the $1 million previously raised and a collective goal of $2-3 million dollars, will be sought. These gifts, together with the Rady commitment, will fund this renovation project. Western will recognize gifts to the Mountaineer Bowl Events Complex with naming opportunities within the gateway facility and the press box.
"This has been a priority project for the university and athletic department for several years," shared Athletic Director
Miles Van Hee. "Having Paul and Katy's commitment, along with the support of other generous Mountaineers, will allow us to fulfill this long-awaited dream, get a shovel in the ground right away and create a Mountaineer Bowl Events Complex that demonstrates our vision for championship-caliber excellence."
Mesa Properties, builder of the recently completed 75,000 square foot Gold LEED-certified Rady Computer Science and Engineering Building, will begin construction on the Complex this summer with a goal of opening the new Mountaineer Bowl Events Complex by Fall 2023. Farnsworth Group, the architect for the Rady Building, is also the architect for the Mountaineer Bowl Events Complex renovation project.
"Our student-athletes excel academically, retain and graduate at very high levels, and are leaders on campus," Chisholm concluded. "A renovated complex helps us recognize the critical role they play at our institution."
