http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/wast/graphics/cfp-header.jpg

New Renovation of Martin Stadium on the Washington State University campus started construction last week

http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/wast/graphics/cfp-ticket-office-view-895.jpg

http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/wast/graphics/wilson-road-view-895.jpg

http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/wast/graphics/cougarfootballproject/field-view-900.gif

http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/wast/graphics/club-perspective-895.gif

http://www.cpd.wsu.edu/CapitalProjects/Projects/FullSizeImage.aspx?Picture_ID=21837

http://www.cpd.wsu.edu/CapitalProjects/Projects/FullSizeImage.aspx?Picture_ID=21831

http://www.cpd.wsu.edu/CapitalProjects/Projects/FullSizeImage.aspx?Picture_ID=21830

Message from Athletic Director Bill Moos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=umSvj0rJWOk

The old press box is now under demolition. The whole project is projected to be completed before next year's football season

Here is the current webcam image (10:55 11/29/11):
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/TheCougarFootballProject-oxpro-20111129-104238.jpg

And the website:
http://thecougarfootballproject.org/

Sorry about the image sizes, I dont know how to make them smaller

Web site doesn't say but I assume the project will lift the capacity from 37K to about 40k. Nice addition for a program of that size. I'm sure Cougar fans will send PAC Commissioner Scott a nice thank you for the $8M+ per year increase they'll see under these new contracts, seeing as that is essentially paying for this expansion.

Very nice, indeed.

I'm sure Cougar fans will send PAC Commissioner Scott a nice thank you for the $8M+ per year increase they'll see under these new contracts, seeing as that is essentially paying for this expansion.

That plus the revenue of the expensive luxury boxes that will be built, this will rake in lots of money to the program, plus rake in more recruits and make the football team more successful.


If enough money is gained, they will build the football building that you see in a couple renders at the west endzone. This is the second part of the renovation that they hope will begin next year.

What I hate about these large suite towers built on top of the bottom bowl, is that they hinder the future upward expansion of the stadium, plus if you build an extra tier of seats on the other side, it looks horribly lopsided.

Maryland's Byrd Stadium comes to mind:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/Byrd_Stadium_Pano.jpg/800px-Byrd_Stadium_Pano.jpg

This one is a bridge between Maryland and WKU, IMO.

WKU:
http://wkuphoto.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/football_gigapan.jpg?w=800

WSU looks to be the Goldilocks of the 3. Not too big, not too small, but just right.

The stadium will not be added onto anytime soon, the football team needs to start filling the current arrangement first. Plus there is no room to expand on either sideline since there are buildings it is already backed into

Maryland's Byrd Stadium comes to mind:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/Byrd_Stadium_Pano.jpg/800px-Byrd_Stadium_Pano.jpgMaryland's will be fine, though, not only because the stadium is already larger by comparison but that if they do future expansions correctly they'll be fine. Adding upper tiers above the bowl end that match the existing larger side would be next, and if ever needed they could recreate that on the other end.

Say what we like about architectural symmetry and balance, these towers are the most efficient way to construct the money-making side of the game.

That plus the revenue of the expensive luxury boxes that will be built, this will rake in lots of money to the program, plus rake in more recruits and make the football team more successful. The hidden secret/caveat being, of course, that if everyone is doing it then the net benefit is merely building to keep up with where you are. Cal and Washington are rebuilding their stadiums, Utah is planning for an expansion at Rice Eccles, Oregon will eventually see an expansion, and even Oregon State has the plans in place as the demand suits.

At least WSU is doing this the right way and not overshooting the mark, as my Jackets did. Good luck to them.

I've been to plenty of games at Maryland. It's fine just how it is. No need for expansion.

Good news about Washington State Football, they have hired Mike Leach to take over as head coach. The new stadium renovation, the tv contract, and the new coach, all eyes will be on the Cougs next season!

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2011/11/washington-state-agreement-coach-mike-leach-texas-tech/1

Good news about Washington State Football, they have hired Mike Leach to take over as head coach. The new stadium renovation, the tv contract, and the new coach, all eyes will be on the Cougs next season!

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2011/11/washington-state-agreement-coach-mike-leach-texas-tech/1
The arms race in the PAC-12 will be interesting to watch as it unfolds. With all of the TV money along with the PAC12 network money, all these athletic programs are flush with cash and looking to spend it.

If someone told me a year ago that Wazzu would pay a coach $2.5 million/year for a football coach, I would have thought they were crazy. Arizona went big and is now paying Rich Rod $2million/year, and ASU is looking to pay a big name coach like Mike Martz big bucks. Now the rumor is that UCLA, which has been notoriously cheap with their football program, is willing to pay $4 million/year to Chris Peterson and is looking at a facilities upgrade.

With Cal's and Washington's new facilities coming online in the next two years, and with Oregon's endless supply of Nike money, everyone is being forced to step it up. Interesting times are ahead indeed.

:cheers:

I like Cougars :)

Today the ticket office, the phone lines, and the website for ordering tickets for next season are filled up! This is an exciting time for Cougar fans!!

I went by the site today and snapped a quick photo with my phone.

Behind the old press box:

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/IMG_0817468.jpg

Seats are being taken out, and so is the concrete
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/IMG_0827491.jpg

There is a big hole being dug where the equipment is
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/IMG_0828492.jpg

Pictures taken today by me

Seats are being taken out, and so is the concrete
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/IMG_0827491.jpg
precast?

Right now:

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/TheCougarFootballProject-oxpro-20120106-120422.jpg

Press box demolition is on full swing

This weekend the tower crane is going to be assembled. Right now the press box demolition is completed and the elevator core is rising (to the left of the crane):

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/TheCougarFootballProject-oxpro-20120119-144918.jpg

And yes, that is a foot of snow

The next photos are from last Thursday

The area underneath the stands that were taken out on the far and of the stadium is now undergoing piling to get ready for the freight elevator:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/407284_167837433320821_139563982814833_227471_61838388_n.jpg


The slab that is at the bottom of the previous press box will be reused for the bottom of the new building:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/390150_167837366654161_139563982814833_227469_1935126473_n.jpg

Tower crane is being constructed today and tomorrow:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/402974_313743378661095_100000763071851_845659_935441492_n.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/TheCougarFootballProject-oxpro-20120122-151738.jpg

Main elevator core is nearing its final jump:

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/TheCougarFootballProject-oxpro-20120209-134218.jpg

Core is peeking up and can be seen from pretty far away:

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/0206121551.jpg

Right now, steel is progressing well, and the service elevator is rising on the far side.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/The_Cougar_Football_Project-20120225-124821.jpg

They have made quite a jump this week on the project. Good to see some great strides being made on the field and with a long overdue facility upgrade. I was not real impressed with what little I saw on the new W. Endzone facility compared to the modern proposal that came out early last year, but beggars can't be choosers. Be interesting to see whats instore..

Thanks for the updates!

Go Cougs!

they should have built a pirate ship

I would be all in for the Pirate Ship however, if Leach was to leave after a few years it would be a little bit akward to say the least..

I am still liking the original proposal:
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/604502/Stadium__6.jpg

Taken by me at midnight:

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/CFP1.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/CFP2.jpg

fordgtman1192 thanks for the pics!

They are making some good ground!

Beautiful day, 64 degrees out

Right now:

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/The_Cougar_Football_Project-20120309-130204.jpg

They are starting on the east side

I would be all in for the Pirate Ship however, if Leach was to leave after a few years it would be a little bit akward to say the least..

I am still liking the original proposal:
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/604502/Stadium__6.jpg

It looks like a mini Soldier Field

Hey, look at me.. I'm famous!! ;)

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/The_Cougar_Football_Project-20120309-174916.jpg

I'm in grey next to the guy in white, out taking photos

Right now:

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/The_Cougar_Football_Project-20120325-161506.jpg

Coach Mike Leach signing the last steel beam:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/295277_10151502196350457_154544935456_23731515_999167688_n.jpg

Right now:

A lot of progress today
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/The_Cougar_Football_Project-20120407-164814.jpg

Right now:

A lot of progress today
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/The_Cougar_Football_Project-20120407-164814.jpgNice! I went to the webcam site and saw the time-lapse video which shows the progress from beginning to present. There, you can really see how massive this addition is compared to the old press box. It's going to look great when it's completed.

79 degrees, Working on the "skin" of the building. All structural steel has been up for a couple weeks

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/The_Cougar_Football_Project-20120423-152711.jpg

From the hill next to campus:

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/Observatoryhillstadium.jpg

It's been a while! They are taking the scaffolding down on the North side:

Right now:
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/The_Cougar_Football_Project-20120629-124827.jpg

June 21:
https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/599836_258333517604545_361951565_n.jpg
https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/179549_258333724271191_1594828742_n.jpg
https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/599445_258333640937866_1476531740_n.jpg

Thanks for the update..

Impressive work happening on Martin Stadium, looks great to include the new lettering. The view of Mike Leach's new installed Cougar Air Raid should be quite a site from the new seats.

I wish they would paint the lower concrete ring of the stadium crimson. I know they put up some sponsers etc around but it would help quite a bit as that weather worn concrete does not do any justice at all.

From Facebook:

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/545489_269607323143831_627217840_n.jpg

From the webcam:

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/The_Cougar_Football_Project-20120723-114322.jpg

Nice looking boxes. It's looking more and more like Lambeau Field.

Fantastic photo on the webcam right now:

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/The_Cougar_Football_Project-20120802-225339.jpg

Today was the official opening and the first home game.

From Facebook:
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/563006_497926833550685_484482386_n.jpg

The photos by me:

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/CFP.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/Renderview.jpg

Render vs Real:
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/RenderReal.jpg

From Facebook:

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/304681_283798415058055_1347026923_n.jpg


Club Seats:
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/534293_283797681724795_1628452616_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/548115_283797658391464_735844092_n.jpg

Club Level:
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/404171_283797691724794_1893851773_n.jpg


Indoor Club:
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/579980_283797781724785_1310284045_n.jpg
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/548125_283797765058120_2085382061_n.jpg

From the Webcam:
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k199/fordgtman1992/The_Cougar_Football_Project-20120908-130307.jpg

First sellout at Martin Stadium since 2006, and first opening game sellout since 1952.

puv7BRqbhgM

Thank you for posting that!

They need to add a main mast, sail and raise the skull and crossbones.

They still couldn't fix that weird little section in the near corner? I believe that is part of section 1, where you can barely see any of the field if you are sitting down. Should put that in the "Funny Stadiums and Stands" thread.

They need to add a main mast, sail and raise the skull and crossbones.

haha Leach needs to step it up before he gets commemorated

haha Leach needs to step it up before he gets commemorated
I mean, everyone's used to seeing Wazzu "coug it," but this one takes the shit-iced cake...

^^Anyone have pictures from the smoke game this past weekend?