Four contractors were originally in the running for the $5.5 million project, but the Utah company Ames, owned by former Grizzly football player and longtime booster Walt Brett, withdrew from the bid process, said Jerry Ballas, the University of Montana's project manager for the stadium expansion.
Ballas didn't explain why Ames decided against seeking the contract, but said he and others were disappointed by the decision because the company was good to work with when it tackled the 4,000-seat north end zone expansion in 2003.
All three have worked on, or are currently working on, UM building projects and have proved they can do good work and finish projects in a timely manner, Ballas said.
If the Grizzly football team continues to dominate the Big Sky Conference and hosts one or more playoff games, contractors won't start on the project until Dec. 15, said Jim O'Day, UM's athletic director.
Whatever happens in coming weeks, one thing is for sure: The stadium will have 2,000 more people in it this time next year, O'Day said.
“We can't wait,” he said. “I wish I had that additional seating now.”
Architectural drawings show what the expansion will look like, but the project's bells and whistles are still being worked on, O'Day said.
While $5.5 million sounds like a lot of money, it's not enough to buy everything on the dream list - the list that was talked about when planning first started, he said.
Included in the 2,000 additional seats will be a clubhouse that will serve 250 seats, an adjacent terrace with 250 seats, an elevator and additional seating for people with disabilities. The new concourse will include several food carts and a kiosk that will sell items from the The Bookstore at the University of Montana.
What has been cast off for now is a second elevator, permanent concession stands, and a stadium kitchen to serve the clubhouse and skybox clients who pay upward of $16,000 a year for the luxury rooms, which can accommodate 30 people or more each.
Feeding the hordes of fans becomes increasingly difficult with each expansion, said Mark LoParco, executive director of UM Dining Services. Currently, Dining Services staff must prepare the stadium food in its catering kitchen in the University Center and then shuttle dishes across campus, navigate the football crowd, and make deliveries to the appropriate boxes.
Having a dedicated kitchen in Washington-Grizzly would alleviate a lot of stress for staff and provide better service to guests, LoParco said. Dining Services is helping to pay for the project by contributing $140,000 over the next five years. Because it is a stakeholder, LoParco said he was hoping to get the items that Dining Services pitched during the planning process.
“In terms of what we hoped the project would include and what it appears at this stage that there is - there is a gap between what we hoped for and what we are getting,” LoParco said. “Initially, we hoped or expected to get a number of new snack bars areas and concession stands, and right now, it does not look like that is going to happen.”
The good news, he said, is that there is room on the new concourse for those things if the project bid comes in under the $5.5 million cap, or in the future, when profits roll in to make upgrades.
Both O'Day and LoParco are hopeful either scenario comes to pass.
“I would love for the bids to come in at $4.5 million so we can then add some of the options we have taken out - like a kitchen for Dining Services,” O'Day said. “I'd also like to be able to upgrade the individual seating the GSA (Grizzly Scholarship Association) members pay for.”
So what will be included in the expansion?
Boosters will get opportunities to purchase premiere $1,000-a-season seating on the Stadium Club Hellgate Terrace, which is outdoor seating only, or they can buy $1,500-a-season seating in the “Canyon Room” club, which gives people an option to sit indoors or outdoors in individual stadium seats.
Boosters can also purchase additional GSA seating - providing they have a gold- or silver-level GSA membership - that will be included in the project.
“The new seating is going extremely fast, and anybody who wants club seats needs to call us pretty quickly,” O'Day said.
Because of the expansion and rearrangement of seats for general ticket buyers, UM students will get 700 additional seats in the south end zone.
Funding for the project comes from multiple sources, and the cost of the project is expected to be paid off in six years, O'Day said.
Among the biggest donors are UM students, who agreed last year to increase the athletic fee they pay each semester. They'll contribute about $225,000 each year. Boosters who buy the clubhouse seating will provide $625,000 annually, and GSA memberships are expected to add about $100,000 toward the project each season.
Now that the 2003 north end zone expansion project is nearly paid for, revenue from tickets sales also will be used to offset the new construction costs.
When the east-side expansion is paid off, UM athletics is counting on a revenue stream of about $1.3 million, O'Day said.
“That money will be sorely needed as costs continue to go up,” he said, “and I think that money will be very much appreciated.”
Aside from money concerns, O'Day said he's ready for the project to start and can't wait for it to be finished. Even though this season is far from over, next season will be an experience not to be missed.
Laughing at the thought, O'Day said: “Can you imagine what the Griz-Cat game will be like with all that additional seating?”
Reporter Betsy Cohen can be reached at 523-5253 or at bcohen@missoulian.com
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