SMU Mentioned in Story About UCF's New Stadium
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2005 2:01 am"In the past decade, only one Division I-A school -- Southern Methodist University in Dallas -- constructed an on-campus football stadium from scratch.
SMU is hoping to regain the stature it once enjoyed as a power in the now-defunct Southwest Conference. After a two-season shutdown by the NCAA because of recruiting violations, the university found it difficult to attract fans to an aging Cotton Bowl stadium in south Dallas, a half-hour from campus.
Then a booster donated $20 million for a new 32,000-seat stadium. Built of concrete and brick, it was finished in 2000 with a final price tag of $43.3 million.
Although campus leaders contend that the stadium and the five or six home games there each year have enhanced SMU, the facility has not yet translated into victories or popularity. The games average fewer than 19,000 fans.
The school dropped its ban on alcohol on campus for home games, and a tailgate area known as "The Boulevard" has proved popular with students and young alums, athletic development director Chris Walker said."
For the full story on University of Central Florida's plans for a new stadium, go to this link: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/coll ... tf-knights
SMU is hoping to regain the stature it once enjoyed as a power in the now-defunct Southwest Conference. After a two-season shutdown by the NCAA because of recruiting violations, the university found it difficult to attract fans to an aging Cotton Bowl stadium in south Dallas, a half-hour from campus.
Then a booster donated $20 million for a new 32,000-seat stadium. Built of concrete and brick, it was finished in 2000 with a final price tag of $43.3 million.
Although campus leaders contend that the stadium and the five or six home games there each year have enhanced SMU, the facility has not yet translated into victories or popularity. The games average fewer than 19,000 fans.
The school dropped its ban on alcohol on campus for home games, and a tailgate area known as "The Boulevard" has proved popular with students and young alums, athletic development director Chris Walker said."
For the full story on University of Central Florida's plans for a new stadium, go to this link: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/coll ... tf-knights