Update on UAlbany's Football Stadium

ALBANY, N.Y. -- It's three years in the works, but UAlbany's vision to have a state-of-the-art multi-sport complex is closer to reality than ever.

Athletic Director Lee McElroy said they have already submitted their plan to the State University of New York Board of Trustees.

"What we'd like to see are 10,000 to 15,000 people all dressed in purple sweaters and having a good time and tailgating and having wonderful experience for their families and friends, alumni and students. That's what we envision," said McElroy.

The University at Albany says it wants its sports facilities to match its talent. And that is why they are proposing an estimated $60 million stadium. Our Erin Billups has details about the plan.

But the final say is up to the state. The school is asking for approximately 60 million public dollars to build the stadium. It's a large chunk, but already there's support from local Senator Neil Breslin who said it's a work in progress, but not far-fetched.

"This has an important element that it increases the visibility of the State University, it increases the visibility of New York State nationally, and at the same time is long overdue," said Breslin.

Buffalo and Stony Brook are two of schools that have tapped into the SUNY construction fund to upgrade their sports facilities. McElroy says now it's UAlbany's turn.

"What I'm saying is the success that Albany has had and continues to have, we want to raise it to the level and raise the ante, and this is one way of doing this," said McElroy.

The field UAlbany uses now for its football games was built in the 1960s, and the worn wooden benches look just as old. They don't reflect the current level of sports at UAlbany. McElroy said in order for the school to attract the talent it needs, they'll have to take it up a notch.

"We're in the business of bringing in quality young people both athletically and academically, and in order to do that we need to have a facility that's comparable to our peers," said McElroy.

The school has already started raising the $10 million in private funding it needs.

There isn't a time line yet for building. The school is in the design phase and is waiting to begin the environmental impact study for possible sites on or near the uptown campus.

Story by: Erin Billups


Watch the video: UAlbany Football Stadium news coverage