Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Tuesday, April 22, 2008

UW-L stadium plans move forward

By KJ LANG | La Crosse Tribune

Construction will start in June on the initial phase of the Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex after the main fundraising group behind the project guaranteed Monday it will cover all costs, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse officials said.

The executive committee of the UW-L Foundation Board approved a written agreement Monday that if any Phase I construction money does not come through as pledged, the foundation will come up with the funds.

That guarantee helps, said UW-L Chancellor Joe Gow, but it also makes an April 29 student vote on shifting funding for the stadium “a critical factor to getting us where we need to be.”

The student referendum, if approved, would reallocate $750,000 that had been earmarked for a strength training center in Phase II to Phase I general construction. It would change part of what UW-L students passed in a February 2006 referendum that pledged $2.5 million in student fees to the project.

If students vote no on the measure, the UW-L foundation would have to come up with the $750,000, said Mike Desmond, UW-L development officer.

“That is why we needed the guarantee, because that was a risk that we, as a university, were reluctant to take,” said Gow.

The foundation was forced to turn back to the students and community last week after Phase I bids came in $2.3 million higher than what had been projected. The group managed to raise another $2.5 million in seven days, but that total included the reallocated student funding and other pledges.

Stadium construction must start in June to be completed in time to host the WIAA State Track and Field Championships in 2009.

The guarantee states if the foundation is unable to collect all funds pledged toward the $16.6 million Phase I, which includes $400,000 for a couple of alternate projects, it will need to make up the difference.

In addition, if the university and foundation agree to start Phase II projects, the guarantee will extend to those as well.

UW-L officials have given the Wisconsin Division of State Facilities permission to award project contracts to the lowest bidders, said Bob Hetzel, UW-L vice chancellor for administration and finance.

In the meantime, the foundation will continue to raise money for Phase II, said Desmond.

The foundation has a verbal commitment with WIAA officials that they will continue to raise money for bleachers on the east side of the stadium. The group’s executive committee Monday also approved a written commitment with students to continue fundraising for the strength training facility.

KJ Lang can be reached at (608) 791-8226 or klang@lacrossetribune.com.