No heavy equipment has yet descended upon Provost Umphrey Stadium.
The projected start date for Lamar University to begin the massive renovation of its football complex in anticipation of its first football season since 1989 has come and gone. The project was set to begin on Monday. As of Tuesday, Lamar athletics director Billy Tubbs said financing for the project is still clearing hurdles.
"Actually, we have a bond before our board of regents," Tubbs said. "The bond will be put up for sale this week or maybe next week."
The Texas State University System board needs to sell the bond at an interest rate that is attractive to investors but in the seller's best interest, which has been tricky amid the turbulence of the national economy.
Southeast Texas Construction Corp. has been retained as the primary contractor, and Lamar president Jimmy Simmons said in late April that work could begin as early as May 25 on the installation of Field Turf in the former Cardinal Stadium. The target date to begin demolition of Higgins Field House was Monday.
"Next week we could start to put in the turf," Tubbs said.
In addition to the renovations and the construction of the two-story, 44,000-square-foot field house, the project includes the construction of a $3 million soccer/softball complex off Rolfe Christopher Boulevard near Vincent-Beck Stadium.
Simmons said the bond sales will cover $21.5 million of the estimated $29 million cost, and that private donations will cover the remainder. The university already has received a $4 million donation earmarked for stadium restoration from Walter and Sheila Umphrey and the Provost Umphrey law firm, and an anonymous $1 million gift earmarked for the installation of the artificial turf.
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