Timeline of how the new CSU stadium came to life

Former CSU QB Jack Graham pitches the idea of an on-campus stadium to then-athletic director Paul Kowalczyk, who sets up a meeting between Graham and CSU president Tony Frank. Frank likes the idea and hires Graham to replace Kowalczyk as AD and lead the stadium project. CSU hires ICON Venue Group to create a feasibility study for the stadium and Populous as the architecture firm to design the stadium. The feasibility study is made public in August. Mortenson Construction later became the firm hired to build the facility. The Colorado State University Board of Governors unanimously votes to support a plan of building an on-campus stadium, budgeted at the time to cost $246 million. The one caveat is that half the funds had to be raised in private donations. Frank promises no taxpayer money will be used. The stadium plan shrinks in scope and cost by about $20 million. Total seating decreases from more than 40,000 to 36,000. Hughes Stadium, the Rams’ previous home off campus, had seating for 32,500 fans. The CSU Board of Governors votes 8-0 (one abstains) in favor of plans to move forward with the new stadium despite not having half the funds raised from private donations. Frank also presented the board with other stadium options, which included staying at Hughes. The board approves financing of the $220 million oncampus stadium through the use of revenue bonds with an 8-1 vote. Board treasurer Joseph Zimlich voted against the project because of concerns about the potential longterm impact of debt on students. Ceremonial groundbreaking happens at the stadium construction site, located at the corner of Pitkin Street and Meridian Avenue in Fort Collins. Stadium capacity would be 41,000, with 36,500 seats. An anonymous donor pledges $20 million to name the field at the oncampus stadium “Sonny Lubick Field” in honor of the legendary CSU football coach who led the Rams from 1993-2007. The field at Hughes Stadium also was named in honor of Lubick. “Substantial” construction is officially completed and keys to the building are handed to CSU. Two months later, CSU held an open house that invited the public to tour the facility while watching the Rams hold a scrimmage. The first game at the oncampus stadium will be played against Oregon State. The Rams have announced a sellout, with a crowd of 41,000 expected. The last home game CSU sold out was played Oct. 1, 2016, a 38-17 loss to archrival Wyoming in the Border War.