Chris CiarloChannel 2 News
University of Nevada Athletic Director Cary Groth said on my show Face the State the school is planning on upgrading Mackay Stadium.
"We are taking our fans seriously. When they say they want an upgrade in seats with chair backs and different opportunities in the stadium, we are looking into that right now and we think we have the support to do that by 2013."
Groth said it's important to upgrade the seating because it adds revenue. She said when they put in the premium, courtside seating in Lawlor for basketball that was a $300,000 renovation, but in five years has yielded $12 million.
Groth said they also plan on not only renovating Mackay, but building a $15-$20 million all sports, indoor facility and putting it where the tennis courts currently sit.
"You need it for football. Whether it's a 80 yard facility or 100 yard facility, you could put a soccer field in there. The golf teams could hit against screens in there. I mean the list goes on and on, so it's a priority not only for our program, but also for our president."
I also spoke with Groth about moving to the Mountain West Conference. She said when the Pack was invited, she had 24 hours to decide and it was a no brainer.
"The easy part of that decision was the upgrade in competition, the increased revenue opportunities and the exposure for our programs on national television."
The entire interview with growth will air Saturday on Face the State at 4:30am and 3:30pm. It will also air Sunday at 6:30am and 3:30pm.
