Oregon State University has exceeded its $85m (£62.7m/€74.5m) fundraising goal to carry out extensive renovation work at Reser Stadium.
OSU has raised a total of $91.6m from donors, with the effort led by the OSU Foundation. The fundraising was driven by 20 donors who each made gifts of $1m or more, including a previously announced anonymous gift of $50m, which equals the largest donation ever made to OSU.
The planned renovation of Reser Stadium, which serves as the home of OSU’s American football team, will be worth a total of $160.5m and will result in the full renovation of the stadium’s west side.
Construction is underway on the project and it is hoped that the work will be complete by the autumn of 2023. The project includes year-round programmes and spaces serving OSU students, faculty and staff, fans and community members, including a state-of-the-art welcome centre for new students and their families, and a 35,000-square-foot wellness centre.
Reser Stadium opened in 1953 and had an initial seating capacity of 28,000. After OSU played in the 1965 Rose Bowl, the capacity was raised to 33,000 before a further increase to 40,593 in 1967.
The revamped stadium will also feature a 360-degree stadium concourse, expanded concessions and restroom facilities, enhanced sightlines, accessibility improvements and other fan amenities similar to the east side of the venue, which was renovated prior to the 2005 season.
OSU interim president Becky Johnson said: “The Reser Stadium project is a great win for our student-athletes and fans and a win for the Oregon State community. It incorporates valuable new spaces and programmes that will serve the entire university. OSU Athletics and the OSU Foundation worked together with our amazing donors to make this possible.”
Scott Barnes, vice-president and director of OSU Athletics, added: “I am extremely grateful to each and every donor who enthusiastically embraced our vision and stepped forward to help enable what will be one of the most exciting college football stadium experiences in the nation.
“I offer a special thanks to our anonymous lead donor whose contribution is a display of unmatched generosity. This gift served as a catalyst for other donors to support this vital project throughout our fundraising efforts.”
Image: Oregon State University
