Here’s what Fresno State fans will see next in ambitious athletics upgrade — and when

Fresno State will start its overhaul of its athletics facilities with a renovation of the suites on the east side of Valley Children’s Stadium. But when will the majority of the Bulldogs’ fan base see the benefits of an ambitious plan that has been pegged at $250 million and was unveiled on Tuesday by athletics director Terry Tumey?

The goal is the start of the 2024 season with the potential for new premium seating, concessions stands, restrooms, a video board and a plaza that extends to Barstow Avenue that is targeted for the north end of the venue.

“Different types of premium seating, different types of food and beverages,” Tumey said. “You could have a party deck, loge box seating. It would really change that whole venue and that whole view and take what many would consider at times seats that are not that attractive and make them some of the most attractive seats in the facility.

“It would really enhance that component and make that so much better, and that’s a way you could monetize what we’re doing moving forward and do it in a real proactive manner. That’s the type of innovative thinking that we have to have in order to fund this thing.”

Plans and design are fluid, and that next phase will require approval of the California State University system. But Fresno State fans in that north end zone could have access to premium amenities that have become common at other sports venues — seat-side food and drink service, enhanced wireless access. And, a funding model is in place with that phase of the project to be paid for through private donations, corporate partnerships and from revenue that will be generated by leases on the suites that will be renovated in July.

The university if everything goes smoothly could begin construction immediately after the final home game of the 2023 season, which would be Nov. 19 following a Senior Day matchup against New Mexico and could be Dec. 3 if the Bulldogs parlay a favorable schedule into a spot hosting the Mountain West Conference championship game.

But, like the suites on the east side of the stadium, the north end zone with its potential to generate revenue is a critical piece in a phased-approach to a facilities plan that touches not just Valley Children’s Stadium, but all 18 of the Bulldogs’ sports programs. The master plan includes enhancements at Bob Bennett Stadium, Margie Wright Diamond, Warmerdam Field, the Fresno State aquatics center.

“Hypothetically, that would be the next thing that we would look at because we do recognize that the north end zone would give us a different type of (ticket) inventory that we think would be attractive to our fan base,” Tumey said. “That inventory and that revenue could go to fund other projects moving forward. I also think if we were able to do some of the other pieces, they also would generate revenue.

“Everybody looks at the price tag in its entirety and thinks, ‘That’s just way too heavy,’ and it is a big number. It’s still going to take a lot of work in order to do it, But I think it’s very important that people recognize that it’s not all happening tomorrow. We do need to take this in pieces to make it work. , The largest investment, of course, is going to be in a lot of the enhancements to Valley Children’s Stadium. That is going to be the biggest lift of all.”

This story was originally published May 9, 2023 at 7:31 PM.