What will $10m pay for at Bragg Stadium?

On Thursday, Tallahassee City and Leon County Commissioners sitting as the board of the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency approved a $10 million funding request from FAMU to make much needed repairs and improvements to the 67-year-old football stadium.  

 

With the $10 million allocation, Rattler fans should not expect to see dramatic changes to the stadium, as the money will primarily be used to make basic life and safety repairs which will extend the life of the stadium. When completed Bragg will pretty much look the same, with few cosmetic improvements, a new paint job, new restrooms, new sound system, and a completely new press box.

 

What will $10 million buy? 

The bulk of the funds, $4.175m, will be used to replace the stadium pan (the steel floor).  $1.87m will be used to repair and reinforce support beams under the stadium allowing them to withstand more force and increase the lifespan of the stadium.

 

$800,000 will be spent on new lighting, with another $500,00 allocated toward a new sound system, $50,000 for scoreboard repairs and $100,000 to demolish the current press box, which has been deemed as unusable after the current year.

 

Enhancements

Another $2.15m will be used to renovate the stadiums restrooms, which have long been a source of fan concerns, particularly from women, and to make upgrades to the concession stands. 

 

Then, another $2.15m is expected to be spent on building a new press box on the east side of the stadium (behind the area the band currently sits).  While a new press box will look nice and is necessary, it is something most fans will never ever set foot in.

 

The total expected cost of the repairs is estimated at $11,695,000.  The project has not yet been bid out, if construction bids come back higher FAMU would have to either trim projects or find more money.