Two major stadium renovations at Washington state universities are aiming to attract more fans to college football and boost revenue. A $250-million upgrade at the University of Washington’s Husky Stadium, Seattle, and an estimated $70-million, smaller rehab of Washington State University’s Martin Stadium in Pullman are pitting rival schools against each other in the stadium upgrade race.
Renovations to Husky Stadium, a 90-year-old Seattle icon on the shore of Lake Washington, include the complete demolition and reconstruction of the lower horseshoe bowl and south-side upper stands, added in 1950. A surrounding track will be placed elsewhere on campus and the field lowered four feet to improve sight lines. The upgrade will add a new football operations facility as well as premium seating options, but total seating won’t expand much from the current capacity of 72,500, officials say.