UH breaks ground on new football stadium

Khator on stadium: ‘This day is here’

University of Houston officials stuck silver shovels in dirt Friday in a ceremonial groundbreaking for the school’s new on-campus football stadium.

“A lot of people thought this day would not come,” UH president and system chancellor Renu Khator said. “This day is here.”

Wearing red hard hats with the UH logo, school officials, city and state dignitaries and major donors took part in the ceremony held just a few steps away from where the 40,000-seat stadium will be built.

The stadium, at an estimated cost of $105 million, is scheduled to open Aug. 30, 2014. Robertson Stadium, the Cougars’ longtime home, was demolished in December.

.

“When this stadium is complete, it’s going to be one of the nicest facilities in the country,” said Mack Rhoades, UH’s vice president for intercollegiate athletics. “It will be second to none.

“Our athletics department is moving forward in terms of being nationally competitive. We want to regain that prominence that we once all enjoyed 20 years ago. That’s our mission, that’s our vision. This is a big step.”

In December, the school unveiled artist renderings that feature continuous bowled seating, an east-west configuration and a specially coated corrugated metal exterior skin with an opening on the northwest side to offer a view of the city’s downtown skyline.

Among the stadium’s amenities: a 12,400-square foot club, 26 suites, 34 loge boxes and additional premium seating. The design of the stadium will allow for future expansion to 60,000.

“We are on a mission to build a nationally competitive and internationally recognized university,” Khator said. “I think athletics is a very important part for our dreams for our future.”

During the public ceremony, attended by the UH marching band, cheerleaders and fans, Rhoades announced a $5 million gift from the John O’Quinn Foundation to keep the name John O’Quinn Field at the new stadium.

“Fundraising has gone tremendously well and we’re on pace,” Rhoades said. “The timeline for the stadium right now is great and the budget is well intact. The project is going remarkably smooth at this time.”

Khator also recognized the UH student body, which overwhelming voted in favor of a student fee increase toward the funding for the new stadium.

“The students believed in the vision and decided this was something they needed,” Khator said.

An agreement has not been finalized, but the Cougars are expected to play their six-game home schedule and Bayou Bucket against Rice next season at Reliant Stadium.

“That’s where we more than likely will end up playing all of our home games,” Rhoades said.

Rhoades added the school is still working on securing naming rights for the stadium.

With construction set to begin, Khator did not waste time setting expectations for head coach Tony Levine sitting on the front row.

“I want to see a lot of wins here,” she said.

The school unveiled renderings for the new stadium in late December. You can view the renderings and get answers to frequently asked questions about the stadium here.

The new stadium will replace Robertson Stadium, which was demolished in December.