Jeff Metcalfe

azcentral sports

The creation of a new student section in the south end zone will be the centerpiece of Phase 1 of reconstruction of Sun Devil Stadium.

Arizona State is submitting plans for a $65.7 million first phase of the stadium project to the Arizona Board of Regents for approval next week at meetings in Tempe. Work will begin in January with completion by August 2015, lowering the stadium capacity to 57,000 for next season with the ability to expand to 60,000 if necessary.

ASU football will continue to play at the stadium during the three-year, three-phase reconstruction. The total project will cost $256 million with completion on the 60,000-seat venue before the start of the 2017 season.

The new student section will be entirely in the lower bowl in the south end zone. Existing steel bleachers will be removed and replaced with improved seating on concrete treads and risers. Eventually, there also will be a student section in the north end zone in what will be called a Double Inferno, unlike any other students sections in the Pac-12.

"Students are a big part of what makes the college football experience special," ASU Vice President for Athletics Ray Anderson said. "We want our home field to reflect that and to showcase what is unique about ASU."

There will be a continuous concrete lower seating bowl around the new stadium. The loge section in the south end zone will be removed with the exception of the area connected to the Carson Center. The south end zone will include a dedicated student entrance, enhanced concessions and restrooms. The ASU marching band will have its own seating, probably in the north end zone eventually, and direct field access.

Seating will be removed from the corners of the upper bowl, improving views of the Tempe buttes.

Before this season, 5,700 seats were removed from the upper north end zone as a necessary preliminary step for Phase 1 of the reconstruction. Phase 1 plans include the removal of upper bowl seating on the northwest side up to the press box and the same upper bowl sections on the northeast side. This will improve views of the Tempe buttes while positioning the two future phases for future completion dates.

"We believe these changes will open up the stadium and create better view corridors to the field from anywhere in the stadium," said Morgan Olsen, ASU executive vice president and chief financial officer. "When we are finished, every seat in the house will have an extraordinary view of the field and access to enhanced fan amenities, and the circulation within the stadium will be improved."

ASU athletics is creating a plan to relocate season-ticket holders impacted by each phase of reconstruction. Season-ticket renewals will begin in January with an extended deadline to accommodate changes.

ASU is financing the stadium with revenue bonds and an $85 million fundraising campaign. The debt will be paid for through revenue generated by the athletic department, including increased stadium naming rights and Pac-12 distributions and revenue from a 330-acre athletic facilities district along Tempe Town Lake.

In August, HNTB Corp. and Gould Evans were chosen to design the stadium and Hunt Construction and Sundt Construction to build it. Last month ASU selected Catellus Development Corp. as master developer of the athletic district.