AMES – Iowa State’s venerable Hilton Coliseum will undergo a multi-million dollar renovation project to expand its concourses, add additional concession areas, replace aging mechanical systems and improve fan accessibility if the state Board of Regents authorizes Iowa State to proceed with planning.
The widening of the concourses on the north and south side of the facility will improve fan accessibility, provide additional concession points of sale and improve exterior lighting which will enhance the visual aesthetics of the historic facility.
“This is another step forward in our efforts to enhance the game day environment for Cyclone fans attending athletic events,” Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said. “Hilton Coliseum also holds a very prominent place in the entrance to our campus. Similar to how the south end zone renovation changed the entrance to campus off Highway 30, the enhanced exterior lighting included in these plans will make the entrance to Iowa State University even more dramatic.”
Built in 1971, Hilton Coliseum has undergone major construction projects in 1980, 1994 and 2002. An aging infrastructure and congested concourses, however, needs to be addressed.
“As a key athletics venue and important campus building – for events like commencement and job fairs – keeping Hilton’s infrastructure and accessibility up to date is a must-do for our department and the university,” Pollard said.
The project is expected to cost $25 million and will be funded entirely by the athletics department.
The request to begin planning $25 million of improvements at Hilton Coliseum cleared a state Board of Regents committee Feb. 27 and will go before the full board in April.
Bet it won’t take years and they won’t get ripped off four times and they won’t attach some skid row apt complex to it!
I bet they don’t always try to appease the lowest common denominator in Ames like they do in Mason City. I’d bet their city council conduct is professional in Ames and not a circus side show of curmudgeon-y senior citizens like in Mason City. I bet city council members in Ames can be trusted to negotiate in good faith, not flip-flop at the last minute like they do in Mason City.
One thing you can always count on is someday you will be a Senior Citizen and some Dumb Ass young person who hasn’t grown up yet will make smart comments about you. This is why the voting age should be 50 years old.