NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) -- The ODU Board of Visitors decided to pass on a proposal for a new football stadium Thursday afternoon, at least for the present. The stadium as proposed by Stephen Ballard would have seated 25,000 fans and would have possibly opened by the 2018 season.
The 2013 ODU master plan places a new stadium on the site of the existing ODU Powhatan Apartments.
According to a statement from ODU rector, Ronald Ripley, "Old Dominion is conducting a study, collecting and analyzing data to ensure that we pursue the path that best meets our needs and is fiscally responsible."
"We believe it is in the best interest of the University to complete the study before considering any proposals", the statement read.
The S.B. Ballard Team has said it's proposal would provide an efficient and cost-effective stadium construction plan and would:
- Expand and upgrade the existing Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium to Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) standards.
- Complete the expansion within two years for under $124 million.
The team said it's proposal offered several significant benefits: the lowest-cost option for a new, expanded stadium with a more efficient and timely delivery; there would be no impact to the existing campus housing; it would have minimized the impact on the surrounding neighborhoods; it would have provided better public access, minimized road improvements, and would have added a parking garage option.