Huskies haven't given up on plans to renovate Husky Stadium

They had hoped Husky Stadium would be getting ready for a renovation right now.

Instead, after an effort this spring to get state public funding for half the project fell through, it is the renovation plan itself that is back on the drawing board.

In the wake of that failure to get public money — the school was asking for $150 million from the same King County tourism tax used to fund Safeco Field and Qwest Field — the 12-member Husky Stadium Advisory Committee met recently to consider where the project goes now.

"Everything is on the table," said UW athletic director Scott Woodward.

Well, everything except punting on the issue or deciding to play at Qwest Field instead.

"I don't intend to give up on this thing," said former Gov. Dan Evans, chairman of the committee and a UW graduate. "We've got a stadium that badly needs fixing, and we've got to find a way to do it."

Of possibly just playing at Qwest Field, Evans says, "I don't think anyone really believes that is a very good solution."

So the question remains how to fund a renovation of Husky Stadium that the school had said would cost $300 million.

Woodward said among the options is simply going back to the Legislature in 2010. The Legislature essentially did nothing in the last session as the bill never came to a vote.

"The good news was that none of the monies were encumbered for anything else," Woodward said.

But if the school proceeds on that path, it might not necessarily ask for the same amount. For one, Woodward and Evans both say the price of the project is lower now due to the economic downturn. Woodward says that has resulted in lower prices for materials as well as labor, and contractors hungrier for business likely submitting lower bids.

Evans, 83, says that gives some urgency to get something done now.

"We could end up missing on a real opportunity," Evans says.

Woodward also says the "project scope could be skinned down," possibly further decreasing the price. As of yet, however, there are no new firm cost estimates or details on how the project might narrow.

Even if the scope changes, however, what probably won't is the desire to do it all at once. Given the struggle to get financing, some have asked why the renovation can't be accomplished in stages. Woodward says the nature of the stadium makes it nearly impossible.

"You can't just take the west side and lop it off and put in new seats and that's phase one because to do that you have to dig out the field, and then the north and south sides don't match up," he said. "We're going to ask that question again to the contractors and architects, but what we've been told is you can't do it, and I don't foresee it."

One possibility is forgoing a football operations center that would be part of the stadium. Woodward, however, says such a facility would free up other space in the athletic complex for other sports and is "the best way to help the whole enterprise."

As for alternate methods of funding, Woodward says all will be explored. However, he said that will lead to something of a philosophical debate, as well.

"There are all kinds of ways to maximize the monetization of Husky Stadium," he said. "But there is a lot of ugly stuff that goes with that — renaming it, developing it to the point of being garish, in my opinion. How we maximize the monetization of the stadium but keep it in the public spirit of what is right for the state of Washington and the University of Washington, that's where the debate is going to be."

Some have wondered why the school hasn't started raising its share of the money needed. It offered to pay half, or $150 million, under the plan presented to the Legislature this year. Woodward, however, says it doesn't work to ask for money without being able to state clearly what the money is for.

"You start that phase when you have a plan that's ready to go," Woodward said. "Our feasibility studies show we can do it and raise our $150 million and we'll do so when we pull the trigger on the whole project."

With the project on hold, the Huskies will continue to play in the current stadium indefinitely. If the funding had been approved this year, the plan was to play this season there, then begin construction in December.

The school is in the process of replacing the FieldTurf that had been in place since 2000 (the new turf could easily be taken up and used for a new track if a renovation is approved soon). Otherwise, Woodward says there are no other significant repairs planned.

Woodward and Evans both point to a collapse of stadium steps a couple of winters ago — a section fell about six feet — as something that could have been catastrophic if it happened during a game, and a reason for getting public money for its renovation.

But Woodward says, "We think it is safe right now and structurally sound. It's just in disrepair."

Both Woodward and Evans say they think another run at the Legislature could prove successful.

"Hopefully the more we talk, the more we can convince legislators that this would be beneficial to the city and region," he said.

Both also say they think the effort can overcome opposition from some WSU boosters, Woodward similarly repeating his earlier statement that it was merely "an irritant. I just think if they are smart, which they are, that they will try to figure out a way to get some funding that will complement Husky Stadium instead of just being against something."

Evans says there's no timeline for when decisions will be made on how to proceed, only that the sooner the better.

"It's going to be tough to get this done," he said. "But I'm working as hard as I can to figure out some ways to get this done, because it needs to be done."

Bob Condotta: 206-515-5699 or bcondotta@seattletimes.com