Vince Salamone/The Diamondback
After five years of planning, two years of construction and $50 million of private funding, the renovation of Tyser Tower is complete. However, the sales of its suites and mezzanine tickets are not.
The university held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium yesterday evening to celebrate its completion and showcase the new structure days before the Terrapin football team’s home opener against James Madison University. The fact that only 41 of 64 suites and 360 of 440 mezzanine seats have been sold did not put a damper on the event.
“This is something we can look forward to and take tremendous pride in as Terps. We have one of the finest facilities in the country,” said Terp football coach Ralph Friedgen.
The Athletics Department is pointing to the current economic crisis, not a lack of interest as the reason for slow ticket sales. For many businesses, the standard five-year $50,000 lease for a suite is simply too much to take on right now.
However, many of those companies have called to show interest in a suite as soon as business picks up, according to Senior Associate Athletics Director Brian Ullmann. It is this interest, combined with the tax deductibility of leasing a suite, that has Ullmann confident that in one year’s time Tyser Tower will be completely sold out.
Those in suites will be treated to typical suite amenities: complimentary food and beverage service, carpeted hallways, flat screen TVs mounted on the walls and Terrapin insignia throughout. The plush seating for the suites and mezzanine level are relatively standard in terms of luxury seating. But where the seats are located is not, as Tyser ticketholders have the choice of sitting in or outdoors throughout games.
“Most suites are behind glass,” Ullmann said. “The people that have suites are diehard fans. They want to be a part of the atmosphere. They want to hear the roar of the crowd. They want to be a part of it.”
Throughout the night, speakers at the event praised the efficiency of the project that was both on time and on budget. The fact that the renovation was completed for the budgeted $50 million ($70 million after interest, according to Athletics Director Debbie Yow) and in time for Saturday’s clash with James Madison is even more impressive considering original estimates had the renovation finishing in fall 2010.
The motivation for the renovation was also discussed.
“There were some jobs that had come open, and I was afraid we were going to lose Ralph [Friedgen],” said Yow. “He said the thing that mattered most to him in terms of the ongoing development of the football program would be to have this addition in order to balance the look of the stadium.”
With the tower completed, the stadium is not only more up-to-date, but also a tougher place to play for opposing teams, as initial tests show the addition makes the stadium louder.
While the sale of tickets and funding of the construction are hot topics, Yow is confident all will be resolved.
“The mantra for the athletic program this year is ‘We will find a way, or we will make a way,'” Yow said. “And we will.”
sports@umdbk.com
