When Ted Leland arrived at Stanford in 1991 to become the school's new athletic director, he was immediately impressed by the talented coaches and athletes on the Farm.
And he was appalled by the deteriorating facilities that those same coaches and athletes used.
"When I got here," Leland said, "the quality of our athletes was extraordinary and the quality of our coaches was extraordinary, but the quality of the support services we gave them wasn't. Our facilities were the worst in the Pac-10, no question."
So Leland and his staff set out to devise a master plan to spruce up aging facilities and build new ones in hopes of having playing fields that matched the quality of the athletes using them.
The first task was to raise funds and erect a new athletic department building.
Done.
The Arrillaga Family Sports Center, named after Stanford graduate and primary donor John Arrillaga, was built next to Maples Pavilion at a cost of $23.4 million. It opened for business in January 1994.
When the Lewis Foster Family donated $10 million to the athletic department for the renovation of 74-year-old Stanford Stadium, the design plan wheels began turning again.
"There had been no maintenance done on it for years," said Ray Purpur, an assistant athletic director who oversees school facilities, operations and events. "With today's new stadiums being as elaborate as they are, we just have to bring ours up to similar quality.
"Good facilities are the key to recruiting athletes. It goes hand in hand in attracting spectators."
The planned stadium renovation, which will begin in January 1996 at a cost of $12.5 million, according to Purpur, will include: many more restrooms, customer-friendly ramps at all four corners of the stadium, more concession stands, a hospitality center for outdoor eating (behind the VIP seating in front of the press box), a broader inside concourse running the full length of both sides of the stadium and elevator towers on the west side.
In addition, the master plan for Stanford's athletic facilities calls for:
The renovation of Angell Field, a project that will make the dirt track a nine-lane, state-of-the-art track and field facility. The new field would include seating for several thousand people. Construction is expected to start in mid-June. Cost: $1.5 million.
The renovation of Sunken Diamond, which will include the installation of lights at a cost of $476,000. Press box and concession facilities have been improved. All of the fencing has been replaced, the bullpens redone and surrounding areas completely landscaped. Cost: more than $1 million.
The empty lot behind Ford Center and the old athletic department building will be completely landscaped and include two sand volleyball courts. Cost: $1 million.
A new softball stadium will be built behind Sunken Diamond on Maloney Field No. 2. It will include sunken dugouts, a pressbox and a berm behind the outfield fences. Purpur expects the field to be ready for the 1996 season.
Other proposed projects included in Stanford's Master Plan that are awaiting funding:
A second 50-meter swimming pool due east of the current De Guerre swimming facility.
The installation of artificial turf at Maloney Field, for field hockey and other uses, and the relocation of the main soccer field to the current intramural fields next to El Camino Real.
A new section of stands for the Stanford Tennis Stadium, which would include a sunken indoor court.
A Sports Medicine Institute building, a joint project with the Stanford Medical Center and Stanford Athletic Department, just west of the entrance to Sunken Diamond and next to the proposed new pool.
Improvements to Maples Pavilion and playing fields.
--Keith Peters
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