Jeff Reed: Arkansas State Football Program Projects Advancing

 

Jeff Reed Author PageLast week it was announced that several phases of the Arkansas State football program were moving forward.

By that we mean that the construction of the end zone complex that will sit on the north end of the stadium is getting closer. Ground should be broken by spring.

The school announced it received an A-1 rating from Moody’s for its proposed bond issue. That issue includes the Student Activity Center at the stadium complex that will contain a full size indoor football field. The bonds should be up for sale soon.

Also, the sale of Liberty Bank to Centennial Bank has been completed. That sale brings a name change for the venue among other things.

The agreement for Liberty Bank Stadium provided for 10 annual payments of $500,000 for the naming rights, with those funds dedicated to the improvement of the stadium. Two of those payments had been received when the sale of the bank was completed, and the naming rights payment was included in that transaction. A-State will now receive one single payment of approximately $3.7 million. That payment covers about a quarter of the Football Operations Center costs.The football operations building will include offices, training facility and eventually a new seating arrangement in the north end zone.The stadium is expected to be renamed Centennial Bank Stadium next football season.

Terry Mohajir, ASU athletic director,  says that the athletic department will need to raise an additional $11 million to cover the cost. There has already been one donation of $250,000.

Also, news came out with the bank transaction that John Allison of Centennial Bank was planning to make a $5 million contribution for renovation of the press box.

Although no plans are on paper, Arkansas State will expand the press box, improve the broadcast areas, the coaching boxes, working media area, and create revenue opportunities with suites.

With Mohajir in place, expect all athletic improvements and upgrades to include potential revenue streams.

Speaking of improvements, the Red Wolves face their biggest game of the season tomorrow evening in Mobile. A-State (3-4, 1-1) is a game out of the lead in the Sun Belt standings, but it seems like more than that after the manhandling from Louisiana-Lafayette 11 days ago in Jonesboro.

That victory basically gives ULL a two-game lead over the Red Wolves, but since the Cajuns are the darlings of the New Orleans Bowl, you have to be way ahead of the school to get the bid to that bowl.

ASU has struggled at times on offense and has yet to hit the consistency of the past three seasons. It has created some grumblings in the Red Wolves community. Some see it as growing pains, others are still searching for an explanation.

South Alabama, which owns a victory over Conference-USA leader Tulane, has been solid this season and has three losses of one score or less.

“That is what I see when I look at them,” said coach Bryan Harsin. “A school that has fought hard and been in a lot of games.”

Harsin said A-State is also learning what it is like to be the team that has the bullseye on its back and everyone wants to beat.

Saturday evening we will see the latest edition of that. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.

Tags: ,