Cost rises on Clemson's West End Zone project

GREENVILLE, S.C. - The current cost of Clemson&#39;s West End Zone project has risen to $40 million, up from an original estimate of $27 million.<br> <br> A second phase that would create a new home for football operations would cost almost another $20 million while a history and museum area would cost from $8 million to $10 million.<br> <br> That would mean the school would&#39;ve spent a total of almost $70 million, nearly double the original total amount of $40 million, according to figures from The Greenville News.<br> <br> ``We&#39;ve got to get this thing done because we&#39;re behind,&#39;&#39; Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips said. ``We can&#39;t let too much time drag on before we start construction because every year we don&#39;t recruit effectively, it starts a terrible cycle.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Clemson football coach Tommy Bowden asked school leaders for improved facilities within weeks of his hiring in December 1998.<br> <br> ``It&#39;s been six, seven years,&#39;&#39; Bowden said this week. ``I think I understand, but I&#39;d like them to have patience, too, as I patiently wait.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> When Phillips was hired in June 2002, he suggested putting the football operations offices into a West End Zone project that would also create premium seats and bring in about $1.3 million in additional revenue each year.<br> <br> ``It just seemed to be that we could develop the club seat concept, develop the footprint for the football facility and create a revenue stream that would support the project,&#39;&#39; Phillips said.<br> <br> The current phase of the project at Memorial Stadium will include completion of the north and south concourse, a new end zone concourse, a club-seating level, an indoor lounge and a locker rooms.<br> <br> Phillips said that part should be ready to go when Clemson opens the season against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 2.<br> <br> The school says the first phase was funded through donations, bonds and a loan from the endowment fund of the school&#39;s athletic booster group, IPTAY. The loan was repaid by the athletic department from the sales of more than 400 premium seats and nearly 1,000 club seats.<br> <br> The school borrowed $6 million of the $16 million raised for the football component of the project on the first phase. Phillips has said he won&#39;t start future construction until all necessary money is secure.<br> <br> Bowden says he mentions the construction and what it could mean to football success at IPTAY gatherings.<br> <br> ``They want me to stay actively involved to raising funds,&#39;&#39; Bowden said.<br> <br> Bowden will start his eighth season at Clemson this fall. He hopes to see the full project finished as soon as possible.<br> <br> ``I&#39;d like to be in it, I really would,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> (Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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