Huskie Stadium might be getting a more thorough renovation than originally planned.

The original rehabilitation plan for Huskie Stadium entailed replacing the bleachers in the west grandstand, but further evaluation has suggested the need for a more thorough renovation of the stadium, NIU officials said.

The renovation will be done in two phases but plans for each phase have not been finalized. The estimated budget for phase I has been estimated at $650,000.

Patricia Hewitt, associate vice president of Business and Operations, said, “All we have permission to do right now is for the design work. Once the plans are completed, the project will be submitted to the Board of Regents.”

Hewitt said the stadium bleachers have been in need of replacement for years.

“The original bleachers were installed in 1964. This is our chance to make modifications,” Hewitt said.

“Bleacher modifications have been postponed because of the installation of new lights and Astroturf,” she said.

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) guidelines require a stadium to have at least 30,000 seats in order for a school to maintain division I-A status.

NIU Athletic Director Gerald O’Dell said NIU’s 30,000 seats are borderline because some of the seating is dysfunctional.

“There is a lack of tradition at NIU because there is no quality traditional seating,” he said. “There has to be a quality place for students to go.”

O’Dell said the renovation is in an exploratory phase and has more aspects than just seating.

“We have to look at concession areas, restrooms, handicapped accessibility and other areas,” O’Dell said. “How to take care of people once they’re in the stadium is what we need to look at.”

Hewitt said the money will come from NIU bond refinancing funds and a stadium reserve fund. The cost for the renovation will not result in a fee increase for NIU students, she added.

Conrad Miller, project manager for NIU Architectural and Engineering Services, said the only tangible thing which will be done in the immediate future will be to replace the 15,000 seats in the west grandstand.

“No decision has been made as whether to use aluminum or fiberglass,” Miller said. “The long range goal is to install good seats on the east side, too.”

“The concession areas are our concern, too. There is no common concourse for people to centralize in,” he said.

More access to the vending areas and restrooms are also being considered, Miller said.

The plans are being developed by Rosser Fabrap International of Atlanta. O’Dell said this company has designed the Memphis Pyramid and the Georgia Dome.

“The architects are working on two or three options right now,” O’Dell said. “They will be back in December or January to consult with NIU.”

Miller said the architects are doing a very thorough job in getting feedback from everyone involved in running the stadium.

He said the target date for construction to begin is at the end of the 1993 season.