Students at UW-La Crosse will take an important vote for the region’s business Tuesday.
The vote will be to reallocate $750,000 that has been earmarked for a strength training center to the general construction budget for a new Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex.
Students had originally voted in 2006 to pledge $2.5 million in student fees to the stadium project, but the $750,000 wasn’t going to be used until Phase II of the construction.
As often is the case, the project is going to cost more — $2.3 million more — than the $14 million originally projected. So, the money is needed for Phase I.
The UW-L Foundation Board has already approved a written agreement that stipulates whether the students vote yes or no, the board will come up with the money so construction can begin in June. Corporate and private donations already have been raised.
But, a yes vote by students would show that nearly all entities involved with the university favor the stadium project. That would be good for the university and for La Crosse and regional business.
Why is a sports stadium important to business?
First, UW-L football creates business every fall. The new stadium would have a capacity of 10,000, which would allow even more spectators for football and other UW-L sports.
As important as UW-L sports can be for the area, the WIAA track meet also is a revenue generator. The WIAA State Track and Field Meet has been held in La Crosse since 1990, but officials had been getting offers from UW-Oshkosh, which is in the final stage of a $3 million upgrade to its stadium, to move the state meet there. The current UW-L stadium seats about 4,500 people.
An estimated 17,000 people attend the state meet and pack motels in the area. Dave Clements, executive director of the La Crosse Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, told the La Crosse Tribune in 2006 that the track meet brings “several million dollars“ into the area, as well as a lot of free publicity and a chance for UW-L to attract potential students.
“Can I put a number on those last two? Absolutely not,” Clements told the Trib. “But we know it’s there.”
Other groups have estimated the impact of the two-day track meet at around $1.5 million per year.
Stadium construction must start in June to be completed in time to host the WIAA meet in 2009.
A new stadium also would allow UW-L to contract with local high schools which hold events at the facility, perhaps attract other college and amateur sports events, and also serve as a venue for non-sports events that would draw larger crowds.
Sports stadiums always create some controversy when funding is considered. One only need look at the political furor over Miller Park in Milwaukee, and to a lesser degree over the renovation of Lambeau Field, to see examples.
There also is opposition to the new stadium in the La Crosse area. But, almost every public entity — the cities of La Crosse and Onalaska, La Crosse County, and the UW system — have pledged money to the project. Private donors also have stepped up, and are expected to provide even more funding.
Students also showed their support for the stadium project in 2006 through their vote for the $2.5 million contribution from student fees. Tuesday’s vote is nothing more than a reallocation of the funds to the first phase of the project.
One might argue that the project is an example of sports taking priority over academics. But, UW-L officials also have improvements to the university’s arts and academic facilities in their long range capital planning.
Certainly, costs of the project have to be controlled. The additional $2.3 million cost is alarming, but with high fuel costs driving overall inflation it was not that surprising.
The new sports complex will be the best such facility between Madison and the Twin Cities. If used wisely, it could become a showcase for La Crosse and the broader area. That helps not only the sports enthusiasts in the region, but the overall university and business.
