PULLMAN, WA – Washington State University Athletics is planning for millions of dollars in privately funded upgrades to Gesa Field.

The project will be considered by the WSU Regents during their board meeting next week.  Documents to the regents reveals that Cougar Athletics is proposing 12 million dollars in upgrades for the field inside Martin Stadium.  The first phase of the project is expected to cost 7 million dollars and would buy a new videoboard, sound system and LED field lights.  The new lights would interact with the new sound and video systems.  Regents documents from staff point out that the current videoboard and stadium lights are at the end of their operational life.

Over the past four months Cougar Athletics has already received 1.3 million dollars in donations and another 4.2 million dollars has been pledged for the work.  If the remaining 2.5 million dollars needed for the project isn’t secured by December 15th the project will not move forward.  The plan calls for the new videoboard, speakers and lights to be ready for the 2026 Cougar football season.  The proposal also calls for the regents to approve the sale of up to 5 million dollars in bonds to provide bridge financing to cover construction costs until the pledges are received.  Those pledges are set to be collected over the next 5 years.

Regents meeting documents show that the proposed second phase of Gesa Field upgrades is for new turf and other unspecified fan enhancements.  Phase 2 would not exceed 5 million dollars and would only move ahead when enough money is raised for the work.

The WSU Regents will consider the Gesa Field upgrades during their meeting next week in Seattle.