 "Photo: Courtesy Photo")
The 12th Man Foundation's Olsen Field renovation campaign is moving in a positive direction despite the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.
Miles Marks, president of the 12th Man Foundation, said Monday they hope to have $6 million in pledges and $4 million in cash by Dec. 31.
"Although we started this project in the toughest of economic times we are still optimistic that it will be successful," Marks said. "Aggies have been receptive to the message of the needs of Olsen Field renovation and, as the economy starts to strengthen, we see them starting to line up to help make this a reality."
Marks said the Foundation has almost $4 million of the $16 million goal planned for the first phase of the project with the biggest giving season yet to come.
Stu Starner, senior vice president for major gifts for the Foundation, said the Foundation receives most of its gifts in December, when donors and their financial advisors are reviewing giving possibilities before the end of the taxable year.
In order to start the project, the Foundation is required to have 75 percent of the funds pledged from donors, which is $12 million, and 50 percent in cash, which is $8 million.
"As raising money for projects is not an exact science, we generally say that we will begin a project just as soon as the targets for fundraising are met," Marks said.
When the Foundation has the funds, the project will officially start when it is referred to the Texas A&M Facilities Planning Group, which is in charge of final design, specifications, bidding and a construction plan. Marks said construction would begin several months after the project started.
The Foundation had initially hoped to send the project to the Facilities Planning Group in January 2010 and begin construction after the 2010 season, but they now hope the Facilities Planning Group will have the project by the end of summer 2010.
"As to a construction start date, we hope to have something going in 2010," Marks said. "The good thing is that we are building around the current facility so we can do it at any time of the year and not affect the play of the team."
The focus of the first phase of the renovation is an $8 million student-athlete complex along the third base line, where the baseball offices and home locker room is now.
The phase also consists of a complete renovation of the façade that would include extending the concourses 40 feet and building restrooms and concession stands.
Inside the ballpark there will be four more rows of seats at the bottom of the first deck, the dugout will be lower and the seating in the lower deck will be redone.
When the first phase is complete, the Foundation hopes to have an additional $8 million in donations to start a second phase which includes a club level, a press box and expanded seating and fan amenities.
The initial design of the renovation is being handled by Dana Larson and Roubal and Associates, the DLR Group, which was responsible for the 2008 renovations of Texas' Disch-Falk Field and the 2001 construction of Nebraska's Haymarket Park.
Because the construction will be funded by donation dollars and will not be supplemented by ticket sales, the Foundation is using fundraising events across the state to drum up support.
Marks said these small, one-on-one meetings with major donors will account for most of the funds. Once the Foundation reaches the 75 percent pledge, 50 percent cash goal, they hope to supplement the remainder of the funds by going public for smaller donations.
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