CSU AD: Stadium on track with 'record' athletics donations

CSU athletic director Jack Graham declined to speak specifically on fundraising levels for a potential on-campus stadium, but told a group of local business leaders that it's going "very well."

Speaking at the monthly meeting of the North Fort Collins Business Association on Wednesday, Graham said fundraising for Colorado State University athletics is at a record level, but declined to specify how much money that means for Rams athletics.

Graham cited CSU still being in a more than yearlong, self-imposed "silent phase" of stadium fundraising as to why he couldn't give any specifics.

In order to gain approval to erect the stadium, which would be built on the corner of Pitkin Street and Meridian Avenue in the heart of the CSU campus, $110 million must be raised in private donations — half of what athletics is required to cover of the $254 million project.

With the initial October deadline looming for a final decision regarding the stadium, Graham did say that if $110 isn't raised in time, CSU president Tony Frank can go to the board of governors and ask for an extension if fundraising is showing significant progress.

The October board of governors meeting would mark two years since Frank was given a conditional go-ahead for the project.

Graham reasserted that he thinks the proposed stadium will be built.

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Follow reporter Matt L. Stephens at twitter.com/mattstephens and facebook.com/stephensreporting.