Bill would help fund significant stadium upgrades at UNM and NMSU

Sports fans know better than most, it ain't over 'til it's over.

While there aren't any celebrations or fight songs being sung just yet on the campuses of the University of New Mexico or New Mexico State University, what happened Monday in Santa Fe could be a good omen for a huge week for college athletics in New Mexico.

Included in the $11.1 billion state budget plan approved Monday by the Senate, and now up for final approval by the House, is an influx of financial assistance for football stadium improvements and general operating expenses at both UNM and NMSU.

UNM would get $28 million to get started on Phase 1 of an ambitious multi-year renovation of University Stadium and NMSU would get $17 million to complete the long-overdue renovation of the west side press box structure at Aggie Memorial Stadium.

UNM would also receive roughly $12.7 million, and NMSU would receive approximately $11 million as part of an annual general appropriation from the state for department-wide operational funding (portions of both figures are available only for the next three years).

"We're grateful for the continued support the State of New Mexico provides to UNM Athletics and our student-athletes," UNM's interim Athletics Director Ryan Berryman told the Journal in a statement Monday afternoon.

"State funding plays an important role in strengthening opportunities for students, enhancing our facilities and programs, and ensuring that Lobo Athletics continues to serve our campus and communities with pride. We look forward to building on this incredible wave of momentum surrounding our department."

The athletics departments could also receive funding through capital outlay requests from individual lawmakers or even Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. This type of funding is separate from the budget bill. 

Numerous state lawmakers were at the sold-out Sept. 27 rivalry game between UNM and NMSU, where an announced 37,440 fans overwhelmed University Stadium, creating safety hazards and, frankly, sub-standard conditions for entry, concessions and restroom facilities.

Seeing firsthand that the state's largest stadium couldn't accommodate those crowds safely seemed to be the impetus to ask the state to fund stadium renovations.

Throw in that neither university was in a position to capitalize on joining a better league as part of a wave of conference realignment due to their below-standard facilities and general lack of financial investment compared to other schools, and lawmakers like Sen. George Muñoz, D-Gallup, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said he's excited to help college athletics in the state.

"UNM should have never been where they were (not invited to join the rebuilding Pac-12 conference)," Muñoz told the Journal. "And between the success they are showing between Fernando (Lovo, the recently departed athletics director) and Jason Eck and even the new basketball coach (Eric Olen), this potentially puts them in a very good spot.

"I went to the (Rate Bowl in Phoenix in December) and I have never seen that many UNM fans spend their own personal money to go support the team like they did this year. You never really see them do that, and to have a sold-out stadium like that (in September) and what they have going on with basketball and football — look, there's not a problem with our state having nice things. There's not a problem with having people going to a stadium where the bathrooms work. People enjoy going to a football game where they don't wait in line 20 minutes for popcorn."

Muñoz and Sen. Antonio "Moe" Maestas, D-Albuquerque, co-sponsored two bills that would have given each school $5 million to help with revenue sharing and to fund student athlete well-being, but it was essentially "rolled into" the funds approved in the budget plan passed Monday, each explained to the Journal.

"The Roundhouse has come to realize that bolstering UNM and State’s athletic programs is economic development," Maestas said. "The success of the respective programs transcends onto the university and the state as a whole."

UNM's stadium plan

UNM had asked for $50 million for the first phase of its proposed multi-year stadium renovation that, if fulfilled to completion, would cost an estimated $267 million. The renovation is structured so that the process can stop at any phase of the project without leaving what would appear to be an unfinished renovation. The school is also applying $8 million from past stadium upgrade funds to the first phase.

Phase one is split into four subphases; the first (phase 1A, $16 million) would focus on increasing accessibility and egress, a persistent problem during UNM’s well-attended games.

Phase 1B ($21.5 million) and phase 1D ($12.9 million) would add 377 restroom fixtures across the north and south ends of the stadium, which is currently operating with fewer restroom fixtures than current code requires. Those phases also include concessions upgrades.

Phase 1C ($7.6 million) would be dedicated to widening University Stadium’s concourses.

NMSU has said the press box project would cost $20 million, but discussions at recent legislative committee meetings suggested it could be completed at the $17 million written into the bill.

Other sports funding of note

These are general appropriations for "athletics" for other universities and colleges around the state:

• Eastern New Mexico: $3.5 million
• New Mexico Highlands: $3.3 million
• Western New Mexico: $3.2 million
• New Mexico Junior College: $723,000
• Northern New Mexico College: $582,000
• Luna Community College: $522,000
• New Mexico Military Institute: $353,000
• Mesalands Community College: $218,000

The budget bill would fund the New Mexico Bowl $200,000, which is the same amount it received last year; and would fund the state's tourism department $300,000 to promote sporting events for people with disabilities

Reach Geoff Grammer at ggrammer@abqjournal.com or follow him on Twitter (X) @GeoffGrammer.