WSU Athletics Director Jim Sterk held an open forum at Fireside Grille on Thursday to discuss the Martin Stadium Renovation Project.

The event was the first of a series of forums Sterk will hold around Washington and Oregon. The forums are meant to gather input for Phase III of the project. Sterk launched Phase III in September.

Phase III, which is projected to cost about $34 million, will be entirely funded by philanthropic gifts and debt service paid from premium seat sales once the renovation is complete. The addition of suites, loge and club seats is targeted for fall 2011.

“The students did their part back in 2006 when 65 percent of them voted to put $50 of their annual tuition toward the earlier phases of the renovation,” Sterk said. “Phase III will not take one dime out of the students’ pockets but will bring in more revenue for all 17 athletic programs we have here at WSU.” Phases I and II of the renovation went to improving game day atmosphere, including upgrades to restrooms and concession stands, as well as a wider concourse on the north side of the stadium.

Phase III, which will add 1,800 luxury seats above the north side of stands, will go to benefit WSU alumni who are looking for an enhanced experience at Cougar football games, Sterk said. The addition of luxury seating facilities could potentially double the revenue at Martin Stadium.

Sterk said the renovation goal is to create a better atmosphere for fans, increase competition of WSU football and bring in more funding for university athletics.

“Football by far is the No. 1 revenue for Cougar athletics,” Sterk said. “It’s here to benefit the university. The university isn’t here to benefit it.” Other Pac-10 schools have also recently renovated their gridiron facilities, including Stanford, Oregon and Oregon State.

“Seeing other schools have their renovations and the type of programs they’ve been able to build up because of the amenities they have, it’s frustrating because we’re a Pac-10 school and we should have just as high of standards as they do,” senior history major Jeff Mohn said.

Sterk said the goal of the renovations is to improve the football team and WSU athletics in general.

“We plan to use the new facilities from Phase III to really showcase former athletes and the history of WSU athletics,” Sterk said. “That will be a place we’ll use to benefit our recruiting of student-athletes.” In the midst of another losing season for the WSU football team, Sterk said the new addition would only help Cougar football.

“People who don’t really know that much about the renovation will say that we should be putting more money toward scholarships,” senior history major Travis Crawford said. “The thing is, is scholarships get funded by the income from the games, and the renovation is not only entirely self funded, but it will bring more money.”