Prairie View welcomes new athletic complex

The student body voted Jan. 30 to build a new athletic complex at Prairie View A&M University.
 The athletic complex will include a 15,000 seat football stadium, field turf playing surface, reserved seating, a state of the art press box, ticket booths, club seating, luxury suites and enhanced tailgating and parking.
 There will also be a new athletic department center with 74,000 square feet of student athlete space which will include weight, locker and dressing rooms, an academic enhancement center, and tutoring area.
Student Government Association Vice President Jarrick Brown emphasized that the new complex is being built for all students. He said, “not only would the stadium house athletes, it would serve as a way for the student body to host events such as the PV Choice Awards for free.”
The athletic complex is a $67 million dollar project, but the Texas A&M University System has offered to front half of the complex cost if Prairie View can come up with the first half.
During the last three years the Prairie View alumni foundation have raised nearly $1 million
Student Government Association President Harrison Blair believes in the $15 per credit hour fee to be capped at 12 credit hours for a total $180 fee increase to begin in the fall 2013 will raise up to $3 million a year to be paid toward the project.
Blair said, “The fee will be taken as a donation from the student body for the betterment of the university.”
Some students doubt the need for a new athletic complex despite the freeze of all other fees for at least five years.
Breigha Walker, a junior communication student said, “The complex will not really have an effect on the average student like me, I do not participate in any sports or go to games.”
Although students voted for the complex, the final fee approval must be made first by the Texas A&M System and lastly by the state legislature. If approved, the first phase of construction which includes the football stadium, athletic department facilities, basketball and volleyball practice courts, babydome modifications, and jogging track renovations may be seen by fall of 2016.