MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The WVU Board of Governors approved plans Friday for premium seating at Hope Coliseum and also gave Athletics Director Wren Baker the go-ahead to take the next step in the West Tower/Press Box project at Milan Puskar Stadium.
Baker said it’s projected three-levels of premium seating in the new tower would bring in $5 million a year to the athletic department. He’s currently in conversations with donors in hopes of raising much of the projected $150 million cost for the project.
“We are approaching that $85-$90 million commitment mark. When we get to $100 million, I think this is a full go,” Baker said.
He’s asking the donations be spread over five years. Baker said that would leave only a few years of debt service and then the $5 million a year for the seating could begin flowing in as profit.
Baker told the BOG a lot of interest has come from supporters who have wanted a part of premium seating at the stadium that have remained on waiting lists.
“Most are people who have been nagging us about wanting to buy a suite when we didn’t have them to sell anyway,” Baker said. “That’s why we are asking if we should add more Founder’s Suites because we really haven’t started pushing them hard and we already have people who are very serious.”
The tower would include a club level, suite level and the top level of giving would be called the founder’s level.
Friday’s approval gives Baker the ability to hire the architect who will get the project from its current conceptual phase to bid phase. He can also hire an owner’s rep and a sales rep.
He would come back to the BOG before the project goes out to bid for approval of the project and finance plan.
The work would begin after the 2026 football season, Baker said.
“Once the season was down, they would start deconstruction. It (the space) would be offline for ’27. We’re working on temporary options to move people during that time and then open for ’28 (season),” Baker said.
The BOG passed a measure in the last meeting to support the athletic department in an effort to get into the top tier of the Big 12. Baker said the West Tower project will advance WVU to the middle of the conference when it comes to premium seating.
Premium seating at Hope Coliseum
Friday’s approval also gives Baker the go-ahead for premium seating at Hope Coliseum. The new areas will be created between the upper and lower concourses.
Baker said 150 seats would be available.
“It would offer people a suite-like experience. It would be open-air but we think this would go very well,” he said.
Baker said the area could make the athletic department about $250,000 a year. The department has already secured the $1.5 million in funding for the construction.
Baker also spoke Friday about more long-term plans including building a smaller, second arena near Hope Coliseum along with new practice facilities for WVU’s Olympic sports.
“We really want to try and drive economic activity for us, for the community, for tourism, for all of those things and that’s what the multi-use would do,” Baker said.