SEATTLE — While the school’s athletic department is still trying to raise funds, and the Husky Stadium renovation project has yet to become official, the University of Washington announced Thursday that it has struck a deal to play the 2011 Apple Cup and the entire 2012 home football season at Qwest Field.
The department announced on its website that it has reached an agreement with First &Goal to use the Seattle Seahawks’ home stadium for next year’s game against Washington State and all of the home dates the following year.
“We are thrilled to provide a first-class venue to our fans during the Husky Stadium renovation,” UW athletic director Scott Woodward said in a statement. “First &Goal has been a terrific partner and we appreciate their flexibility and assistance. It is a luxury to have a world-class facility as our home-away-from-home only four miles from campus.”
The agreement would allow the renovation project to begin at Husky Stadium before and during the 2012 football season. O.D. Vincent, who is director of marketing for the athletic department, told KJR-AM radio on Thursday night that the project would cost an estimated $250 million, $200 million of which would come from future revenue at the new facility. The school is trying to raise $50 million in private donations in the meantime.
The athletic department’s statement said that beginning the project early would save $3 million on the total cost.
If all goes according to plan, the Huskies would return to Husky Stadium for the 2013 football season.
“Ensuring that our fans are back in a renovated Husky Stadium for the 2013 season was priority No. 1 for us,” Woodward said in the statement. “When we found out that accelerating the ground-breaking would save us an additional $3 million, it became clear that moving the 2011 Apple Cup to Qwest is the right thing to do.”
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