Vanier Sports Complex to get makeover

Kansas State Athletic Director John Currie and the entire University are taking the next steps to make Wildcat athletic facilities tops not only in the Big 12 Conference but the nation with a major upgrade to the Vanier Sports Complex in the north end zone at Bill Snyder Family Stadium this offseason.

Tuesday’s press conference with Bill Snyder and the K-State football team in preparation for Saturday’s game against Baylor marked the final event in the current Vanier Sports Complex before it gets an extreme makeover.

The groundbreaking to the new complex actually happened at halftime of the Wildcat’s 51-13 victory Saturday over the University of Kansas.

It is phase three of six in the Bill Snyder Family Stadium Master Plan.

"“As you look about the college football landscape, K-State has won the most Big 12 football games of anybody since 2011, and we need to have facilities for our program that will reflect who we are,” Currie told Kstatesports.com this week. “I think K-Staters nation-wide, worldwide, need to hold their heads up high. We’re accomplishing great things here.”"

Phase one, which was completed in August of 2011, was an update on fan amenities, including updates to existing concession areas, new restrooms, as well as upgrades to the field.

Phase two, which was completed in August of 2013, involved seating upgrades, enhanced field lighting, new ticket office and press box/suite area.

The new Vanier Sports Complex will more than double the space of the current facility to an estimated 132,000 square feet.

The complex will include a new academic learning center, coaches’ offices, locker rooms, new seating in the north end zone, weight room, meeting rooms and more.

The completion of the phase is scheduled to be complete by the kickoff of the 2015 season and cost $65,000,000.