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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Husky Stadium May Lure Hawks

Associated Press

The University of Washington’s football stadium could be adapted for use by the Seattle Seahawks as well as the Huskies, a panel considering potential home fields for the NFL team has been told.

A conversion design for 76-year-old Husky Stadium, including restoration of a red brick and stone facade with two Gothic towers at the western entrance, was presented Friday by HOK Sports Facilities to King County’s Seahawks-Kingdome Renovation Task Force. Cost was estimated at $175 million to $225 million.

The design was a hit with Bob Collier, project manager for Football Northwest, the outfit assembled by Microsoft Corp. co-founder Paul Allen to help him decide whether to buy the Seahawks.

“This shows the stadium could be converted to dual use for the Huskies and the Seahawks, and in a way that’s pleasing,” Collier said.

Renovation would retain the current capacity, about 74,000 seats, but the lower bowl of the stadium is in “extremely bad shape” and would have to be rebuilt for roomier seating, Greenlee said.

The design includes 100 luxury suites to be added on two levels between the upper and lower bowls and beside the Tyee Club, which would be left intact. Also included is a retractable roof of light canvas supported by cables that would be connected to the existing partial roofs over the north and south grandstands.