Two-Thirds Back Stadium on Campus, Study Finds

Two-thirds of San Fernando Valley residents support construction of an 8,500-seat campus football stadium at Cal State Northridge, according to a survey commissioned by the university.

Respondents initially backed the stadium, 36% to 10%. But when told details, and that it would be built without taxpayer or university funds, the approval rate jumped to 67% and opposition grew to 16%.

The findings troubled some campus administrators, who said the $8.5-million multipurpose stadium must be financed in large part by the community. Critics, mostly homeowners who live near the proposed north campus stadium site, called the survey a farce.

“I could probably get the opposite results,” said Robert LoPresti, president of a neighboring homeowners group who serves on the university’s stadium siting committee. “Statistics can lie. They’re trying to back their predetermined decision to build it on campus.”

Sam Jankovich, the university’s interim athletic director, said no construction decision has been made and stressed that the survey was not rigged.

“If the survey had come out and been negative we would’ve had to listen to it,” he said.