Kennedy Claims Northridge Will Have Its Stadium

Despite the cancellation this week of a student referendum intended to generate funding for construction of athletic facilities, Cal State Northridge will push forward in its quest to build an on-campus football stadium, interim President Louanne Kennedy said.

“We have not put on hold our plans to build a football stadium,” Kennedy said. “There will be a stadium.”

Kennedy acknowledged the project will be difficult for financially strapped Northridge, which must turn its focus to fund-raising to meet athletic expansion plans.

The referendum, which would have increased student fees over three years to help pay the interest on bonds sold to finance construction, was scheduled for a vote next month. But the measure, postponed in October, was canceled by the Associated Student Body because of a lack of financial backing.

That leaves Northridge, under pressure from the Big Sky Conference to build a stadium, desperately in need of funds. But Kennedy said the project, which also includes construction of a baseball stadium and recreation center, will get done.

Kennedy said the hiring of an administrator in charge of fund-raising has been approved and will be made soon.

“This is a big disappointment for students and a big disappointment for us,” Kennedy said. “But we weren’t even sure the referendum was going to pass. We’ve already been meeting in various groups asking, ‘What are we going to do if the referendum doesn’t pass?’ We have a lot of balls up in the air.

“It’s not going to be a death blow. It’s just going to take more time. We have to build a stadium for our football team and our soccer teams, whatever level we play at. Just like we have to build facilities for the department of engineering. You can’t recruit kids to come here and not have the facilities.”

Northridge will be forced to find a temporary football home because of the scheduled demolition of North Campus Stadium in 2002. A stadium might not be completed by then, Kennedy said, but Northridge could play at Pierce College.

Kennedy said discussions between Northridge and Pierce have taken place.

Doug Fullerton, commissioner of the Big Sky, said the conference does not object to Northridge playing at Pierce. He also softened his stance toward Northridge’s membership in the Big Sky.

In July, Fullerton, echoing an ultimatum issued by Big Sky administrators, said Northridge must show significant progress toward construction of a stadium by June 2000 or face possible expulsion.

“We never said [the stadium] had to be on campus, but it has to be a substantial, acceptable place to play,” Fullerton said Thursday.

Building a stadium, Kennedy said, is a separate issue from conference affiliation. The university still intends to build a stadium, regardless of whether the Matadors remain a member of the Big Sky.

Kennedy and Athletic Director Dick Dull on Thursday reiterated Northridge’s intention to remain in the Big Sky indefinitely--despite rumors the Matadors might be headed to a revamped Big West Conference.

A chain-reaction of schools departing the Big West might create a chance for the Big West to realign into an all-California conference.

A move into the Big West would save Northridge money on travel expenses while fostering rivalries with Southland schools.

There are six California schools in the Big West--UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State, Pacific, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and UC Santa Barbara.

Nevada is playing its last season in the Big West, while Boise State will play one more year before joining Nevada in the Western Athletic Conference. That leaves Idaho, New Mexico State, North Texas and Utah State as football-playing members of the Big West, and each has been looking to join another conference.

The Sun Belt Conference has decided to expand and New Mexico State and North Texas are front-runners to join. More importantly, if those two schools leave, the Big West’s California schools would have the 75% majority needed by conference bylaws to vote for realignment and new members.

Riverside has already been guaranteed a spot in the conference, according to conference sources. The conference are also leaning heavily toward Northridge, with Cal State Sacramento having an outside chance.

“Our California schools have expressed where they want to be in the future,” said Dennis Farrell, Big West commissioner, of an all-California conference. “Time is on their side, they just need to let nature take its course.”

Dull said he has been engaged in “fact-finding” for two months regarding a move to the Big West. Dull and Kennedy said the option is worth exploring for Northridge. But no decisions have been made.

“We’ve always been closely interested with what’s going on with all the conference alignments,” Dull said. “But we would have to evaluate the situation before making any decisions.”

Fullerton said the Big Sky would support Northridge’s decision to leave the conference.

“I think the leadership of Cal State Northridge owes it to itself to listen to what the Big West people say,” Fullerton said. “We are not trying to push them out the door.”

Kennedy said she is unconvinced the Big West is the solution.

“The Big West looks like a good fit, but we haven’t even been invited,” Kennedy said. “We would like to explore the situation and see if it’s a good fit.”