Clemson Football

The current cost of Clemson's West End Zone project has risen to $40 million, up from an original estimate of $27 million.
A second phase that would create a new home for football operations would cost almost another $20 million while a history and museum area would cost from $8 million to $10 million.

That would mean the school would've spent a total of almost $70 million, nearly double the original total amount of $40 million, according to figures from The Greenville News.

"We've got to get this thing done because we're behind," Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips said. "We can't let too much time drag on before we start construction because every year we don't recruit effectively, it starts a terrible cycle."

Clemson football coach Tommy Bowden asked school leaders for improved facilities within weeks of his hiring in December 1998.

"It's been six, seven years," Bowden said this week. "I think I understand, but I'd like them to have patience, too, as I patiently wait."

When Phillips was hired in June 2002, he suggested putting the football operations offices into a West End Zone project that would also create premium seats and bring in about $1.3 million in additional revenue each year.

"It just seemed to be that we could develop the club seat concept, develop the footprint for the football facility and create a revenue stream that would support the project," Phillips said.

The current phase of the project at Memorial Stadium will include completion of the north and south concourse, a new end zone concourse, a club-seating level, an indoor lounge and a locker rooms.

Phillips said that part should be ready to go when Clemson opens the season against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 2.

The school says the first phase was funded through donations, bonds and a loan from the endowment fund of the school's athletic booster group, IPTAY. The loan was repaid by the athletic department from the sales of more than 400 premium seats and nearly 1,000 club seats.

The school borrowed $6 million of the $16 million raised for the football component of the project on the first phase. Phillips has said he won't start future construction until all necessary money is secure.

Bowden says he mentions the construction and what it could mean to football success at IPTAY gatherings.

"They want me to stay actively involved to raising funds," Bowden said.

Bowden will start his eighth season at Clemson this fall. He hopes to see the full project finished as soon as possible.

"I'd like to be in it, I really would," he said.

Temple has announced that its game against Clemson will be played in Charlotte, NC at Bank of America Stadium, home of the NFL's Carolina Panthers, on Thursday evening, October 12. The exact kickoff time will be announced at a later date. The announcement was made Tuesday in conjunction with the release of the entire Mid-American Conference schedule.

"Both administrations have been in contact concerning the site of this game, and I have discussed it with Temple Head Coach Al Golden," said Clemson Head Coach Tommy Bowden. "Both of us are in favor of the move.

"From our standpoint, It gives our fans, especially those in the Charlotte area, a chance to see us in an outstanding NFL facility. This is another testimony to our great fan support," said Bowden.

This will give Clemson two Thursday night games on its 12-game regular season schedule, the first time that has happened since 2002. The other Thursday night game is at Virginia Tech on October 26. The Virginia Tech game will be televised by ESPN, but there are not plans for a live broadcast of the Temple vs. Clemson game at this point.

Clemson will play at Wake Forest the previous Saturday, giving the Tigers just four days to prepare for Temple. That will also be the case when Clemson meets Virginia Tech on Thursday, October 26 as the Tigers will have played Georgia Tech the previous Saturday. But, In both instances, the opposition will have played a game the previous Saturday, as well, giving both teams the same preparation time.

Temple has announced that its game against Clemson will be played in Charlotte, NC at Bank of America Stadium, home of the NFL's Carolina Panthers, on Thursday evening, October 12. The exact kickoff time will be announced at a later date. The announcement was made Tuesday in conjunction with the release of the entire Mid-American Conference schedule.

"Both administrations have been in contact concerning the site of this game, and I have discussed it with Temple Head Coach Al Golden," said Clemson Head Coach Tommy Bowden. "Both of us are in favor of the move.

"From our standpoint, It gives our fans, especially those in the Charlotte area, a chance to see us in an outstanding NFL facility. This is another testimony to our great fan support," said Bowden.

This will give Clemson two Thursday night games on its 12-game regular season schedule, the first time that has happened since 2002. The other Thursday night game is at Virginia Tech on October 26. The Virginia Tech game will be televised by ESPN, but there are not plans for a live broadcast of the Temple vs. Clemson game at this point.

Clemson will play at Wake Forest the previous Saturday, giving the Tigers just four days to prepare for Temple. That will also be the case when Clemson meets Virginia Tech on Thursday, October 26 as the Tigers will have played Georgia Tech the previous Saturday. But, In both instances, the opposition will have played a game the previous Saturday, as well, giving both teams the same preparation time.

Ticket prices for the Temple vs. Clemson game will be announced at a later date.


Clemson 2006 Football Schedule
Date Opponent Designation
Sept. 2 Florida Atlantic IPTAY/Hall of Fame Day
Sept. 9 at Boston College
Sept. 16 at Florida State
Sept. 23 North Carolina Family Weekend/1981 Championship Reunion
Sept. 30 Louisiana Tech Youth Day
Oct. 7 at Wake Forest
Oct.12 at Temple*
Oct. 21 Georgia Tech Homecoming
Oct. 26 at Virginia Tech
Nov. 4 Maryland
Nov. 11 NC State Military Appreciation Day
Nov. 25 South Carolina One Clemson - Solid Orange


* Game to be played in Charlotte, NC
All Times TBA
Home Games in Bold
Note: Spring Game at Death Valley, April 8, 1:00 PM