April 24, 2007

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - University of Maryland Director of Athletics Deborah A. Yow outlined expansion plans for Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium at a news conference on Tuesday.

"This is an exciting time for Maryland Athletics and Maryland Football in particular," said Yow. "After we signed the partnership with Chevy Chase Bank to make expansion a reality, we've spent the past six months working with the architects of the project, Heery International."

The expansion will be completed in phases, with Phase One highlights including the following: * Dramatic expansion of Tyser Tower
* Addition of 64 luxury suites featuring indoor and outdoor seating
* Addition of 500 mezzanine-level seats featuring heated and covered seating
* New Presidential Suite with seating for 200
* New work areas for television, radio and print media
* New work areas for coaches and game-day operations staff
* New team store
* Enhanced seating for disabled customers
* Installation of a new state-of-the-art video board above the west end zone.

The cost for Phase One of the expansion will be $50.8 million, to be paid entirely by Maryland Athletics. This phase of the expansion is scheduled to be completed by August 2010.

Part of the funding plan for the renovation includes the sales of the luxury suites, which will be built on the second, third and fourth levels of Tyser Tower. Yow said there have been commitments made to purchase 10 of the suites, even before a formal sales campaign kicks off.

Yow also discussed visions for future expansion of Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium. Although there is no timetable for future phases of the project, the vision includes: * Installation of railings on stairways to enhance fan safety and comfort
* Installation of chairback seating in the 200 level of the north side
* New restrooms and concessions on the south side
* Lowering of the playing field to improve sight lines for the first 10 rows
* Painting of roofs along the concourse
* Expansion of the Gossett Team House to improve athletic training and locker room facilities
* Addition of nearly 8,000 seats in the west end zone, bringing capacity to about 60,000.

Information regarding the vision for the expansion is available on www.GreatExpectationsAthletics.com.