Baylor Says New Stadium Will Be Community Landmark - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

In the Big 12, football games are a big part of student life. But for students like Baylor freshman Dylan Gaspar, getting there to cheer for the Bears can be a hassle.

"This last week my friends and I paid like 20 dollars to park a block away and it's kind of ridiculous," he said.

But that might soon change. The university unveiled plans for an on-campus stadium over the weekend. It would lie along the Brazos, east of I-35, on land across from the major athletic centers. The stadium would connect to them via a walkway bridge.

And it's got all of the campus buzzing.

"It would be a good addition to Baylor," said junior Syd Condie.

''I'm all for it, the sooner the better in my opinion," said freshman Mary Margaret Hambuchen.

Baylor Athletic Director Ian McCaw has made it his mission to increase the standing of Baylor athletics since his arrival in 2003. He says this is the next step.

"It'll do so much for the football program, the university, really the entire community in terms of being a landmark facility," he said.

If approved by Regents, students and fans will get a survey asking their input on the design. Early estimates put the price tag at $200 million.

"There's still a lot of things we have to determine. What the seating capacity will be, how many suites and so forth," McCaw said.

Rumors are widespread that Astros owner and Baylor Regent Drayton McLane will make a sizable donation to help the project. Today, McCaw said McLane's involvement is "critically important" for the plans to move forward.

Funds will also come from other fundraising efforts, revenue generated from the stadium itself and loans.

But despite the price, students say it's well worth it: a destination to seek out, once they are alumni.

"To come back to the new stadium and just be able to see how Baylor's changed and how it's moving along and where it's come from and where it's going," said Gaspar.

The Bears went to a bowl game for the first time in 16 years last year, and are just one win away from being eligible again. McCaw says all the recent attention has helped bring these plans even closer to reality.

Reporter: Rebecca Schleicher/Photographer: Thuan Nguyen

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