City of Stillwater and OSU agree to re-open Hall of Fame Avenue

Friday, July 28, 2006

Officials from the City of Stillwater and Oklahoma State University announced Friday an agreement to permanently re-open Hall of Fame Avenue north of Boone Pickens Stadium as soon as construction of the more than $100 million west end zone project allows, most likely in 2008. In addition, the agreement also grants a permanent easement to the city for Hall of Fame.

For safety and construction reasons, Hall of Fame will remain closed until the exterior masonry portion of the project is completed on the west end zone of Boone Pickens Stadium. The west end zone is scheduled to be ready for the 2008 football season.

The OSU/A&M Board of Regents approved the agreement between the City of Stillwater and OSU at Friday’s regularly scheduled meeting in Oklahoma City.

“I am very pleased the City and OSU have been able to work together to resolve the future of Hall of Fame Avenue, one of our major arteries in Stillwater,” Mayor Roger McMillian said. “I am most appreciative to President (David) Schmidly and the administration on the constructive and professional way they engaged in this process. I believe our agreement represents a win-win for everyone and marks a new spirit of cooperation between OSU and the City of Stillwater.”

Schmidly called the agreement an essential step in the right direction for OSU and the city.  He also thanked the city and the OSU Regents for working hard to make it happen.

“The historic expansion of Boone Pickens Stadium, the development of our world-class athletic village and the construction of new academic and research buildings on campus will elevate OSU academically and athletically on a national level over the next decade," Schmidly said.

“Just as important, the expansion will have an enormous positive impact on Stillwater as well as Oklahoma’s economy. Today’s announcement represents a springboard for the city and OSU to work together on mutually rewarding community and university initiatives."

Hall of Fame was closed in February 2005 when construction began on the north side of Boone Pickens Stadium. The vast construction project, which has gone according to plan, will culminate with the opening of the rebuilt north side for OSU’s first football game this September.

“On behalf of OSU/A&M Board Regents, we are pleased with today’s announcement, and we commend the mayor, President Schmidly and other officials whose efforts contributed to this successful outcome,” said Joe D. Hall, OSU/A&M Board of Regents chairman. “OSU and Stillwater are synonymous and we believe a lot of good things can be accomplished from working together.”

Construction of the west end zone will bowl the stadium and create a 60,000-seat stadium and first-class game experience. The west end is expected to be ready for the 2008 season. The stadium's west end will also house a weight room, training table, coaches’ offices and other facilities.

To complete the massive west end zone project, temporary masonry plants will be placed on the construction area's north and south sides. Once those plants are no longer required for laying bricks, OSU will re-open Hall of Fame as soon as possible.

The re-opened Hall of Fame will remain a four-lane road and set just north of the existing street, forming a slight bow around the stadium. The road is being re-aligned to provide more distance between the street and the north entrance to Boone Pickens Stadium.  Once in operation, it will be closed for football game days and the Special Olympics.