No Vote on CSU Stadium Proposal

Fort Collins residents are not going to be able to voice their opinions on the November ballot about an on-campus football stadium at Colorado State University. The Fort Collins City council rejected a nonbinding ballot referendum on the issue in the general election on a 3-3 vote on Tuesday. Council members Ben Manvel, Kelly Ohlson and Lisa Poppaw voted in favor of the referendum. Mayor Karen Weitkunat and council members Gerry Horak and Aislinn Kottwitz opposed it. The decision to proceed toward construction of an on-campus stadium now is in the hands of CSU President Tony Frank.

He is expected to reveal the school’s intention with the plan for a $246 million, 42,000-seat stadium by the time the CSU Board of Governors meets in early October. A municipal vote that is non-binding, more of a poll than anything, would probably have little effect on the ultimate outcome.

During the public comment section of the meeting, most were in favor of a vote and opposed to the stadium. 25 citizens spoke and 21 of them supported a referendum and opposed the stadium, according to the Coloradoan.