U-WIRE) DAVIS, Calif. – About one month ago UC Davis officials announced that the opening of the new multi-use stadium would be pushed back from Fall 2006 to early 2007. Since then, students and faculty alike have expressed disappointment with yet another delay in the construction process.

The multi-use stadium will serve as the home for both the UC Davis football and women’s lacrosse teams. It was initially planned to be ready for the start of the home 2006 football season in October.

However, in a press release on Apr. 20, university officials cited record rainfall in the months of March and April for the project’s delay. In the two months, construction crews lost approximately 25 days of work. However, many students fail to believe that rain is the sole reason for the delay.

“I kind of think the rain is a cop-out,” said sophomore Chris Perry. “[The delay] is a combination of a lot of things, not just rain.”

For the student-athletes whom the stadium is being built for, there may be an even greater feeling of letdown.

“I think there was a real lack of urgency from the school to build the stadium,” said sophomore E.J. Brown, a member of the UC Davis football team. “They’re not playing in it and it’s not something like a classroom so they don’t feel like they need it right away.”

University officials maintain that rain is the reason for the delays, and that the problems are just as disappointing for them as it is for the students.

“I share in their frustration,” said Associate Athletic Director Bob Bullis. “We couldn’t have guessed six straight weeks of rain, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Under the 1999 Facilities and Campus Enhancement Initiative, funding would be provided for three capital projects: The Activities and Recreation Center, Schaal Aquatics Center and the multi-use stadium. Increased student fees from FACE were to account for nearly two-thirds of the $29.75 million stadium construction cost. But many students feel that the delay shows an inadequate use of their money.

“It just seems like it could be used more effectively,” Brown said. “If you’re going to use our money, have the stadium done in a timely fashion.”

The weather postponement is another in a series of setbacks for the stadium. Most notably, in 2004, initial construction on the stadium was delayed due to a UC system-wide delay of all capital projects. The reason, according to UC Regents, was a concern for the state’s uneasy budgetary status. At the time, the stadium was slated to open in fall 2005, but then pushed back to fall 2006.

Bullis notes that the opening of the stadium in September would have been under beneficial occupancy, meaning that construction would still be going on while the facility was in use.

“It would have looked unfinished and awful,” he said. “[Among other things], the bathrooms wouldn’t have been finished and we would have had to use portable toilets. People would have asked, ‘Why did you leave Toomey Field for this?'”

As of now, the stadium is set to open, completely finished, in early 2007 for the women’s lacrosse season.

“Barring anymore unforeseen calamities, we’ll be in there in February,” Bullis said.

The football team will continue playing at Toomey Field for one final season before moving into the new stadium.

“The problems started before the rain even came,” Perry said. “I don’t think it’s really anyone’s specific fault. But now, I just want it to be done.”

Copyright ©2006 The California Aggie via CSTV U-Wire