The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- August 30, 1999

Notes

Facilities: Marshall University has announced that the expansion of its football stadium will begin at the conclusion of the football season. About 8,000 seats will be built in the south end zone, giving the stadium a horseshoe effect. The expansion will increase Marshall's seating capacity to more than 38,000. Private funds will pay for the project, which is expected to cost about $2.3 million. School officials hope to have everything in place to start construction as soon as the Mid-American Conference championship game is played at Marshall December 3.

Conferences: The Southern Conference has unveiled a new logo as part of its newly adopted strategic marketing plan. The new logo is one of six strategies adopted that are intended to give the league a new image and increase fund-raising opportunities. The conference earlier announced an effort through Host Communications, Inc., to develop a new corporate marketing program for the league. Another component of the strategic plan is the development of a street festival and interactive event called "TournaFest" that will be part of the conference's men's and women's basketball tournaments in Greenville, South Carolina, next March. "We're working to develop several more ideas to help us successfully execute our strategies," said Alfred B. White, conference commissioner. "The league members and I feel confident that a new era of prosperity and success is just around the corner for the Southern Conference."