Montana State University athletic director Peter Fields unveiled an elaborate plan to upgrade and expand Bobcat Stadium to the media Thursday afternoon in Bozeman.

Fields used digitally enhanced computer imagery to show off a six phase approach that will start by adding sky boxes to the east grandstands and eventually enclose both ends of the stadium.

The improvements will be in addition to a new FieldTurf playing surface, which is to be installed in coming months. The price tag for the FieldTurf is approximately $1 million, while the cost of the sky boxes is expected to be $9 million with construction estimated to begin after the 2008 season.

The sky boxes are expected to generate $500,000 in revenue, which will in turn be put into funding for future phases.

Interspersed with the stadium expansion are enhancements to other areas of the Bobcat Athletics physical plant, particularly those directly impacting MSU student-athletes. Projects include a new academic center, improved strength training and sports medicine facilities, an indoor football practice area, and dedicated practice areas for the men’s and women’s basketball squads.

According to Fields the price tag for all the additions is likely to total about $100 million.

“Our primary mission is to help our student-athletes gain a quality education while competing in their chosen sport at the highest possible level,” Fields said. “Establishing a high-quality academic center to aid in their educational pursuits and providing top-flight facilities that help them improve speaks directly to this mission. That’s why we see this as a very important project.”

The initial stages of the football stadium expansion will supplement private fund-raising in the ensuing stages of renovations and additions.

Fields emphasized that Bobcat Athletics and Montana State University will use no state funds and no student fees to fund these projects, and that, taken in total, “will positively impact each of our nearly 300 student-athletes. That’s what makes this project truly exciting, and truly significant.”

Phases two and three are for the removal of existing south end bleachers, to be replaced by a lower level bowled end zone that connects the east and west grandstands and has visitor locker rooms. An upper level will be added that is topped off with an indoor viewing area.

Phases four, five and six will enclose the north end zone and provide new seating in the east grandstand as well enhanced home locker rooms.

The Bobcats open their 2008 football season against Adams State College on Aug. 30 in Bozeman.

Reporter Tom Stuber: 447-4070 or irsports@helenair.com