Arizona State’s Todd Graham, Ray Anderson contribute $1 million to Sun Devil Stadium renovation
Sep 15, 2014, 9:34 PM | Updated: 9:34 pm
Arizona State University’s athletic director Ray Anderson and head football coach Todd Graham announced Monday that they would each personally contribute $500,000 to the fundraising campaign for renovations to Sun Devil Stadium.
The donations made by Anderson and his wife Buffie, and Graham and his wife Penni, are the largest gifts from a sitting athletic director and head coach in the school’s history.
“We are keeping our foot on the pedal and there is no letup in our efforts whatsoever,” Anderson said. “The support of Sun Devil Nation has been inspiring and we intend to convert that goodwill into building a solid foundation for student-athletes and our fans at Arizona State University.”
Graham said his contribution is his way of giving back to ASU.
“I am out there every day asking our student-athletes, our student body, our fans and financial supporters to use their own initiative and to make a commitment to help build what brings us together as a Sun Devil community,” Graham said. “Penni and I are just doing our part and we couldn’t be more pleased than to support all Sun Devil Athletics by giving back.”
ASU President Michael Crow praised Anderson and Graham’s donations. “Great athletics programs require committed leaders.”
The remodel began this spring when 5,700 seats were removed from the stadium as a preliminary step. The project will take place during the off-seasons while the football team will continue to play at the stadium. The renovations are expected to be completed by 2017.
This is the first major renovation of Sun Devil Stadium since 1988.
