Stadium expansion, Raymond’s pact on LSU Board agenda

The LSU Board of Supervisors will meet Friday, with approval of the Tiger Stadium expansion project and the contract for new defensive backs coach Corey Raymond as part of the agenda.

LSU senior associate athletic director Herb Vincent said in a text message Thursday that the stadium expansion project is a full go but still will require Board of Regents and bond commission approval if the Board of Supervisors first gives its approval.

Funding for the project would come from a $100 million bond issue by the Tiger Athletic Foundation (TAF), which is also expected to include facility improvements for gymnastics, track and field and tennis.

Wording in the agreement says LSU will seek to add 60 suites containing approximately 1,380 seats, 3,000 club seats and 1,900 upper deck seats, plus two new video scoreboards on the south end of Tiger Stadium.

It would be the third major expansion project of the 84-year-old facility since the east upper deck was completed in 2000.

Based on those numbers, Tiger Stadium’s capacity would increase from 92,542 to 98,822, but LSU officials have said the final capacity figure would be closer to 100,000.

According to the proposed agreement with TAF, construction of the south stadium expansion project would begin Sept. 1, with a targeted completion date for the start of the 2014 season.

Raymond would be paid $300,000 per year, according to the LSU agenda. Himself a former defensive back for the Tigers from 1989-91, Raymond was hired in late February to replace Ron Cooper after he left for a similar position with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

A contract for new men’s basketball coach Johnny Jones will not be on Friday’s agenda as LSU officials originally hoped when Jones was hired April 16.

Vincent said Jones’ contract would not be ready until this summer, probably no earlier than the June board meeting.