Earlier this week, it was announced that Ohio Stadium and the Jerome Schottenstein would have public WiFi beginning with the 2018 calendar year. The total cost of the project was expected to be $9.5 million, but those plans have now been delayed following an "unusually tense" trustees meeting on Thursday morning.
From Tom Knox of Columbus Business First:
“I’m confused – I thought this project was put on the shelf for a period of time,” Fischer told university planners. “I don’t understand why we’re moving forward with it, why discussions on the $7 million price tag wouldn’t have been included with those,” he said of Ohio Stadium’s portion of the Wi-Fi upgrade.
Jay Kasey, OSU’s senior vice president for administration and planning, said the athletic department thought funding would be secured elsewhere but it fell through.
Fischer then asked for Athletics Director Gene Smith to elaborate but Smith, typically in the audience at the meetings, couldn’t be located. Smith is in the process of hiring a new men’s basketball coach after Thad Matta’s departure this week.
Fischer also expressed frustration with the renovations planned for the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. The building was set to undergo a $7.8 million renovation of its east win that would include an expanded lounge area and new amenities for recruiting purposes.
According to Knox, the full board of trustees meets on Friday. Maybe Smith will have his new head coach by then and be able to attend the meeting.
