COLLEGE PARK -- Last season, luxury seating at the University of Maryland's aging football stadium was a work in progress. Fans could look past the scaffolding and see the modernized version of Tyser Tower - a concrete, brick and glass structure that will house 64 suites - beginning to take shape on Byrd Stadium's south side.
Five weeks from the home football opener, the suites and mezzanine seating are nearing completion inside and below the five-story tower, giving the 59-year-old stadium a more contemporary look.
Now Maryland just needs to find buyers - a task made more challenging by the recession.
The suites are being completed when the team's ticket sales are down and many college and professional programs are feeling pinched by the economy. Season ticket sales have fallen to 24,894 from 27,110 at this time last year - an 8.1 percent dip.
The luxury tower is targeted for completion about two weeks before the Sept. 12 home opener against James Madison. The university says it has sold 40 of the 64 suites and 345 of the 539 mezzanine seats, of which 440 are new.
In mid-June, the athletic department began offering suite rentals on a per-game basis, hoping that the single-Saturday experience will induce more customers to sign long-term leases. The team finished 8-5 last season.
"Given the economic struggles many of our fans are facing, we are pleased with where we are on season tickets, suites and mezzanine seats," said Brian Ullmann, a senior associate athletics director.
The athletic department has been aggressively promoting the seats. It has held four events so far with prospective buyers.
Football coach Ralph Friedgen is among those appearing at the sales programs. Friedgen shows a video highlighting the team's young talent - implying that the team has a solid core for the future.
Friedgen emphasizes the advantages of being inside the suites, noting, for example, that two of last season's home victories were accompanied by driving rain. There are model suites at Tyser Tower and Comcast Center.
The cost of a typical suite ranges from $40,000 to $50,000 annually. Typical per-game rentals range from $6,500 to $10,000 and include 24 game tickets, six parking passes and some food and beverages.
Annual mezzanine seats range from $800 to $2,000, not including the ticket price of $295.
Experts agree it is a challenging climate for big-ticket sports items.
