WSU athletic director Moos moves ahead with plans

PULLMAN – DirecTV isn’t on board with the Pac-12 Networks yet. And while Washington State athletic director Bill Moos doesn’t understand why, he knows the lack of an agreement with the self-anointed leader in sports won’t prevent the school from moving forward with the next phase of its facilities upgrades.

Moos said he plans to present to the Board of Regents in November the designs for a new football operations building in the west end zone of Martin Stadium. If approved during the Nov. 15-16 meeting, construction would begin shortly after the Nov. 23 conclusion of the 2012 season.

The new, $65 million press box and premium seating structure on the stadium’s south side was approved last November, and construction was completed prior to the 2012 home opener.

Construction time for the operations building is estimated at 15 months, with costs estimated around $61 million.

Because the project will be funded in part by television revenue, Moos said previously he was waiting until the Pac-12 Networks had a clearer picture of its distribution plan – and therefore a more defined revenue stream – before seeking approval from the regents.

But Moos said those revenue streams should be made clear enough by the second week of October, when the annual Pac-12 meetings are held.

“We want to be ready if questions are asked in regard to what that line is going to be in our revenue projections,” Moos said.

“There’s going to be a revenue stream. I personally would like to get a little bit better handle on it when we’re going forward with projects, so we can show we can cover whatever debt we may incur.”

Even if DirecTV isn’t involved.

“I mean, here they’re carrying the Big Ten Network in our own footprint, and it’s beside me that they think people will tune into a Minnesota-Indiana game rather than a Washington State-UCLA game, you know?” Moos said. “That baffles me.”

The Pac-12 has taken its battle with DirecTV public, posting statements on its website that have resulted in fan backlash against the television provider.

“It might have some kind of positive effect for us,” Moos said.