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Campus: CSU, Fresno -- April 23, 2001
Pacific Bell Named Telecommunications Partner
For Fresno State's Save Mart Center
Pacific Bell and the Pacific Bell Directory have been named as the official
telecommunications sponsor of the Save Mart Center at Fresno State in
a partnership that may provide as much as $1.7 million to support the
construction of this new facility.
"I am very pleased that Pacific Bell has stepped forward as a major
sponsor for the Save Mart Center project and I deeply appreciate the commitment
to help build this premier sports and entertainment facility that will
serve the entire Central Valley region," said Fresno State President
John D. Welty.
"Not only does this sponsorship help us build the Save Mart Center,
it also ensures that the Center is equipped with state-of-the-art communications,"
Welty said.
The Save Mart Center will be one of the most technologically sophisticated
event centers, utilizing Pacific Bell's expertise in the delivery of voice,
data and networking services, similar to the infrastructure provided by
the company for Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco.
The California State University Board of Trustees approved the Save Mart
Center's financing plan on March 22. The project is expected to generate
1,444 full-time jobs during construction. Once completed the project is
expected to generate 300 full-time jobs and from $20 million to $22 million
in new revenue.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Save Mart Center will be held Tuesday,
May 8, at 12:30 p.m. at Fresno State at the building site east of the
Smittcamp Alumni House. The event is open to the public.
Deborah Adishian-Astone, executive director of Auxiliary Services at California
State University, Fresno and project director, said the capability of
the building's telecommunications infrastructure is a major element of
the new facility's construction.
"The Save Mart Center is state-of-the art in every aspect, and it's
essential that the telecommunication systems be first-rate," Adishian-Astone
said. "Pacific Bell also is committed to providing the project with
the utmost attention to competitive pricing and cost control through existing
State and CSU agreements."
"Pacific Bell is proud to provide the Save Mart Center with today's
advanced technologies," said Bob Campbell, vice president/public
sector for Pacific Bell. "Our involvement in Fresno State's Save
Mart Center is evidence of our continued support of the university, and
the Central Valley region."
Pacific Bell and Pacific Bell Directory have been sponsors of Fresno State's
intercollegiate athletic program for the past 10 years.
Pacific Bell is one of the largest communications companies in the world,
offering communications products and services ranging from local and toll
telephone service, residential and business high-speed data transmission,
Internet access, wireless communications and high-tech network solutions.
The Pacific Bell Directory, publisher of the Pacific Bell SMART Yellow
Pages®, employs more than 2,300 people. The company publishes 112
directories in California and Nevada, and distributes 35 million directories
annually. |