Athletics Construction Roundup – June

The Athletics Construction Roundup is a monthly series on construction of athletics facilities. Each month I’ll provide you with a list of athletic construction projects in progress (and recently completed) across the country, including details on budget and scope of the project.

University of Michigan and Michigan State University
Both Michigan and Michigan State, like many athletic departments around the country, are taking a serious look at stadium security in light of last month’s Boston Marathon Bombing.

Additionally, Michigan State is renovating the north endzone of Spartan Stadium and the football team’s practice fields. As a part of the stadium project, a potential Homeland Security threat will be addressed.

Michigan has announced facility updates of its own. The Board of Regents has approved the construction of a $13.5 million field hockey facility and $2.55 million worth of upgrades, mainly to the playing surfaces, for the baseball and softball facilities.

Texas A&M University

The Board of Regents has approved Texas A&M’s $450 million plan that will increase the capacity of Kyle Field to 102,500. The project is expected to be completed in August 2015.

Georgetown University
Georgetown has released a preview video of its proposed Intercollegiate Athletics Center. The multi-use venue that includes locker rooms, a basketball practice space, and an athletic department hall of fame will be the first new on-campus athletics facility in over 60 years.

University of Nevada
Nevada is in the planning stages of a $6-8 million renovation of Mackay Stadium. The plans include additional suites and a club level for the football facility.

University of Texas at San Antonio
UTSA has made athletics construction a priority in the university’s $175 capital campaign. The proposed projects include a football practice facility.

Indiana University- Purdue University Indianapolis
IUPUI will be moving its home basketball contests to the newly renovated State Fairgrounds Coliseum. The renovations are being completed at a cost of $63 million.

Baylor University
Baylor has raised over $100 million in private funds for its new football stadium. Work continues on the stadium that is scheduled to open in 2014. Baylor’s track and field team will also return to campus when its new home track is completed in time for 2015 season.

Colorado State University
Colorado State has completed a basketball court redesign. This photo gallery shows the unique design.

University of Idaho
Idaho will have a new videoboard in time for the 2013 football season. The board includes several opportunities for sponsorship signage. Athletic Director Rob Spear is also pushing for a new 6,000 seat event center on campus.

George Washington University
Falling in line with one of our trends, GW has added local landmarks to its basketball court.

University of Miami
The Miami athletic department has started moving into the Schwartz Center, a building that will include an academic space, administrative offices, and locker rooms.

Butler University
Butler will renovate historic Hinkle Fieldhouse, in a move that will actually decrease capacity but will increase the facility’s usefulness for student-athletes. The athletic department created this video, which does an outstanding job of explaining the mission of the project.

Louisiana State University
LSU has unveiled a plan that includes a number of projects. While the highlight is an expansion of Tiger Stadium, other athletics construction, including a new nutrition center, will impact almost every student-athlete on campus.

Utah State University
Plans have been announced for a new basketball practice facility and volleyball competition venue. The $9.5 million building will be completed in April 2014.

Colorado State University
Colorado State is beginning the first phase of a three part renovation project of Moby Arena. Athletic Director Jack Graham is committed to improving the facility inside and out.

University of California, Riverside
Despite a number of logistical issues, UC Riverside is moving forward with its plan for a multi-purpose athletics facility currently known as the C-Center.

University at Buffalo
Following the aforementioned trend, Buffalo has unveiled a court design that includes a stained outline of the state of New York.

Ohio University
Ohio will be replacing its 11 year old football turf this summer.

Southeastern Conference Institutions
The schools of the SEC are looking to overhaul the game day experience for their fans. A special committee of conference administrators and advisors has recommended a number of plans, including overhauling WiFi at all conference football stadiums. This project could cost $2 million per stadium.

University at Albany
Albany has broken ground on its track and field facility. The venue will allow Albany to host meets in the 2014 season.

University of Central Florida
Central Florida has announced a naming rights deal with CFE Federal Credit Union. In addition to the $4 million, seven year deal, UCF has announced a number of facility projects. Upcoming construction includes a $20 million expansion of Bright House Networks Stadium, upgrades to the baseball facilities, and new administration buildings. Renderings of the $4.2 million tennis facility have been released as well.

University of Nebraska at Omaha
UNO will spend around $1.4 million to transform Caniglia Field into a state-of-the-art soccer facility. The stadium was previously home to the programs football team, which was cut in the athletic department’s move to Division I.

Vanderbilt University
Vandy is asking its donors, alumni, and season ticket holders to complete a survey about proposed renovations to Vanderbilt University.

Western Michigan University
Western Michigan is replacing the turf in two athletic facilities. The multi-use Seelye Center will feature this brown and gold striped turf.

University of Louisville
Louisville has broken ground on its new soccer facility. The $17.5 million stadium will be completed in August 2014.

San Jose State University
San Jose State’s $38.5 million stadium renovation plan has been approved. It includes a new building, which will feature locker rooms and training facilities, in one of the endzones.

In case you missed it– Facility updates previously mentioned on this site:

The naming rights deal database has been updated multiple times this month.

DePaul will have a new arena for men’s basketball.

There is a current trend of adding local flair to playing surfaces.

Luke Mashburn is a Game Day Operations Specialist at Kennesaw State University. You can follow him on Twitter @L_Mashburn.