College Athletics Construction Roundup: March 2023, Part I
By Darian Kelly
Last Updated on April 6, 2023
The “College Athletics Construction Roundup” is a monthly series on the construction of intercollegiate athletics facilities. We’ll provide a bi-weekly list of announced, in progress, and recently completed athletic construction projects nationwide. You can view previous editions of the “College Athletics Construction Roundup” here.
Hat tip to D1 Ticker as a resource we pulled from for this roundup.
Multi-Use Facilities
WGLT public radio reports that Reeditus CEO Rossi pledged $3M to support Illinois State‘s new indoor practice facility six weeks before he was indicted on federal tax fraud charges. The pledge was to be made in $1M monthly payments in June 2022-24. In March 2022, Rossi was indicted.
WGLT requested an interview with Redbirds AD Brennan. Despite not commenting on individual donations, the athletic department said fundraising efforts for the indoor practice facility project continue.
Arizona State President Crow addressed potential updates to Desert Financial Arena, home to ASU basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, and other programs. Crow called the facility “completely functional” but noted that some updates were needed. According to Crow, approximately $25 million will be spent on the air handling system. Furthermore, he suggested updating the seating, adding handrails, and improving locker rooms.
Basketball
The Frungillo family donates $1 million to Seton Hall to support the construction of a basketball practice facility. The Frungillo family gift will help Seton Hall complete the next step in its 10-year master plan to enhance facilities for all students and athletics programs. The recreation center expansion will include new practice facilities for men’s basketball and improved resources for women’s basketball and other athletics programs.
Bud Walton Arena needs renovation and has “served us well” over the past 30 years, said Arkansas AD Yurachek to the UA Board of Trustees. He presented three possible renovation scenarios but noted they are derived from a preliminary feasibility study and are only concepts for now. A recommendation for renovations will be delivered by Yurachek to the board in the winter or spring following the presentation of an architect and general contractor this summer.
Football
Penn State‘s football program will be commemorated with a Legacy Plaza outside Beaver Stadium. Fans can purchase pavers that will be included in the plaza and on which they can customize a certain amount of text. The price ranges from $350 to $1000.
Travis and Lexi Thompson gave Texas Tech a “significant gift” to support current facility projects. Most gifts will be used to complete the south end zone and Dustin R. Womble Football Center projects. Texas Tech’s track and field staff will receive the remaining funds to finance an office space.
The city of Coral Gables has approved Miami’s (FL) architectural design for its new football facility. The new facility will be a 162,000-square-foot Football Operations Center and a 200,000-square football parking garage, with both adjacent buildings located west of the Watsco Center on Dickinson Street.
Track and Field
The University of Florida’s James G. Pressly Stadium/Percy Beard Track will undergo a $4.1M renovation, including a timing/officials building adjacent to the finish line, a shade structure over the starting block, improvements to the public areas, including restrooms and concessions, and waterproofing of the grandstand. It is expected that construction will begin late next month and end early in 2024.
