College Athletics Construction Roundup: March 2015

The “College Athletics Construction Roundup” is a monthly series on the construction of intercollegiate athletics facilities. Each month we’ll provide a list of announced, in progress and recently completed athletic construction projects from around the country. You can view previous editions of the “College Athletics Construction Roundup” here.

Football

Auburn trustees approved $13.9 million for a new video board and electronic ribbons along the upper deck of Jordan-Hare Stadium. The video board is expected to surpass Texas A&M’s as the largest collegiate video board in the nation.

Syracuse is exploring its options on the Carrier Dome. With local and state officials unable to agree on a new downtown stadium project, school officials will need to make a decision on the future of the dome: whether to replace the dome roof in the next 6 – 8 years (at an expected cost of $25 million), replace the roof while making other building improvements, or building a new stadium.

Proposed ULM end zone facility

The University of Louisiana Monroe approved a new end zone facility at Malone Stadium. The 11,675 square-foot facility will house a new locker room for the football team and new coaches’ offices with patios overlooking JPS Field.

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Basketball

Clemson approved a $63.5 million renovation to Littlejohn Coliseum. The project includes a complete renovation of the playing area and seating arena; 450 premium seats will be added. The project is expected to be completed in fall 2016 and will require holding home games elsewhere next season.

Minnesota received a $6 million gift that will be used to help fund the new Basketball Development Center. The facility will house men’s and women’s basketball offices and locker rooms.

Proposed strength and conditioning facility in FGCU’s arena expansion plans

Florida Gulf Coast University received a $1 million gift that will be used as funding towards the $7 million expansion of Alico Arena. The project includes a strength and conditioning facility for all FGCU’s athletes, a new video board for the arena, an expanded sports medicine area and a new academic resource center.

BYU announced three upgrades to the Marriott Center: new LED video boards, a renovation of the lower bowl seating, and a new 38,000 square foot annex. The annex will house a practice court, a strength and conditioning center, training room, offices and meeting rooms.

Washington State has proposed replacing its practice ‘bubble’ with a permanent structure. The new indoor practice facility will accommodate a full football field and have improved inside lighting over what is currently in the bubble.

Tulsa has proposed a new indoor practice facility as part of the school’s strategic plan. The facility would be for use by all Tulsa’s athletes as well as the marching band. Once funds are raised, construction would expect to take 12-18 months.

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Olympic / Other Sports

Rutgers is in the final fundraising push for the Fred Hill Baseball & Softball Training Complex, an indoor practice facility for use by the baseball and softball programs. One-third of the $3.3 million cost of the facility has been raised; with construction unable to start before the total amount is raised the school is wanting to raise the funds by June 30.

Radford has been gifted a new video board for its baseball facility. The video board is 35 foot, LED display that will sit atop the inning-by-inning scoreboard and alongside lineup displays.

Missouri approved the funding plan for a new softball stadium. The $16 million facility (of which, $13.5 million will be secured through private funding) will seat 1,800 and is expected to be complete for the 2017 season.

The University of Alabama Board of Trustees approved a $4.5 million budget for UAB’s new soccer facility: BBVA Compass Field. Both UAB Men’s Soccer and Women’s Soccer will play home games at the facility, which is expected to seat 2,500.

In addition to a new video board to be installed for the 2016 season, Arkansas has made some customer experience improvements for this season. Improvements include remodeled restrooms, lower concession prices, improved and additional signage and upgraded connections for SEC Network broadcasts.

Georgia spent $12 million to upgrade Foley Field for the 2015 season. Included among the upgrades are new premium seating, wider concourses, expanded locker rooms and training areas located under the stands.

Wake Forest received a large gift, the majority of which will be used to help fund renovations to Wake Forest Baseball Park. Plans include a new clubhouse, renovation and relocation of the home dugout and new concourse viewing platform.

The University of Evansville dedicated the new baseball locker room. The renovation included new flooring, new showers, double-sided oak lockers and TV and sound hookups.

SMU dedicated its new 45,000 square foot tennis complex. The complex includes six indoor courts, six outdoor courts, team meeting and locker rooms, an athletic training area and a third-floor suite area with viewing areas of all 12 courts.

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Academic & Multi-Use Facilities

Idaho initiated the process for a new $30 million multi-use arena. The facility would serve as a home for men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball. The facility would also house athletics staff offices, locker rooms, a practice court and convention space.

New Jersey Institute of Technology will break ground this summer on a $100 million multipurpose athletic facility. The playing arena will feature a 3,500 seat capacity.

Duke dedicated a new study lounge in the K-Center, Duke’s academic center for student athletes.

Kentucky will build a second Center for Academic and Tutorial Services facility, located within the new football training center. School officials wanted a closer academic center on the southern side of campus as 70% of the school’s athletes will eventually be based in that area of campus.

Florida will postpone planned renovations of the O’Connell Center. Cost estimates for the renovation are approximately $60 million.

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