In Louisville, Kyle Tucker reported plans are "in the works" for a $45M project that would give the Univ. of Kentucky football team a "new training facility and practice fields." An agenda for tomorrow's scheduled BOT meeting showed construction of a "new two-story football training structure and two practice fields with an adjoining drill area, all of which will be located at the east end of the existing Nutter Field House." The two-story structure will "house football administrative offices, locker spaces, team meeting areas, training areas, high-performance and weight-room spaces, equipment rooms, a hydrotherapy room, player locker rooms, lounge facilities, an academic lounge/study area and an entrance lobby with 'enhanced visitor amenities'” (COURIER-JOURNAL.com, 1/28).
HORNS UP: The Univ. of Texas Club announced a multimillion-dollar reinvention project for '14. The club, located on the sixth and seventh floors of the east side of the Darrel K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, recently renewed its lease through the '23 season. The project, to be completed in the spring, includes a redesigned Longhorn Bar with casual dining, new banquet seating and community Joiners Tables, a new media area with a 103-inch TV and a new Power Boardroom with HD video conferencing capabilities (UT).
FIGHT ON: USC AD Pat Haden said many fans, season-ticket holders and athletic support group members over the next couple of weeks will "receive a comprehensive survey asking them what they want" from the renovation of the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. Haden: "We want you to tell us what you want. Do not let us decide for you. From that information, we will sit down with the architects and design a concept around your feedback. Then, we will see what that costs and come up with a development plan to marry the support with the cost of what you want. We will have to raise those dollars and then start construction, so it will likely be at least another year before shovels are in the ground. With that said, we will continue to make positive changes to the stadium for this upcoming season as we did last year, improving concessions, restrooms and overall cleanliness" (OCREGISTER.com, 1/25).
HARLEM SHAKE: In Chicago, Shannon Ryan reports former Harlem Globetrotters President & CEO and Univ. of Illinois alum Mannie Jackson donated $3M "to the State Farm Center renovation project." The Mannie L. Jackson Univ. of Illinois Basketball HOF will "display basketball memorabilia from the team’s history." Jackson and teammate Governor Vaughn were the "first African-Americans to letter and start for the Illinois team" in the '57-58 season (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/30).
