In K.C., Tod Palmer noted Univ. of Missouri Exec Associate AD Tim Hickman said that the Memorial Stadium east-side expansion project "is on budget and expected to be finished on time" before the '14 season begins. The expansion will "double the street-level concourse width" of the stadium, which opened in '26. Fans in the new premium area below the upper deck will "have access to outdoor seating as well as dining and bar options." Hickman said that the expansion "eliminated approximately 2,800 existing seats." However, the renovation "builds in 1,200 loge/club seats plus an additional 4,200 seats in the upper deck." Those seats "will be benches with back rests" (K.C. STAR, 4/20).
FIELDS OF DREAMS: In Columbus, Tim May noted a $2.5M renovation project for Ohio State’s football practice facility is "in the works, the aim of which is to keep the facility among the elite nationally." Though some remodeling was "done during an expansion" in '06, the locker room has been "relatively unchanged" since the primary building opened in '87. The FieldTurf surfaces in Ohio Stadium, on one of the outdoor practice fields and on the indoor field are being replaced" in the next six weeks at a cost of $1.069M. OSU Associate AD/Facilities Don Patko said that the latter two, in place since '03 and '04, respectively, have "exceeded their eight-year lifespan" (DISPATCH.com, 4/20).
ROCK CHALK: The LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD reported Univ. of Kansas will "conduct a ceremonial groundbreaking" for the new 32,000-square-foot DeBruce Center at 11:30am CT on May 2, at the northeast corner of Allen Fieldhouse. The DeBruce Center will "become the permanent home of James Naismith’s original 'Rules of Basket Ball,' which will be flanked by exhibits on Naismith and KU coaching legend Forrest 'Phog' Allen." The building also will "consist of a 320-seat student activity center, which will include retail dining, cafe seating, a new training table setting for both the KU men’s and women’s basketball teams and a catered event space" (LJWORLD.com, 4/18).
