In Albuquerque, Mike Bush reported the Univ. of New Mexico is "naming some sections of its two largest sports facilities, University Stadium and the Pit, after U.S. Bank" in an "eight-year deal" worth $1.7M. University Stadium's End Zone Club "will become the U.S. Bank End Zone Club and the Zia Club will be known as the U.S. Bank Zia Levels, while the Pit Club will be "called the U.S. Bank Suite/Club Level." UNM AD Paul Krebs said $1.7M is "less than we had hoped to receive for these areas" (ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL, 10/11).
RUNNING WITH THE BULLS: In Tampa, Joey Knight noted an on-campus football stadium at USF is "at the dawn of the dialogue stage." American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco said that USF President Judy Genshaft told him new AD Mark Harlan has "begun exploring the possibility" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 10/12).
COYOTE CAGERS: In Iowa, Greg Forbes noted the Univ. of South Dakota in '16 will open its 173,000-square-foot, $66M basketball facility, which will "contain the new arena, two practice courts, a 7,500-square-foot weight room, a sports medicine and athletic training area, and academic space for physical and occupational therapy, kinesiology and sports science programs." Construction crews "broke ground in June" (SIOUX CITY JOURNAL, 10/12).
MILWAUKEE MUSINGS: Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee interim Chancellor Mark Mone said that building a new sports and entertainment complex on land now occupied by the school "would not just displace the men's basketball program, but disrupt other university programming planned over the 10-year agreement" to rebrand the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. Mone said that UWM had "no position on where a new arena should be built, other than it is opposed to the demolition of the old arena" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 10/13).
