In Raleigh, Andrew Carter reported the Univ. of North Carolina "was considering two concepts" for its basketball arena before the school "put its plans on hold" last year. One plan would see a renovated Dean E. Smith Center with "three levels of premium club seating and an overall capacity of 17,612, reduced from the current capacity of 21,568." The second option was a "new on-campus arena with 600 premium seats and an overall capacity of 16,050." K.C.-based 360 Architecture "provided UNC with the two concepts" in November '13 as part of the school's arena study that UNC AD Bubba Cunningham estimated to cost "between $75,000 and $100,000." The Smith Center renovation plan "includes three levels of premium club seating on the west side of the arena, behind one of the baskets, above the lower level seats." The new arena "would include a ring of premium seating between the lower and upper levels." It would also include "support facilities, such as practice courts, administrative offices for the men’s and women’s basketball teams and what 360 described as 'greatly enhanced fan amenities'" (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 4/11).
BOILER ROOM: In Indiana, Mike Carmin reported Purdue AD Morgan Burke by the end of the year "will present a master plan to the board of trustees outlining a series of projects that will enhance" both the South End Zone at Ross-Ade Stadium and Mollenkopf Athletic Center. Burke in May "will recommend to the board the hiring of an architect and a construction manager." Funding will "come from private donations, revenue generated from ticket sales in the new south end zone and other department resources, including future television money." Purdue football coach Darrell Hazell and members of the football and athletic department staff "will travel to three or four schools which have built new stadiums or are currently under renovation, including Baylor and Texas A&M" (Lafayette JOURNAL & COURIER, 4/12).
TROJAN BIDDING WAR: Troy AD John Hartwell on Saturday said that the design phase for the "highly anticipated North End Zone project at Veterans Memorial Stadium could begin as soon as June." He said that the deadline for architects to "send their quotes for the stadium addition -- which will include new locker rooms, new weight room and coaches offices -- to the university is April 20." Hartwell added that construction of the North End Zone building "will likely take 18 months, and plans are to break ground following" the '15 season (DOTHAN EAGLE, 4/13).
BIG UPS, BIG BEN: In Ohio, Eric Robinette noted Miami of Ohio's new 91,000-square-foot David & Anita Dauch Indoor Sports Center "at first glance seems to be only a full 100-yard football field, with an artificial, grass-like turf." But it "can be modified by netting and other means to accommodate additional sports." The project "was funded through a combination of donors," including a $1M donation from alum and Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger (HAMILTON JOURNAL NEWS, 4/12).
COWBOYS UP: In Wyoming, Ross Jacobson reports the Univ. of Wyoming "is one step closer to building a high altitude performance center" for the school's football program. The $44M facility "will include a new football locker room, offices and meeting rooms, training table, academic center and renovated weight room." It will "nearly triple the size of the Rochelle Athletics Center from 48,000 square feet to 126,000 square feet." UW is "more than halfway toward its goal" with $20M in matching grants from the Wyoming State Legislature and a $3M "private donation from the Rochelle family" (CASPER STAR-TRIBUNE, 4/14).
