In Denver, Irv Moss reported new Air Force AD Jim Knowlton "has a plan to renovate and improve some of the facilities used by the academy's 27 men's and women's varsity teams." Falcon Stadium, which opened in '62 and has "operated since with only minor upgrades, will receive the most attention." Knowlton estimates the cost of projected improvements at Falcon Stadium to be $30M, and they will "require five years to complete." Knowlton: "We'll move forward in stages, but we'll be looking at improved team locker rooms, luxury suites on the west side of the stands and a new scoreboard and video board in the early part of the renovation." He added that funding for the project "will come from a combination of government grants and private donations." Knowlton also noted that he "has sizable commitments from the private sector." Clune Arena, where the men's and women's basketball teams play, will "get a new scoreboard and a new sound system." Air Force is "hoping to add a special seating area that would allow fans to watch basketball and ice hockey at the same time." The basketball and ice hockey venues are "side by side inside Cadet Field House" (DENVER POST, 6/15).
THIS IS THE PLACE: In Salt Lake City, Kyle Goon noted the Univ. of Utah "finds itself in several major construction projects nearing completion this summer," with more than $41M of facility improvements "wrapping up by September." The Sorensen Legacy Foundation High Performance Center "is already functional," and Utah's baseball, soccer, basketball and other teams "have been working out there for nearly a month." Meanwhile, completion on the Jon and Karen Huntsman Basketball Center "has been pushed back a month to September after officials decided to replace one of the planned solid walls with glass." Closer to opening are the "outdoor tennis courts, rising up just west" of the Eccles Tennis Center. At Rice Eccles Stadium, a $3.2M project to build new restrooms on the north concourse "has been underway for a few weeks." By August, Utah "should have 100 new fixtures to ease long lines during games" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 6/14).
WE HAVE CONTACT: In Toledo, Vanessa McCray reported the Univ. of Toledo "may polish its Glass Bowl" with an estimated $3.5M in "restroom and concession stand renovations and a possible new dining hall for varsity athletes." Toledo is "seeking architectural and engineering expertise for the potential revamp" of the 26,248-seat Glass Bowl football stadium. The project "would be funded by private donations and focus on the area beneath and next to the stadium's east-side stands" (TOLEDO BLADE, 6/14).
BULL MARKET: In Orlando, Rachel Williams reported a new tiki-themed lounge and seating area in UCF's Bright House Networks Stadium "is almost complete, and now is seeking business partnerships." UCF VP & AD Todd Stansbury said that the school has "issued a request for proposals seeking a name sponsor for the new area, as well as corporate partnerships with businesses that have a beach theme" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 6/15).
