Boston College AD Brad Bates yesterday released plans for a major makeover of the varsity sports and intramural athletic facilities and said that the school intends to invest $200M "on three projects on available land adjacent to Alumni Stadium and the Yawkey Center," according to Rich Thompson of the BOSTON HERALD. Bates said, "Whenever you have the magnitude of a $200 million project encompassing facilities that are going to be a resource to the entire campus community, it’s a major game-changer for both athletics and our student body. It will be a recruitment vehicle, and at so many levels this will be an amazing resource for our entire BC community." Thompson notes the football team "will be a major beneficiary of the planned field house." The team "had to rent out an indoor facility in Taunton during an intense rain storm" Oct. 22 before its game at Louisville. Presently, the team "uses a bubble that is installed over the Alumni Stadium field during the offseason and for spring practice." Bates and BC News & Public Affairs Dir Jack Dunn "still are in discussions with Boston city officials regarding construction of the field house that will be used by all field sports along with club and intramural teams." BC has "not started the bidding process on the approved projects" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/23). ESPN.com's Andrea Adelson noted the indoor football facility would be "funded through private gifts." The face lift "is badly needed, considering Boston College ranks near the bottom in the ACC with its athletics facilities." The announcement "leaves Miami as the only ACC school without a current plan for an indoor facility," though AD Blake James "has spoken multiple times about his program's desire to build one." North Carolina "most recently unveiled its plans for a new indoor as well" (ESPN.com, 2/22).
