Northwestern Univ. is "getting next-level serious about reinventing itself as a serious player in college basketball," as the school yesterday announced a $110M "overhaul of Welsh-Ryan Arena," according to Steve Greenberg of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. A reconfigured seating arrangement, modernized concourses, premium suites and revamped locker rooms "all are on the menu." The arena’s lighting and audio-and-visual capabilities "also will be upgraded." AD Jim Phillips called it a “historic development" for the future of NU athletics. Donations will "fund the project on the 63-year-old arena, which has been home to Northwestern’s men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball and wrestling teams." Construction is "scheduled to begin" in March '17 and completed by fall of '18. That means the teams "will need a temporary home" for the '17-18 seasons and "might require a backup venue for home games early in the following campaign." NU said the athletic department is “in the process of arranging alternate locations” for games and practices after the conclusion of the '16-17 basketball season (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/14). In Chicago, Teddy Greenstein writes the facility "promises to rank among the Big Ten's best." A source said that the arena "likely will reduce seating from 8,117 to about 7,500 as uncomfortable wooden bleachers are replaced by chair-back seats, concourses are widened and premium seating areas are added" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/14). Also in Chicago, Danny Ecker noted NU alums Patrick and Shirley Ryan "will again provide an undisclosed 'leadership gift' for the new renovation." Other funding for the project will include a $10M "donation from alumni Stephen and Susan Wilson." The Ryan and Wilson names "will be on a number of new amenities at the venue, though the school says it has left open 'a handful of new or renovated spaces' for naming rights" (CHICAGOBUSINESS.com, 6/13).
