In Syracuse, Chris Carlson notes Syracuse Univ. yesterday provided "another set of draft renderings for a renovated Carrier Dome." The newest look "featured a number of similarities to renderings previously published by a possible construction partner." In the newest renderings, the entire Dome "appears to be rimmed with glass walls." In previous ones, the glass walls "were limited to certain sections of the building." SU stressed that "no final decisions have been made" regarding the facility. SU VP & Chief Campus Facilities Officer Pete Sala said that the school has been "meeting two days a week in an effort to nail down the amenities that will be added to the interior of the Dome and improve fan experience" (Syracuse POST-STANDARD, 6/21).
IMAGINE DRAGONS: ESPN.com's Brett McMurphy noted the rebirth of UAB's football program "took another huge step" on Friday as the Univ. of Alabama System BOT "gave final approval for the construction" of a $20M football operations building and covered practice field. The 46,000-square-foot building will "include locker rooms, offices, meeting rooms, a weight room, a dining area and a study hall." UAB AD Mark Ingram said that the project is "expected to break ground in August and will target" a July '17 completion date. UAB's football program "makes its return on Sept. 2, 2017" (ESPN.com, 6/17).
CLOSE IT OFF: In Indianapolis, Zach Osterman noted Indiana Univ.'s BOT on Friday approved a $53M proposal to "enclose the south end of Memorial Stadium." The enclosure will add 66,575 square feet of facility space "to the south end of IU's football stadium." The enclosure will "include new athlete treatment and academic support facilities" and will "allow for eventual relocation" of the football team's locker room. IU AD Fred Glass said that he "expects the project to be completed" in time for the '18 season, "with construction to begin after the upcoming season." The next phase of IU's facilities transformation will "come directly from gifts and athletics revenue" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 6/18).
WALL BALL: In Virginia, Harry Minium reported Old Dominion's renovated Foreman Field will "have what architects have dubbed the 'Big Blue Monster'" when it opens in '19. Initial renderings of the planned stadium renovation "shows a 57-foot blue wall at southern edge of the West side, featuring a giant Lion logo." It was named after Fenway Park's Green Monster. ODU has hired Populous for a year-long stadium study. Eventually, if the stadium "is expanded to 30,000 seats, as ODU plans, the Big Blue Monster would rise to 98 feet, taller than any building in Norfolk outside of downtown." Minium noted the Phase II expansion to 30,000 seats "would cost" about $95M. The first phase of "rebuilding Foreman Field will come at a relatively modest cost (about $55M) and will be paid for without raising student fees" (Norfolk VIRGINIAN-PILOT, 6/18).
