Details of the Univ. of Florida's "upcoming stand-alone football complex are starting to emerge," according to Matt Baker of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. Documents from the university indicate that the 130,000-square-foot complex will cost about $60M. The program has "started to advertise for the project's architect and engineering firms." Construction is "scheduled to begin in about a year, and the building is tentatively set to open" in June '19. The facility will also have a state-of-the-art locker room for 125 players, a players lounge that could include anything from pool to video games, a strength and conditioning room with an NFL alumni locker room, a recruiting lounge, and a football coaches' suite, including a head coach suite with direct access to the coaches war room (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 12/23). In Orlando, Edgar Thompson notes the project is part of the athletic department's "so-called 'master plan' for facilities upgrades" announced Sept. 16 by former AD Jeremy Foley. UF's "lagging football facilities have been a key talking point for coach Jim McElwain since he arrived two years ago." The facility will "require tremendous fund-raising during the coming year" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 12/23).
