Univ. Of Vermont Facility Upgrades Slowed By Economic Downturn
Since a Univ. of Vermont (UVM) task force nearly a year ago found the school's athletic facilities "inadequate and outlined preliminary plans for a new arena and other capital upgrades, not much has happened to expedite any of these improvements -- all of which remain years away, at best," according to Tim Johnson of the BURLINGTON FREE PRESS. The economic downturn has "forced UVM and everybody else to tighten belts and readjust goals." For UVM, "which has suspended borrowing for new capital projects in the face of a $28[M] projected deficit for the next fiscal year, that means that any major new building plans -- at least in the foreseeable future -- will have to be underwritten almost entirely by private donations." The UVM trustees next month will be presented with six athletic facility projects recommended by the task force, which include: a $93.9M multipurpose event center, or arena; a $42.8M recreation center/fieldhouse; a $29.4M athletic/shared use facility including a natatorium; and $2.7M for outdoor fields for soccer, lacrosse and student recreation. UVM VP/Student & Campus Life Tom Gustafson said that if a donor "emerges willing to foot the bill for any of these, that project would likely be catapulted to the top of the ranking list" (BURLINGTON FREE PRESS, 1/5).
UNIV. OF ILLINOIS: Univ. of Illinois SID Kent Brown said that the school “will delay a decision on whether to build a new arena or renovate Assembly Hall in light of economic woes.” Illinois AD Ron Guenther in August said that a decision on Assembly Hall would be made by January. However, Brown said that “considering the downturn in the economy and the likelihood that an arena project would surpass the Memorial Stadium renovation price tag of $120[M], now is not the time.” Brown: "In several months we’ll take a look down the road toward making a decision on what we want to do” (STLTODAY.com, 1/6).
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