The Univ. of Connecticut Foundation yesterday announced that it has collected donations and pledges for 75% of the construction cost of the UConn Basketball Development Center. The university has collected $24M of the $32M needed and will obtain financing for the project to begin construction as soon as possible. Completion is expected to take about 24 months (UConn). The AP’s Pat Eaton-Robb noted the facility will be “built adjacent to Gampel Pavilion on the site where the former football stadium was razed earlier this year.” Plans call for “separate practice courts for the men's and women's basketball teams, locker rooms, weight rooms, classrooms, a sports medicine center and offices for the basketball staff.” The center also is “expected to have a public area to celebrate the history of UConn basketball, and house Husky memorabilia, including the trophies from the three men's and seven women's national championship seasons” (AP, 10/16). In Hartford, John Altavilla reports donors Peter Werth and Mark Shenkman and their families “combined to pledge nearly $7 million to the facility.” Shenkman's previous contribution of $2.5M was “significant enough to have his name placed on the athletic training facility that stands across the street from where the basketball center will be.” Yesterday’s announcement was “one of the early highlights in the tenure” of AD Warde Manuel (HARTFORD COURANT, 10/17).
