In New Jersey, Jerry Carino reported Rutgers Univ.'s plan to renovate Louis Brown Athletic Center is "moving in a new direction" under AD Julie Hermann. The "bulk" of former AD Tim Pernetti's plan "has been scrapped." Sources said that one concept that "seems to be gaining traction ... is an 'athlete's village' near High Point Solutions Stadium." A new HQ "would be built for football, which would vacate the Hale Center for use by other sports." A basketball practice facility "would be part of the village." Any project that includes a practice facility "could cost upwards" of $60M (Morristown DAILY RECORD, 5/22).
PITT POCKET: In Pittsburgh, Sam Werner noted the ACC’s 15-year, $3.6B football contract with ESPN ensured the Univ. of Pittsburgh "more than triple what they were earning in the Big East," with an "annual share" of about $17M. The money has, "at least partially, allowed Pitt to make capital improvements to facilities for its flagship sports." The men’s and women’s basketball team areas in Petersen Events Center this summer "are undergoing a renovation." The football weight room at the school's South Side facility "also is getting a significant expansion" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/22).
DRIVE AT FOLSOM FIELD: In Boulder, Kyle Ringo reported Univ. of Colorado administrators "plan to ask the Board of Regents next month to approve the addition of an underground parking garage" to the $143M facilities project at Folsom Field. The garage "would be located beneath the new indoor practice facility on the east side of the stadium and would include approximately 600 parking spaces." CU spokesperson & Issues Coordinator Ryan Huff said that the estimated cost of the garage is $20-25M, which would "be paid for through parking revenue" (Boulder DAILY CAMERA, 5/21).
RAM DUNK: In Richmond, Tim Pearrell reported VCU "plans to add luxury suites in two corners and a center-hung scoreboard, and install a new sound system and an LED ribbon board, to the Siegel Center in time for next basketball season." VCU officials said that designs and a cost for the suites "have not been finalized." VCU AD Ed McLaughlin said that the additions will "be paid for with money generated from the suites." VCU Exec Associate AD Glenn Hofmann said that there "will be two suites with 16-18 seats, and two suites with 12-15 seats." The larger suites "are $60,000 per year," and the smaller ones "are $45,000." Each suite "carries at least a two-year commitment" (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 5/22).
