In Ft. Worth, Gil Lebreton notes TCU's newly renovated Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena opened yesterday, a project that was "long overdue, as TCU continues to find its place" in the Big 12. Schollmaier Arena "greets guests with an airy atrium." The concourses "are now broad and bright," as opposed to the "elbow-to-elbow" concourses of old Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. There are concession areas, "not simply cubicles, and tables and chairs to actually sit and eat during halftime." Lebreton notes the "first thing you’ll notice is how bright the place is." Gone are the "50 years of dust bunnies that covered the old rafters" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 12/21).
EASY BREESY: In Indiana, Mike Carmin noted Purdue has received $12.1M in donations "toward the construction of a new football performance complex, which was officially approved" by the BOT on Saturday. Saints QB Drew Brees and his wife Brittany have "taken lead roles in support of the project," as they pledged $1M last summer. Construction on the $65M project is "scheduled to begin in May with a completion date" of August '17 (Lafayette JOURNAL & COURIER, 12/20).
UPGRADES NEEDED: In K.C., Lynn Horsley reported operators of the College Basketball Experience facility "are now asking the city to forgive the remaining" $600,000 of a $1.1M loan they received to complete construction in '07. The CBE is "owned and operated by the National Association of Basketball Coaches Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the National Association of Basketball Coaches." The facility attracts "about 100,000 people to about 100 events per year," but it also "needs upgrades to maintain its vibrancy, and that’s where the loan relief would help" (K.C. STAR, 12/19).
