The official gala opening for Georgetown's John Thompson Jr. Intercollegiate Athletic Center is scheduled for Oct. 6, but athletes "are already using portions of the building as workers continue to put the finishing touches on the 144,000-square-foot structure," according to Gene Wang of the WASHINGTON POST. Georgetown men's basketball coach John Thompson III said, “Our facilities have been used against us, and now they’ll be used for us. I don’t think there’s a place in the country as nice as this." Wang notes at a cost of roughly $62M, the athletic center "includes separate practice courts for the men’s and women’s basketball teams." The men’s team "will continue to play home games at Verizon Center and the women at McDonough Arena, which is connected to the Thompson Center." Men’s basketball "occupies the top two floors in the five-level building, with the gym taking up approximately 15,000 square feet." There are "97 flat-screen televisions and a gaming wall in the athletes’ lounge." The men’s team "has its own set of flat-screens in its locker room, which even comes with high sinks and shower heads to accommodate taller athletes." GU Associate AD/Facilities & Operations Brian McGuire estimated that "all of the school’s other teams occupy" 50% of the space. Among the "facilities all athletes share are sports-medicine and weight-training rooms, an academic center and a spacious equipment area." Near the main entrance "will be a bronze statue of Thompson Jr." There are "also several quotes" from the former coach. Basketball HOFer Patrick Ewing contributed $3.3M "in a joint donation with longtime sports agent David Falk." Hornets C Roy Hibbert and Magic F Jeff Green "each gave" $1M (WASHINGTON POST, 8/12).
