An incoming $20M football-only indoor facility means the team no longer has to use Athletics-Alumni CenterUNIV. OF HOUSTON
The Univ. of Houston over the last five years has spent nearly $125M of university dollars on its athletic program and facilities "in hopes of earning a bid to the Big 12 Conference," an investment that "might not truly pay dividends until the next round of realignment," according to Ben Baby of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Since '13, UH has spent $282M on facilities, "including TDECU Stadium, the football team's new indoor practice venue and the Fertitta Center, the future home of the men's and women's basketball teams." When the school announced the construction of the Fertitta Center in August '16, Rockets Owner Tilman Fertitta "hoped the arena would bolster Houston's Big 12 bid." However, even though Houston "stood pat during expansion talks, all of the university money the school spent wasn't completely in vain." TDECU Stadium, the $125.9M project that seats 40,000, "sits where Robertson Stadium did before the 70-year-old structure was demolished" after the '12 football season. The $20M football-only indoor facility under construction "means the team no longer has to use the old Athletics-Alumni Center." In '16-17, Houston's donations were nearly 350% "higher than they were" in '09. Contributions, combined with football revenue, accounted for 36% of the school's "total revenue, an increase" of nearly 20% from '09. That "could be something a potential suitor looks at when evaluating Houston during the next realignment period." But while Houston earned $18.7M "more than the next 'Group of Five' public school in Texas," they also were $31.6M "away from the lowest 'Power Five' school" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5/18).
