Regents approve $168M project for new Track stadiums, Lacrosse stadium and training centers
Incredible.
Nice to hear the 3K-seat Lacrosse stadium has finally been announced.
The Athletics South Competition and Performance Project will serve the training and competition needs of nearly two-thirds of the total number of student-athletes. The project will construct approximately 310,000 gross square feet of space that will be the future home for men's and women's track and field, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, and women's rowing.
A performance and team center will provide specialized spaces for each team and shared resources for all teams for strength and conditioning, athletic medicine, a performance lab, meeting space and locker rooms. It also will allow Michigan Athletics to consolidate various team facilities now dispersed across the athletic campus. An indoor rowing tank will be built for the first time. New indoor and outdoor track and field facilities that will have permanent seating for 2,000 and 1,000 spectators, respectively, will allow U-M to again host home track meets as well as regional and national competitions. A 3,000-seat lacrosse stadium will create a home for the University's newest varsity programs, in a sport that is one of the fastest-growing in the nation.
The project, made possible by the purchase of property adjacent to existing U-M facilities, has an estimated cost of $168 million. Funding will be provided entirely by Michigan Athletics donor resources and gifts, including a $100 million gift from Stephen M. Ross. The Regents also approved the architectural firm of TMP Architecture Inc. for design of the project.
Rowing facility
Soccer team center
Lacrosse team center (no stadium photos available yet)
New indoor track stadium
The U-M Indoor Track Building will be demolished along with Ferry Field in summer 2015 (sadly).
The U-M Indoor Track Building will be where a new multi-purpose arena will be. That arena will replace Cliff Keen near the end of the decade and will serve as the home of Michigan Volleyball, Wrestling, Men's Gymnastics, Cheer and Dance.
Meanwhile, Ferry Field is being turned into a parking lot. No, really.
September 18th, 2014 at 9:21 PM ^
If anyone is wondering where the money the AD is raking in is actually going, this is the answer.
September 19th, 2014 at 9:39 AM ^
And that window will likely be closing in the next decade, so it's a good idea get all of these upgrades done before that happens.
September 19th, 2014 at 11:00 AM ^
All the money for this is coming from donors - all that football money is evidently going somewhere else...
September 18th, 2014 at 10:43 PM ^
Steve Ross all so said hes going to give more money down the road. hes not done giving.
September 19th, 2014 at 7:07 AM ^
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September 19th, 2014 at 11:36 AM ^
I agree - this is where the money goes when players can't get paid. I don't want to say its a waste - but its not the best use of the department's and university's money.
Particularly for lacrosse. Lacrosse can easily be played on the soccer, football or even field hockey fields. Even in the baseball outfield. The y've been playing in Oosterbahn for years and have played a few games in the Big House. They don't need their own stadium, much less one all the way out on State Street, past the tracks. If they want people to go to these events, they need to keep them closer. I had friends on the tennis and track teams and I never made it out to the tennis facility and I went to one indoor track meet. I went to maybe 2 soccer games because they were a little closer.
I'll never understand the college athletics facilities arms race. I don't think its worth it.