Thoughts on new non-revenue sports facilities (w/photos)?

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

This was a discussion that broke out in Brian's writeup today on the athletic department. 

I said that the "palaces for non-revenue sports" will pay off. 

When I added photos to my comment, the reactions were interesting. 

ICYMI, Michigan began a project a few years ago that will finish up around 2018-19, where they will spend an estimated $250M on new facilities and/or upgrades for virtually every athletic facility other than big ones that everyone already knew about i.e Crisler and Michigan Stadium.

My question for you is what are your thoughts on these facilities? Are they over the top? Do you like that Michigan is building up to eventually become a top program in every sport once these things are finished and the recruiting is impacted by it?

Here are the photos for the facilities that are still in the works. The Soccer team centers, Lacrosse stadium and team center, TWO multi-sport Strength & Conditioning centers, new Indoor AND Outdoor Track stadiums and an indoor Rowing practice facility were the most recent projects approved by the Regents during the Fall.

The photos for the Lax stadium have not been released yet. 

Canham Natatorium renovations

Golf Clubhouse renovations

TWO Multi-Sport Strength & Conditioning centers (approved)

Lacrosse team centers (approved)

New arena for Volleyball, Men's Gymnastics, Wrestling, Cheer and Dance that will replace Cliff Keen Arena. This is scheduled to be the final piece of the puzzle of this project.

Ross Academic Center expansion

Indoor Rowing facility (approved)

Soccer team centers (approved)

Indoor and Outdoor (no photos yet) Track Stadiums (approved)

"Walk of Champions" aka an archway entrance to Michigan Stadium and a stone path that leads from the back of The Big House all the way back to Weidenbach Hall

Weidenbach Hall expansion

cGOBLUEm

April 15th, 2015 at 2:39 PM ^

1. These all look VERY nice.

2. The Block M at the center of the volleyball court is as "highlighter yellow" as can be.

3. I would like to see more maize and not so much yellow. 

Wolverine Devotee

April 15th, 2015 at 2:43 PM ^

Eh, the designs of logos and stuff on these prints aren't set in stone. 

This is what the Michigan Stadium scoreboard print looked like when it was announced there would be replacements a few years ago.

 

Wolverine Devotee

April 15th, 2015 at 2:39 PM ^

Here are the things that have already been completed in this massive arms race.

Field Hockey stadium and team center

Weisfeld Family Golf Center. An indoor practice facility for the Golf teams.

Shepherd Softball Center.

 

Various scoreboard upgrades for Soccer, Baseball and Softball that now have HD video boards and Baseball/Softball both had turf fields installed.

 

 

 

WolvinLA2

April 15th, 2015 at 2:44 PM ^

I'm very much in favor of this.  I love that Michigan is great at all sports, not just the ones that generate revenue, and this will go a long way in maintaining that level of performance.  This is something that all of the students can enjoy, at least with regards to the new and/or additional performance fields.  I love it.

bluebyyou

April 15th, 2015 at 5:03 PM ^

I agree, as long as the athletic department is providing the revenue for these improvements.  If they are paying for it and are running in the black, which they are, why not have the best facilities in the country, which in some sports I suspect we do.  With the financial burden that most students are carrying, I'd feel very differently if some of the costs were picked up by the "academic" side of the ledger.

Jeff09

April 15th, 2015 at 2:56 PM ^

This is borderline obscene. Half this shit should never be built before the university can literally let anyone go to U of M for free due to an abundance of cash.

BryanAAMI

April 15th, 2015 at 3:12 PM ^

If I'm not mistaken... The funds for these capital projects are coming from the fixed-term bonds that were originally issued to improve Michigan Stadium & Crisler, but can be used for other capitol improvements as well.

The revenue generated from the new football & Bball improvements has essentially freed up these bond funds to be used for non-revenue sports... Kind of like: Use-it or Lose-it money at the end of the fiscal year from your work medical account.

Student scholarships unfortunately don't qualify due to the capitol expense provision.

danimal1968

April 15th, 2015 at 3:19 PM ^

by donor contributions through the Victors for Michigan campaign.

First and foremost there was the substantial donation Stephen Ross made last fall, which is why the entire Athletic Campus is known as the Stephen M. Ross Athletic Campus.  Ross gave $200 million to UM in 2013, half of which went to the Athletic Department.

This was all approved by the Regents last spring.

http://support.mgoblue.com/victors-for-michigan/explore/

I do believe that some of it is being funded as you suggest.

East German Judge

April 15th, 2015 at 6:26 PM ^

These are all being funded by the Athletic Department and any debt that was taken out is being paid off by revenues from the revenue producing sports, not from the general fund of the University.  The athletic department is more than self funding as I believe they pay the general fund for the tuition of the athletes on athletic scholarship - someone feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

OccaM

April 15th, 2015 at 3:03 PM ^

I love it, but... it seems kinda ridiculously over the top... I mean are those buildings and stands ever going to be filled at max capacity? 

I guess the new swim arena would. 

 

Maybe the clean concepts just seem very over the top and in reality they won't be like that, but got damn I wish they would cater to the general student population a bit more. 

OccaM

April 15th, 2015 at 7:31 PM ^

I was mainly referring to the very shoddy rec facilities, tennis courts (LOL) and outdoor hoops etc. 

The academic perks and facilities  at Michigan are actually better than many other colleges now that I've gone on to more advanced degrees at different places etc. 

Clarence Boddicker

April 15th, 2015 at 3:12 PM ^

Glad I got to run on the Ferry Field track before they rip it up for a parking lot. I'm sad about that. As for the other additions, why not? The athletic department is swimming in a river of cash generated by football and basketball. I think the athletes should get some, but whatever.

LSAClassOf2000

April 15th, 2015 at 3:21 PM ^

There are probably a couple things that could happen that would be much easier - either improve the old maintenance access between sections of South Campus (which cuts across the tracks at the east end of the Crisler lot, by the OSEH building) or build a new at-grade crossing. I think the proposed routing was posted here once, and either way, you have to deal with getting permits to work in the AARR (operated by Norfolk Southern, I think) right-of-way (just like we would to work on that 40 kV lead back there). 

ThadMattasagoblin

April 15th, 2015 at 3:13 PM ^

It would be interesting to see where we stack up against other schools particularly Ohio State. From what I can find, they recently built Buckeye Field for field hockey, Jesse Owens Stadium for lacrosse, soccer, and track opened in 2001, Mccorkle Aquatic center in 2005, French Field House for indoor track completed in 56' with a 1.3 million renovation in 2009, Stickney Tennis center in 2008, renovated Buckeye Field for softball in 2009, renovated Bill davis Stadium for baseball in 2011, built a boathouse at Griggs resevoir for the rowing team in 2011, and is in the process of building Covelli Arena for volleyball/wrestling/gymnastics. Basically from what I gather right now in terms of facilities it'd be baseball: push, softball:adv Mich, tennis:push, field hockey:adv Michigan, soccer:push, track: adv Ohio State, lacrosse:adv Ohio State, volleyball/wrestling/gymnastics: adv Ohio State, golf: push, swimming: push, rowing:adv Ohio State