Thoughts on new non-revenue sports facilities (w/photos)?
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
No one is (seriously) saying don't have these teams. Just don't fill the campus with palaces that only a microscopic fraction of the community will ever derive any benefit from.
An academic building is different because that's the school's primary function. A football weight room is different, even though 99% of us will never see the inside of it, because people care about football. This benefits exceedingly few.
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Like it or not, this is Dave Brandon's legacy.
His legacy to me is building some beautiful stuff for the non-revenue sports, but ignoring his main focus -which should have been turning the Michigan Football program into a powerhouse it is supposed to be. Instead he embarassed the school and program numerous times and will go down as one of the, if not most disgraced athletic director in our history.
April 16th, 2015 at 11:50 AM ^
Me likey the new digs.
Are they over the top? Yes, and rightfully so
I hope we can win the Director's Cup already (16 top ten finishes in 21 years)
Kids love this stuff, makes them feel special, and adds something to the "pro" column to offset the terrible awful winter in their "con" column for coming to Michigan.