SEC Athletics Facilities Race

[jbcarol]

Looks like the Florida-Georgia rivalry'll still be played here when finished.

[jbcarol]

The latest on Alabama's proposed basketball arena

"I know some people think it's an excuse," Byrne said. "It's not. It's a reality. The costs have gone up about $100 million in a year."

February 2023 estimated cost was $183 million for the facility expected to seat 10,036 for basketball. The university-preferred site for the arena sits just west of McFarland Boulevard, just beyond the parking lot that sits beyond the left field wall of Rhoads Stadium, home of Alabama's softball program. It would house both Alabama basketball programs as well as the gymnastics team.

Now Byrne is saying it's another $30 million more.

"We've continued to get several seven-figure-type gifts," Byrne said last week in Destin. "We haven't found a $100 million gift so if anyone has somebody out there who can help, let's talk with them. But it's still a priority for us. We're still actively raising money for it and it's a need."

For the sake of comparison, Auburn opened what's now known as Neville Arena in 2010. The final price tag for the 9,121-seat arena was $86 million which translates to $119.6 million when adjusted for inflation.

There's another factor, Byrne alluded to, in his answer from last week.

"At the same time too, in the world we're in now," Byrne said. "The infrastructure is important, but making sure you have all the other things including NIL is just as important."

A day short of the arena's initial approval one-year anniversary, Yea Alabama launched. The official NIL collective for Crimson Tide athletics went live Feb. 2, 2023, and the donations solicited in that space will have some degree of impact on money going to the arena fund.

In terms of construction costs, there's a flurry of activity nationwide.

Byrne said he speaks regularly with Alabama basketball coaches Nate Oats and Kristy Curry "regularly" (sic) on the arena matter.

"It's still a priority for us," Byrne said last week in Destin. "We're still actively raising money for it and it's a need. Coleman is over 50 years old. That's not getting younger. It's about the same age as I am so we need to find a long-term solution for that."

At this rate, they may replace Byrne before they replace Coleman.

[jbcarol]

Wes Rucker
@wesrucker247
·

The Board of Trustees needs to quickly rubber stamp everything and then let Tennessee build whatever the hell Vitello wants built.

And it needs to happen immediately

I just laughed while imagining the demands Tony Vitello could make about his next contract, his staff's contracts and the stadium renovations.

"Bring those mountains behind the outfield a little closer to the stands. And add a waterfall."

[jbcarol]

H/T @Next1_04

[jbcarol]

Saturday Down South
@SatDownSouth
·

LSU library vs. LSU football facility

[jbcarol]

Auburn will soon begin a $30 million renovation of Plainsman Park, a project expected to be completed in stages at various points from 2024-26.



al.com
Auburn set for $30 million renovation of Plainsman Park
Upgrades will be completed in stages between 2024-26
3:47 PM · Jun 21, 2023
 

[jbcarol]

Florida finally releases update on $400 million renovation plan for Ben Hill Griffin
Paul Harvey | 1 MINUTE AGO


Gators set to advertise for architecture firm for future Ben Hill Griffin Stadium project 🐊

Florida is preparing for a major renovation project regarding Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, better known as The Swamp. On Monday, the Gators announced a key step:

"We've conducted a number of studies over the last five-plus years about what the future could look like for Ben Hill Griffin Stadium," said Athletics Director Scott Stricklin via press release. "We've engaged with vendors that specialize in iconic venues and stadium experience for both fans and players while offering a variety of solutions. It is now time to take that information and engage with an architect who can present renovation, construction and phasing options for The Swamp.

"There are many questions that come with a project of this scope, but it would be premature to speculate on the answer to many of those, including but not limited to final costs, seating capacity and specific timeline," said Stricklin. "We look forward to working along with an architect that will start providing options on what those answers could look like and allow us to continue to host college football's biggest and best fans in The Swamp."

[Inhogswetrust]

The latest on Alabama's proposed basketball arena





At this rate, they may replace Byrne before they replace Coleman.

I can't imagine what it would cost to build Bud Walton Arena now.

[jbcarol]

Tennessee approves increased budget for Neyland Stadium renovation

The renovation budget for the next phase of development for iconic Neyland Stadium has increased by $49 million to $337 million, and the new budget was approved Friday

WES RUCKER



FALL 2023
* Removal of South Stadium Hall with structural strengthening of the stadium's south end
* Partially completed Wi-Fi capabilities
* Brick cladding around in-bowl vomitories 
* New restrooms under the Gate 10 ramp

FALL 2024
* Full stadium-wide Wi-Fi connectivity
* Stadium kitchen, commissary and loading dock
* New southeast elevators vertically connecting all concourses
* New Gate 4 entry plaza
* Brick cladding around in-bowl vomitories (phase 2)

* Renovations and upgrades complete for all stadium skyboxes (see updated renderings below)
* Initial construction for the westside Founders Suites New restrooms and concessions on north concourse two

FALL 2025
* Expanded south concourse 1 (increased restrooms, enhanced concessions, wider concourse)
* Completed Founders Suites
* Tee Martin Drive to shift south of the Gate 10 ramp

FALL 2026
* Completion of entry plazas

[Salty spork]

If I followed tennessee, I would need a vomitory as well.

[jbcarol]

The latest on Alabama's proposed basketball arena





At this rate, they may replace Byrne before they replace Coleman.

What donor fatigue means as NIL enters its third year of impacting college sports
Eric Prisbell
•

When Walker Jones re-launched the Ole Miss-focused Grove Collective early last fall, the Rebels were thriving. They had a 7-0 record, a No. 7 national ranking, and Jones couldn't reel in donor dollars fast enough. Then came four straight losses to close the football season. Combine that with a disappointing men's basketball campaign and suddenly donors weren't as quick to dig deep...

The dynamic, to varying degrees, is playing out on many campuses nationwide with the third anniversary of NIL in college sports ... on July 1.

The thirst for success ignites the pursuit of a large war chest – table stakes in the high-stakes recruiting and retention game. Heightened on-field expectations only elevate the need for a more robust war chest, which further fuels visions of rosters strewn with five-star performers. Wash and repeat – the space is engulfed in a feed-the-beast cycle with a hefty price tag and no endpoint.

"If you're not winning the championship, people [donors] are going to say, 'Man, screw this.'" Jones, the executive director of the collective, said of the industry in general. "'I gave [dollars] under the impression this was going to help us win championships and be competitive.' And if you're not doing it every single year, the cost still goes up – that's a problem.

"There is this growing feeling: Is this going to be the reality every year? And is the price going to continue to increase? If we raised $6 million last year, is it going to have to be $9 million next year, and then $12 million? If it doesn't change, and we are stuck with the same marketplace that we are today, it is not sustainable for a 95% donor-funded model."

Can the current NIL collective model survive?
The Grove Collection is among the innovative collectives that have tapped into other pools for dollars. Others either have followed suit – or likely will soon be forced to – as donors confront an acute financial stress test. The athletic department is competing with the collective over the same donor dollar. The economy's headwinds are causing some boosters to pump the brakes on philanthropic efforts. And the recent Internal Revenue Service memo casts doubt on whether future donations to collectives granted nonprofit status – some 80 of 200-plus nationwide –

If the ROI is a College Football Playoff berth, that's one thing. If the ROI is a Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl berth, that's

[Pig in the Pokey]

Looks like the Florida-Georgia rivalry'll still be played here when finished.

thats a crazy stadium.

[jbcarol]

Auburn football adds six new and improved field-level suites to Jordan-Hare

Auburn athletics announced the addition of six new and improved field-level suites, giving Tigers fans additional opportunities to enjoy games from Pat Dye

A pair of field-level suites will be found in both the southeast and southwest corners of Jordan-Hare, while one field-level suite will be in each of the stadium's north corners.

Auburn partnered with RevelXP, a hospitality company that advertises "turnkey tailgating", for the new seating options. Televisions, big ass fans, high-top seating, drink rails and premium food and beverage offerings are amongst the features.

The suites, which will be able to cater to 16-24 fans with prices ranging from $200-1,250 per are being made available to Tigers Unlimited.

[jbcarol]

While expansion projects have come and gone, no new SEC football stadium has been built since the early 1970's

Ranking each SEC stadium by capacity entering 2023

Kyle Field, Texas A&M: 102,733
Tiger Stadium, LSU: 102,321
Neyland Stadium, Tennessee: 101,915
Bryant-Denny Stadium, Alabama: 101,821
Sanford Stadium, Georgia: 92,746
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Florida: 88,548
Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn: 87,451
Williams-Brice Stadium, South Carolina: 77,559
Donald W. Reynolds Stadium, Arkansas 76,212
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Ole Miss: 64,038
Faurot Field, Mizzou: 61,620
Davis Wade Stadium, Mississippi State: 61,337
Kroger Field, Kentucky: 61,000
FirstBank Stadium, Vanderbilt: 40,350

Here's where Texas' Darrell K Royal- Texas Memorial Stadium and Oklahoma's Gaylord Family –

Texas: 100,119
Oklahoma: 80,126

[jbcarol]

Tennessee finally agrees to new naming deal for basketball arena:

"Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center"

Andrew Peters | 1 MINUTE AGO

Tennessee's beloved Thompson-Boling Arena is getting a new name.

The university has agreed to a 10-year naming rights deal with Food City for the school's basketball arena.

The deal is worth more than $20 million over the course of 10 years.

[1highhog]

Tennessee approves increased budget for Neyland Stadium renovation

The renovation budget for the next phase of development for iconic Neyland Stadium has increased by $49 million to $337 million, and the new budget was approved Friday

WES RUCKER



FALL 2023
* Removal of South Stadium Hall with structural strengthening of the stadium's south end
* Partially completed Wi-Fi capabilities
* Brick cladding around in-bowl vomitories 
* New restrooms under the Gate 10 ramp

FALL 2024
* Full stadium-wide Wi-Fi connectivity
* Stadium kitchen, commissary and loading dock
* New southeast elevators vertically connecting all concourses
* New Gate 4 entry plaza
* Brick cladding around in-bowl vomitories (phase 2)

* Renovations and upgrades complete for all stadium skyboxes (see updated renderings below)
* Initial construction for the westside Founders Suites New restrooms and concessions on north concourse two

FALL 2025
* Expanded south concourse 1 (increased restrooms, enhanced concessions, wider concourse)
* Completed Founders Suites
* Tee Martin Drive to shift south of the Gate 10 ramp

FALL 2026
* Completion of entry plazas

[jbcarol]

LSU finally unveils New Tiger Stadium Walls 🔥🔥🔥

There will be some new features at Tiger Stadium starting in Week 2. New wall designs were announced for the venue.

The walls will now have phrases that are associated with LSU's stadium like "Where Opponents Dreams Come to Die" and "The Cathedral of College Football".

Saturday will be the first time that the Tigers have faced Grambling State in program history.

[Inhogswetrust]

LSU finally unveils New Tiger Stadium Walls 🔥🔥🔥

Notre Dame might have something to say about calling it the Cathedral of college football.

[jbcarol]

Vandy's game vs. Mizzou being played despite ongoing construction to stadium
Ethan Stone | 1 MINUTE AGO

You cannot see attachments on this board.

Vanderbilt football's game against Mizzou at FirstBank Stadium is being played despite the fact there are construction workers actively working on the premises. The Commodores' stadium is currently in the process of being renovated.

Not exactly standard procedure...

The opposing "locker rooms" have been a tent city.

[jbcarol]

Drinkwitz gives first-hand review of Vanderbilt's makeshift locker room
Andrew Peters 

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Vanderbilt has been dealing with on-going construction to its stadium throughout the season.

One thing that comes with that is having temporary locker rooms for both the Commodores and the visiting teams.

But Eli Drinkwitz had high praise for the Vanderbilt's temporary locker rooms after Missouri took on Vanderbilt at FirstBank

"I'll say this, that temporary locker room's as nice as anybody in the SEC, from a locker room standpoint," Drinkwitz said during the SEC coaches teleconference Wednesday. "I'm not going to throw anybody else's names out there because that will just start a whole other issue on Twitter. But I think what they've done to accommodate the visiting team through the construction is really good.

"It's hard to cast stones in this league, because so many different schools have gone through construction projects during the season and now it's just Vanderbilt's opportunity and turn to do that," Drinkwitz said. "So it is what it is, but it didn't have any type of effect on the game. But I would like to commend the Vanderbilt administration deserves to be commended for the way that they've setup that locker room, the visitor's locker room. It's really nicer that probably any other visitor locker room in the SEC, to be honest."

[jbcarol]

This is major

The board is set approval a MAJOR improvement deal that will enhance all of Mizzou's sports facilities include revamping the north endzone.  They just completed a new indoor football facility which kick started everything.
 Details are sketchy but I'm hearing MAJOR money will be poured into this. 

Not sure how much will be poured in, how this will be funded and not sure what will be done.  A lot of tight lips on this. 

What I do know is that all facilities will be revamped and the major money will go to the north endzone.  Details and renderings will be available mid November.

Will be interesting to see what the AD means by MAJOR money.....the last construction project was the south endzone opening in 2019 that cost $99 million.  That figure was because the board wanted to keep everything under $100 million because that sounded better....now, who knows??

[mizzouman]

This is major

You think?  Not sure, just what I was told.

[jbcarol]

Auburn's next big upgrade?

The Jordan-Hare Stadium north endzone scoreboard

Matt Cohen


The time has come

Auburn's athletic department has made various smaller-scale upgrades to Jordan-Hare Stadium during athletic director John Cohen's first year. Yet with the announcement of every premium seating addition or concession stand change, fans have frequently commented on the scoreboard in the north endzone at Jordan-Hare

On Thursday's edition of Auburn's Tiger Talk radio show, Cohen said a change is at last coming.


The exact details of how and when are not yet clear, but Cohen said he plans on putting a video board to replace the antiquated display on that side of the field.

"We're working behind the scenes to create a plan," Cohen said. "When does it happen? How long does it take once you start? What is the plan? Is there connective tissue to the university in that plan?"

During the show, Cohen said he brought architects and engineers to last week's game against Arkansas — which has video boards in both endzones —

[mizzouman]

Mizzou board of curators approved new renovations to the football stadium.  Details to come.

[jbcarol]

Mizzou board of curators approved new renovations to the football stadium.  Details to come.

Missouri's Board of Curators makes move to initiate renovations to Memorial Stadium
Daniel Peterson | 2 minutes ago

Missouri announced Friday that its Board of Curators has approved plans to redevelop the North Concourse area inside Memorial Stadium, as well as make other facility enhancements and "new fan amenities."

"We are building a championship culture at Mizzou, and this Memorial Stadium Project is an exciting development that will continue raising the national brand of Mizzou Athletics and demonstrates the university's investment in the athletics department's future," school president Mun Choi said in a release. "This unique project has the potential to create new year-round connections with the community for the university to further engage the region, the state and our 362,000 alumni."

Mizzou has also begun the process of installing a new videoboard in the north endzone and a renovated sound system

"Thank you to the Board of Curators, President Choi and Desireé Reed-Francois for their continued investment in our football program," coach Eli Drinkwitz said in a statement. "Memorial Stadium has been packed all season long with five straight sellouts and we look forward to the north end zone development along with other stadium improvements. This is an important step forward for the overall experience for our fans, players and recruits on game day. It's an exciting time to be part of Mizzou Football."

[jbcarol]

Prosecutor asks Alabama to strip 'Fail Room' moniker from locker room

By Rebecca Griesbach |

A former prosecutor is asking officials to change the name of Alabama's visitors locker room, called "The Fail Room," due to its ties to a financial executive with a troubled track record.

University of Alabama officials renamed the room in 2008 after receiving a "generous gift" from James Fail, a 1949 UA graduate who owned several banks and insurance companies across the country. Fail died in 2010 at the age of 83.

"I write to address past wrongs related to Fail, protect the university's reputation, and avoid harming past, present and future Alabama students whose families have been adversely impacted by Fail's insurance activities," Attorney Phillip Stano, who prosecuted Fail in a 1984 case, wrote in a letter to the UA System Board of Trustees on Sept. 6.

Huge Fail

[mizzouman]

Missouri's Board of Curators makes move to initiate renovations to Memorial Stadium
Daniel Peterson | 2 minutes ago

Looks like the plan to complete the north endzone project will be by the 2026 season.  Will include:  retail spaces, premium seating, new concessions, new bathrooms, recruiting rooms and preserve Rock M hill, among other things. 

[jbcarol]

The new floor at Rupp Arena is being replaced (seriously)

By Jack Pilgrim

One loss and Rupp Arena officials have decided to throw the brand-new floor in the dumpster. As a result, the stickers are back, at least temporarily.

No, seriously. Like, for real.

After one game for both the Kentucky men's and women's basketball programs — both losses — the recently installed court is being replaced. Robbins Inc., who created and built the floor, and UK officials agreed that it did not meet expectations under game conditions and a new court is being delivered in the near future.

Until then, the old floor is coming back. Yes, that old floor.

Somehow, against all odds, UNC-Wilmington was able to overcome and in fact thrive on the Robbins, Inc. laid floor.

[jbcarol]

SBJ: Tennessee's Neyland Stadium mixed-use proposal will add hotel, retail development to riverside area

Developers have until March 4 to respond to the University of Tennessee's request for proposals seeking a master developer partner for a proposed mixed-use development adjacent to 102-year-old Neyland Stadium, which is undergoing a $337 million renovation to be completed by fall of 2026, and UT's basketball arena, Food City Center.

The RFP, first posted in mid-December, is one of only a handful issued from the college athletics world.

At many colleges and universities, especially state flagships with large alumni bases like Tennessee's Knoxville campus, the college version of sports venue adjacent mixed-use development could potentially draw year-round visitors to stadiums like Neyland that are otherwise active only seven or eight days annually. Tennessee Athletic Director Danny White, who has made facility development and renovation a priority during his three years in Knoxville, told Sports Business Journal last fall that the goal of the proposed Neyland mixed-use district is to "make our big-ticket venues, our keystone venues something our fan base can interact with all year long."

In brief, UT's RFP — issued by the university, not the athletic department — says it seeks to develop a "transformative new campus district anchored by a full-service hotel, with condotel, conference/event space, and an entertainment district through a public-private partnership."

The project aims to create a stronger sense of arrival on the south side of Neyland Stadium; improve the exterior aesthetic of that side of the venue; enhance vertical circulation within the stadium; and create a stronger connectivity between Food City Center and Neyland Stadium and with the rest of the campus, plus thoughtfully engage the Tennessee River waterfront. Neyland Road runs between the river and the mixed-use development (and stadium) site.

Some of the development proposal's basic goals (some of which the RFP indicates are negotiable or subject to change):

The initial phase would include a 250-key hotel specifically branded with the university and its history and traditions in mind, as well as open spaces immediately adjacent to the hotel and stadium. The RFP suggested the hotel could reach a height of 12 stories.

The winning developer will create an entry plaza at Neyland Stadium's Gate 10 with ample gathering and queuing space for roughly 15,000 fans, and the new entertainment district will need to somehow connect to two of the stadium's concourses on the eastern side of the stadium.

Supporting retail and entertainment amenities (need to be destination concepts) should be no less than 15,000 square feet, and must preserve stadium ingress and egress, and other related stadium assets.

[jbcarol]

Auburn AD John Cohen gives update on Jordan-Hare north endzone, facility changes

By Matt Cohen |

One of the first things John Cohen noticed since he was hired as Auburn's athletic director in late 2022 was the north endzone at Jordan-Hare Stadium and its antiquated scoreboard and layout.

He has long stated a goal of a wide-ranging construction project to update not just the scoreboard but to develop the entire end of the stadium into a space including far more premium options for fans —

"I think one of the things, and this is long before John Cohen, but one of the things that we had to address in all of our facilities is a little bit of a lack of premium options," Cohen said in a January sit-down with AL.com. "We've added some premium options in basketball, we've added some premium options in baseball. We've actually added a premium opportunity quite frankly at softball that we're quite excited about. We've added some premium options over at football. We're going to continue to enhance our premium options cause that's what this fanbase demands."

Cohen seems to be envisioning creating an experiential area on that end of the stadium with a plaza as well as suites, similar to several other recent projects across the country. Cohen said he and his staff traveled to and studied other school's projects including at Arkansas, Florida State, Nebraska and Notre Dame.

[jbcarol]

Bruce Pearl jokes Alabama doesn't have to 'turn the lights off' to get new basketball facility

by:
Nick Schultz
•

Wednesday night's game between Alabama and Auburn got off to an interesting start, to say the least. Less than 30 seconds in, officials stopped play because the lights at Coleman Coliseum didn't turn on after starting lineups, resulting in a 15-minute delay.

Nate Oats and Bruce Pearl talked during the delay as their teams waited to take the court again. As it turned out, the Auburn coach had jokes.

"If you guys want a new facility, just get a new facility," Pearl told Oats, via BOL's Charlie Potter. "You don't have to turn the lights off."

Of course, Oats also had some fun about the situation, pointing out Auburn made its first shot of the game with the lights off on a three-pointer by Johni Broome. Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne actually pointed out the lights were new to the arena, according to AL.com's Michael Casagrande, adding to the humor in the situation.

"We were fortunate that they didn't shoot it well," Oats said. "They shot it better with the lights off. Maybe they should have requested to keep the lights off."

Alabama announced plans for a new basketball arena in February 2022 to replace Coleman, which was built in 1968 and holds 15,383 fans. However, there haven't been many updates since, with Byrne addressing the next steps during the SEC spring meetings last year. He pointed out the rising costs since the new arena plan was announced, but said it's not an "excuse."

"I know some people think it's an excuse," Byrne said at the time, via AL.com. "It's not. It's a reality. The costs have gone up about $100 million in a year."

[jbcarol]

Georgia announces plans for Sanford Stadium hedges to be 'revitalized'

Keith Farner | 



If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now @LZH

Georgia's famed hedges will get a facelift ahead of this season.

The school announced that the hedges will be "revitalized to protect one of college football's greatest traditions." A well-known staple in college football, the "between the hedges" moniker for Sanford Stadium has been in place since 1929.

[jbcarol]

Jordan-Hare Stadium renovation details to go before Auburn Board of Trustees
Keith Farner | 

Jordan-Hare Stadium is set to have renovations to the north end zone and video board, and the details will go before the Auburn Board of Trustees next month.

The Feb. 2 meeting will cover how Auburn will plan to use LBYD Engineers of Birmingham.

"The project will provide a new, modern video board to improve the fan experience."

The changes would be an upgrade for fans, especially students, who Cohen said are unable to see the video board easily.

Auburn's previous major renovation was in 2018 when it added a new recruiting center and press box and the locker room was expanded.

[jbcarol]

Casagrande: New Alabama arena is overdue, making sense of the delay

Wednesday night, these unrelated events remained unrelated, but the lights went out in Coleman.

And they didn't come back on for approximately 17 minutes of a nationally televised, electrical embarrassment. ESPN was live in Tuscaloosa for what became a classic 79-75 Alabama win over rival Auburn but the opening sequence highlighted the elephant lurking in that dimly lit airplane hangar.

Coleman Coliseum's got to go.

It's time for it to enjoy the retirement life on the Florida coast or become a useful parking lot.

There's really little defense for prolonging the lifespan of this cavernous concrete glimpse into what someone thought was a good idea in the 1960s.

That was also the consensus Feb. 3, 2022 when a University of Alabama board of trustees committee gave the initial approval to begin the process.

"Grab a shovel," was the lede to my story that day from the Birmingham meeting. "Eventually."

Repeat eventually.

Maybe one more time.

Approaching the two-year anniversary of that meeting and unanimous vote, this hypothetical arena has appeared on exactly zero more meeting agendas.

Meanwhile, Coleman needed 17 minutes to get working lights on Wednesday night.

What gives?

What's the deal here?

Look no further than the lapel of Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne's jacket during the blackout game. It wasn't the traditional 'script A', rather the pennant shaped logo of Yea Alabama, the Crimson Tide's official NIL collective.

When asking what's changed the most since the conceptual illustrations of this potential new facility went public, here's your answer. The arms race is a two-front battle --

Have to pay for players not facilities

[jbcarol]

Jordan-Hare Stadium may be getting a renovation.

Is Neville Arena next?

By Matt Cohen

Auburn's Board of Trustees is set to vote next week to approve a plan for a new "modern" videoboard in the north endzone of Jordan-Hare Stadium. The plan, which does not yet have a budget or timeline, will be the first major project under new athletic director John Cohen.

The Board of Trustees agenda for its Feb. 2 meeting only discusses the videoboard development and not the future developments Cohen has suggested for a full-scale premium-seating-focused renovation of the north endzone.

But as Cohen has suggested, one of the next projects on his mind is how to clear congestion at Neville Arena. It's an issue men's basketball head coach Bruce Pearl has pushed for in years past.

Auburn's Board of Trustees has previously approved plans for a new practice facility, but there has not been any progress toward initiating a project. Since the Feb. 2022 approval from the trustees, Auburn has seen a change in its athletic department leadership from previous athletic director Allen Greene to Cohen.

"It's not that the men's basketball practice facility or more space in Neville is not needed and have been improved," Pearl said during a press conference Friday. "It's just that the best way that I can tell all of our fans, for all of our sports, was when our project was up next, let's call timeout and get some of these other things right first."

Pearl said that despite the previous approval, he is willing to sit back and wait his turn while Auburn makes other maybe more pressing upgrades.

But Neville Arena, as both Pearl and Cohen have noted, is the most crowded athletics facility Auburn has. The men's basketball, women's basketball, volleyball and gymnastics teams all use the building. Both basketball teams and volleyball use it as their primary practice facility.

"Whatever the second most-used building is, it's not even close," Pearl said.

[jbcarol]

Wes Rucker
@wesrucker247
Farewell from Memorial Gym — a grand old place I've always loved despite understanding why many hate it.

[jbcarol]

For WW&L, innovative college sports keepsakes are the coin of the realm

by:
Eric Prisbell
•

A 125-year-old company in Arkansas is expanding the buffet of possibilities for commemorative keepsakes from sporting events – and the next innovative one may be coming to a college campus near you.

To mark the grand opening of Baylor's 7,500-seat Foster Pavilion on Jan. 2, Weldon, Williams & Lick and the university partnered to hand out limited-edition coins to fans who attended the men's debut in the modern fieldhouse. The next night, they provided fans with a unique coin for the women's team's debut in the sparkling facility on the banks of the Brazos River.

The new Foster Pavilion logo was the centerpiece of the gold coins, with the date and opponent displayed on the back.

For WW&L, conceiving the latest innovative sporting event keepsake is the coin of the realm.

For generations – since hand-held paper tickets were all the rage before cell phones – WW&L has been the dominant player in printing sports tickets for the biggest events. Now in an almost exclusively digital age, the Baylor activation is the latest example of WW&L's commitment to evolve by digging into its roots – it wants to put unique, tangible keepsakes in the hands of fans to cherish for posterity.

"The heart of it is Baylor and that fan," Evan Gitomer, WW&L's chief revenue officer, told On3. "We want that fan to feel like Baylor did something for them that is epic ... Emotion is what drives this stuff. Emotion drives sports in general. But when you have this desire for success and something special happens, you do need some way to commemorate that. And that's where we're seeing this type of result. This type of success. And I only imagine that'll continue to grow."

WW&L has printed tickets for Super Bowls

[jbcarol]

Oats praises Neville Arena, compares it to a small HS gym: 'That place is loud'
Keith Farner | 9 minutes ago

Oats and Alabama will look to make it 2 straight against Auburn in the Iron Bowl of basketball on Wednesday night on The Plains as the Crimson Tide are ranked No. 16 in the latest AP Top 25, while Auburn is No. 12.

Oats said Tuesday that Neville Arena is so loud, it reminds him of small high school gyms that pack in 2,000 people. "That place is loud," he said.

Alabama leads the SEC with an 8-1 record in conference play, ahead of South Carolina and Auburn, which are tied at 7-2, and Tennessee sits at 6-2. The Tide beat Auburn in Tuscaloosa on Jan. 24, 79-75.

"It can all go backwards in a hurry if we don't play well," Oats said.

Echoing comments Oats and Auburn's Bruce Pearl made before the first game, Oats Tuesday said, "This game has become a national-level game. Not just a big game in the state of Alabama but a big game in the state of college basketball."

[jbcarol]

How Auburn baseball's Mississippi State ties are shaping Plainsman Park

New look

By Matt Cohen |

On this day — exactly three weeks before Auburn's 2024 opening day — Hobart, now Auburn's deputy athletic director for external affairs and the administrator directly in charge of baseball, showed off what he'd built.

And he showed how Dudy Noble Field inspired what he's trying to create four hours east at his new job —the facility he's about unveil now with those three weeks gone by and opening day here, set for 6 p.m. Friday against Eastern Kentucky.


Auburn Baseball

@AuburnBaseball
·
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Auburn's ties to the Mississippi State baseball team start right at the top. Auburn athletic director John Cohen played baseball as a student at Mississippi State. He was the head coach there from 2009-2016. He was then the Mississippi State athletic director from 2016 until moving to Auburn in 2022.

Hobart is another Mississippi State alum who has spent more than eight years working in the Bulldogs athletic department with a focus on baseball.

Auburn head baseball coach Butch Thompson was an assistant coach on Cohen's staff in Starkville from 2009-2015.

When Hobart walked around his alma mater's home field in January, he showed the stadium's Triple Crown Club behind home plate and the Omaha Club on the upper level — with legendary coach Ron Polk's tobacco-stained table right outside. He walked through the unique outfield lounges to create a tailgate atmosphere inside the stadium and pointed out his family's own beach-themed setup.

Hobart described the meticulous planning that went into the jewel of the Mississippi State athletic complex. He discussed that while much of this staff's experience is mostly in baseball, he and Cohen emphasize that Cohen doesn't want to be viewed as a baseball-only athletic director. They inherited an already-approved $30 million Plainsman Park renovation when he arrived at Auburn, and they were just going to put their touch on it.

To take on this project from a different perspective, Cohen, Hobart and Auburn's staff looked back at their project at Dudy Noble Field, but also flew to Chicago to see the Maker's Mark Barrell Room premium club at the Chicago Cubs' Wrigley Field. It is one of several Major League Baseball stadiums where Auburn took inspiration when crafting its newest premium seating option.

[jbcarol]

Greg Byrne shares latest on Alabama's new basketball arena
by:
Kaiden Smith
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Crimson Standard is a ten-year, $600 million initiative at Alabama centered around transforming their athletic facilities across multiple sports, currently in Phase II headlined by Competition Arena. A new arena where Crimson Tide's men's and women's basketball and gymnastics will compete for their home games and competitions.

Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne's presentation for Competition Arena to the board of trustees was passed unanimously in February of 2022, but since then not much has been heard regarding breaking down on the new arena. But on Friday, Byrne provided an update on the exciting new stadium on 'The Game with Ryan Fowler.'

"We've actually had a pretty good last few months from a fundraising standpoint," Byrne said. "We've been continuing to ask, our development team that's been out there, we've had some very generous contributions from our supporters. Those conversations have been continuing, I've been involved in a lot of those conversations and we've been able to have success with that."

Coleman Coliseum currently hosts Alabama's basketball and gymnastics, a stadium that's 56 years old. And while the 10,136-seat, 258,626 gross square foot arena does sound exciting, the cost of the project has increased 30-40% percent to around the $250 million range as of December of 2022 according to the Tuscaloosa Thread.

"And obviously we need to make sure it works financially and it doesn't put our entire department in a very challenging financial position," Bryne admitted. "But know it's still a priority for us, still something we're raising money for and so I can honestly say we've had some very positive conversations from a financial and fundraising standpoint."

There's no question that some work has to be in done Tuscaloosa regarding fundraising and working against the rising cost projection for Competition Arena. But Byrne made it clear that working towards breaking ground on the highly anticipated arena is a top priority.

"It still has not made up the 100 million dollar increase in cost, and again, we can't jeopardize the entire health of our department over one facility. But we do know that's something that's important, it's at the top of our list right now and we're continuing to be actively raising money for it," Byrne concluded.

[jbcarol]

SEC stadium to host Premier League soccer teams in August
Paul Harvey | 12 minutes ago

SEC fans will get a chance to see a couple of Premier League soccer teams in action this summer.

Friday afternoon, South Carolina announced that Williams-Brice Stadium will host Manchester United and Liverpool in an Aug. 3 match. The game is a part of the "Rivals in Red" US tour that will also include Arsenal with other stops at SoFi Sand Lincoln Financial

Follow Gamecock Athletics
@GamecocksOnline
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𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗜𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗱.

The eyes of the world will be on Columbia this August when we welcome @LFC and @ManUtd to Williams-Brice Stadium.

📰: https://bit.ly/49C4m7M

#Gamecocks I #RivalsInRed

[jbcarol]

Casagrande: A Bryant-Saban Stadium rename is logical next step

George Hutcheson "Mike" Denny was, by all accounts, a transformative leader at the University of Alabama.

Back in 1975, the state legislature passed a bill that Governor George Wallace signed authorizing the renaming of the on-campus football stadium to add Bryant's name to Denny's.

Nearly 50 years later, it might be time to consider another refresh.

The time is right.

With a gorgeous forecast set for Saturday's first post-Saban A-Day, the annual spring game feels like the right time to begin this conversation. It was Saban's first A-Day that he's consistently pointed to as the moment the dormant Alabama program began to bloom as a capacity crowd of 92,000-plus packed the stadium to watch a scrimmage.

A statue of Saban sits mere feet from the goliath venue's entrance, now it's time to fully honor the revolution he brought, not only to the football program, but the university.

[jbcarol]

Coaching staff, NIL, Facilities? The latest on Mark Pope's rebuild at Kentucky

by: Mrs. Tyler Thompson
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Now that Mark Pope has been welcomed back into the fold with a homecoming party for the ages at Rupp Arena, it's time to get to work. Pope said he was going to spend last night calling players, including "all of the guys on the current team, all those recruited, and every player in the portal." What about his coaching staff? Matt Jones teased some potential news: ("Pope is in play for a big deal as assistant. If he doesn't get him? Who cares about assistants anyway?")

NIL rolling in...and maybe even a new practice facility?
How about Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL)? Kentucky received a $4 million donation from two donors on Friday morning, a significant kickstart to the rebuilding efforts. After Mitch Barnhart mentioned Club Blue, one of Kentucky's collectives, during his KSR interview, they added 500 new monthly subscribers in 20 minutes. If those subscribers stay committed for the entire year, that's $150,000.

More money is coming as more donors hop on board to help usher in this new era of Kentucky Basketball.

"The other thing is, everyone is coming out of the woodwork to try to be a part of this, meaning not just the players, but donors," Jones said. "You are going to see an influx of donations, the likes of which you haven't before."

The disconnect between John Calipari and boosters has been well-documented. Jones didn't go into specifics about what led to the divide but said everybody is back on board, to the point that a new practice facility, Calipari's white whale, may even be in the conversation.

"It's safe to say this: the issue was not just an issue with one group of people. It was an issue with a lot of groups of people. And those groups of people now feel back on board.

"And I think you're going to see — it would not shock me if, within a few months, we hear about a practice facility, which probably would make Cal's head explode, but it wouldn't shock me. I'm not saying that's definitely gonna happen but it wouldn't it wouldn't shock me."

[mizzouman]

Mizzou board today approved a $250M renovation project to the football stadium to be completed by 2026 season.  This will mainly be for the north end zone plus general maintenance and upkeep.

[mizzouman]

Mizzou board today approved a $250M renovation project to the football stadium to be completed by 2026 season.  This will mainly be for the north end zone plus general maintenance and upkeep.

Renderings.

https://mutigers.com/feature/memorial-stadium-project

[jbcarol]

𝗪𝗛𝗬 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗣 𝗡𝗢𝗪.

#MIZ 🐯🏈

[TheGrove68]

Looks pretty sweet and keeping the iconic Rock M was a Must.