SEC Athletics Facilities Race

[jbcarol]

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[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Carvell_AJC/status/735624594556649472

LSU has made some changes to its campus development.

The university has scrapped plans to build a brand-new nutrition facility amid the state's budget crisis. Instead, the new facility will be located inside Tiger Stadium, according to a report from The Advocate's Ross Dellenger. The dining center, which will be exclusive to athletes, will be placed on a vacant floor of the south end zone, according to Dellenger.

Dellenger reports architects are creating designs to turn the 30,000-square foot area into a nutrition center, and the new location is expected to feature the same amenities as the originally proposed facility. It will feature a large dining room, a lounge area, a cooking demonstration area and will use the club level kitchen...

https://twitter.com/RossDellenger/status/735584478404349952

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Carvell_AJC/status/735879471652327428

Georgia athletic board on Thursday approved $1 million from its reserve fund for the "pre-construction and design phase" of a project that would include building a new home locker room and recruit entertainment space on the west end of the stadium underneath the Sanford Drive bridge. Bulldogs traditionally have utilized dressing rooms underneath the East End of the stadium. The visiting teams would remain in the space alongside that.

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/JasonHButt/status/735890972912037889

University of Georgia Athletic Association's board of directors approved a 17 percent average increase for donations to the Hartman Fund, which is the priority system for season-ticket holders to pay per seat. The location of the seat will determine how much the donation increase is.

This is the first time since 2005 that the donation cost for season-ticket holders has increased. The board approved this during its quarterly meeting at Greensboro's Ritz-Carlton Lodge on Lake Oconee.

In addition to a raise in donation costs for season-ticket holders, the board approved a record-budget of $123.1 million for the 2017 fiscal year. That includes $9 million that will go toward facility-related endeavors.

Sanford Stadium is set to receive $1 million in upgrades as there are plans to put in "a new home locker room for the Bulldogs, a space to host and entertain prospects on game day, and improvements to rest room concession areas."

Plans are in place to aesthetically improve Stegeman Colisuem, which will include a display around the video board. $1.8 million has been set aside for this project.

Georgia also plans to renovate the soccer area at Jack Turner Stadium, where $4.575 million will go toward renovating and replacing the grandstand and press box ...

"The purpose of the stadium project is to ask the question, 'What can we do to maximize our space,'" Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said. "That's what an architect will help us answer. ..."

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Carvell_AJC/status/738402135856021504

Auburn's gestating renovation plans for Jordan-Hare Stadium are still up in the air.

The project, which "could definitely be higher" than $145 million, is in the middle of a year-long feasibility study, which should end this fall, Auburn athletics director Jay Jacobs said.

The massive renovations would include destruction of the north end zone and the erection of a new grandstand, which would include multiple levels, premium seating, club-level seating on two levels, a terrace, bench seating at field level, a wider concourse and the relocation of the home locker room and recruiting lounge from the south end zone to the north end zone.

he end zone design mirrors the recently-constructed expansion of Davis Wade Stadium at Mississippi State, which includes loge seating and more premium seating options. Auburn has spent at least $100,000 devising the plans.

[jbcarol]

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[NoNC4Tubs]

https://twitter.com/Carvell_AJC/status/738402135856021504

Lipstick on a cow... 

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Jeff_Nowak/status/740358286235439106

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[jbcarol]

Ole Miss announced plans late last week to construct a bell tower just outside the north end zone of what will be a newly-renovated Vaught-Hemingway Stadium

60-foot tower will be ready in time for the 2017 spring game, and Ole Miss' gameday "Walk of Champions" will end with players walking through the structure on the way to the stadium.

https://twitter.com/BradLoganCOTE/status/742124155613683712

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Carvell_AJC/status/742852784412889089

Kentucky introduced new baseball coach Nick Mingione in a press conference Tuesday, signaling a new direction for the program.

That new direction may include building a new facility to replace Cliff Hagan Stadium.

Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnett said the school has invested $4 million in stadium design and study and are ready to present a plan to the board of trustees soon to begin construction following the football season:

Kentucky's stadium is certainly in need of an upgrade. The facility upgrade certainly signals the school is ready to move in a better direction.

Cliff Hagan Stadium has been the home to the Wildcats since 1969.

[jbcarol]

Kevin Brockway ‏@gatorhoops 17h17 hours ago Pembroke Pines, FL

On @finebaum, Billy D said it's harder and harder to be an AD in college athletics due to facilities arms race

[jbcarol]

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[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/gator_crew2010/status/744735542361862144

The former Tennessee quarterback spent part of the spring back in his hometown of New Orleans, checking in on his alma mater, Newman High School.

There, he — along with his father, Archie Manning, and brother, Eli Manning — decided to help the 2016 Newman football team as well as future generations and their fans by donating a new practice field, two locker rooms, a sky deck, a new press box and a pavilion called 'Reginelli Way" to honor his high school coach, Tony Reginelli.

[jbcarol]

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[jbcarol]

Kevin Brockway ‏@gatorhoops 2h2 hours ago

O'Dome renovation designer has passion for basketball - via @Gator_sports http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20160623/ARTICLES/160629894/1136/FRONTPAGE ...

Birmingham, Ala.,-based Davis Architects Inc. has overseen the design of the $64.5 million interior renovation that's due to be completed in mid-December.

The Davis firm has been involved in a number of prior projects at SEC venues, including recent renovations at Stegeman Coliseum in Georgia and Coleman Coliseum in Alabama. In addition, the firm was the associate architect of the recently-constructed Auburn Arena, which was built in 2009.

What excites Davis most about the project is the new grand entrance between Gates 1 and Gate 4 and 360-degree concourse that will add close to 13,000 square feet of additional space.

"It's going to be a whole different experience," Davis said. "For the fans especially, the whole sense of entry, before it was separated into four gate areas and never really had that feeling ...

"For merchandising and concessions, it's a real open space. It can be well lit for concerts and events. It's multi-purpose for all of the different events you can have."

Davis said the renovation remains on schedule and the big next step for June is to start the precast seating bowl.

Of course, Florida fans are interested whether the combination of new seating and acoustics will result in the same loud, raucous atmosphere that makes the O'Dome one of the toughest basketball venues in the country for visiting teams.

"It's going to be very successful in that respect," Davis said. "Right now, in the past, most of the seating has been on movable platforms, retractable seating and it will now be, most of it will be fixed seating so it will be more comfortable, easier to navigate and then I think in terms of the game atmosphere, the sight lines you are able to get, the intimacy of the bowl, it's going to be wonderful.

"The students are going to be right there, part of the action. We design these things where the students will be opposite the TV cameras, because that gives them, enlivens the video broadcast. And I think it's going to be a great place to watch a basketball game, or gymnastics meet, or whatever. It's going to be intimate, loud, I think the homecourt advantage will be maintained."

The Davis firm recently celebrated its 100th birthday in 2012.

[jbcarol]

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[jbcarol]

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[jbcarol]

Possibility of building a football-only facility priced at $30 million or more seems far away. Auburn has other construction plans on the docket, including a massive renovation at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

"Absolutely it's in the top 10 (projects)," Jacobs said of the football-only facility. "What that means if it's going to happen next year or 10 years from now? It just depends on everything else that goes on."

Many programs across the SEC have built football-only facilities in recent years. Auburn's preliminary budget released in the spring of 2015 showed a football-only facility was budgeted for 2018. Jacobs later said that summer plans would be made in the next five years.

"First of all, you can't ever get complacent with your facilities or you will wake up one day and be behind in this league," Jacobs said. "It's why we have to keep pushing to do what's best for Auburn whether it's a football facility, equestrian facility, sports medicine facility. We have to keep working every day to provide the best facilities for our student-athletes so they can have the best experience in the nation."

The sports medicine facility, originally scheduled to cost $25 million, is well ahead of Auburn's football facility plans. Plans are also in place for updates to Auburn's softball facility at Jane B. Moore Field, where Clint Myers has taken the Tigers to the Women's College World Series two straight years, including a national runner-up finish in June.

Whether the football-only facility would truly be used only for football or if Auburn would simply renovate its 27-year-old athletics complex is still to be determined.

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[LSUFan]

https://twitter.com/SECNetwork/status/744941764042194944

LSU will expand the North endzone in 2017 to seat around 120k, the public announcement has not been made. Bank on it.

So a little bird told me.

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/OleMissFB/status/748977119045222400

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https://twitter.com/OleMissFB/status/748978650045943808

[jbcarol]

A&M finally announces Pokemon Go event at Kyle Field

Users of the game will be able hunt for Pokemon within the confines of Kyle Field from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Aggies are just another school to open up their stadium to the users of the video game sensation.

The invitation to the stadium may be a way to keep people from breaking into Kyle Field or committing other unlawful acts...

https://twitter.com/AggieFootball/status/753037688136138752

Texas A&M Police @TAMUPolice

7/11-Traffic accident: Illegally parked car struck from behind (*Airbags deployed in 2nd car). 1st driver had exited to catch a Pokémon.
9:24 PM - 12 Jul 2016

[jbcarol]

Civic Center finally paints parts of Rupp Arena blue

https://twitter.com/Rupp_Arena/status/75298203725922713

Under Calipari, the Wildcats have lost only four times at Rupp Arena, with the last time coming back in 2013-14 season to Arkansas.

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/UKStoopsTroops/status/753018050602033152

Kyle Tucker ‏@KyleTucker_AJC 13h13 hours ago

Kyle Tucker Retweeted UK Stoops Troops

UK football complex has gotten a dramatic face lift the last two years with stadium reno/new practice facility.

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/AWilliamson54/status/754085703328366592

Winston Guy Jr.™ ‏@winstonguyjr27 10h10 hours ago

@AWilliamson54 lol we got played


Josh Howard ‏@joshhoward1233 12h12 hours ago

@AWilliamson54 you helped build that new facility my man. Thank you for everything you've done for our university!


Carter Hall ‏@BluegrassRec 9h9 hours ago

@AWilliamson54 The beauty of this facility is that everything the players need is in one place. All the running back and forth is going away

[jbcarol]

What other Commonwealth Stadium improvements could be in the works?

Some things on his To Do List include adding bleacher backs to the entire stadium (UK is adding bleacher backs to the remainder of the lower bowl except in the student section this summer).

There is a plan to address what Barnhart called "the technology pieces," including wireless Internet issues, sound distribution throughout the stadium and more.

Kentucky will be looking to improve the overall fan experience, too, not just making cosmetic changes. Focus soon will go to fan amenities, concessions, ways to make games more fun for younger fans and more.

"There are major league baseball parks and some football parks [sic] are going to some of those things that kids enjoy doing when they come to the game," said Barnhart, who signed a new contract through 2022.

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/CoachMcRoberts/status/754400503182794757

[Inhogswetrust]

LSU will expand the North endzone in 2017 to seat around 120k, the public announcement has not been made. Bank on it.

So a little bird told me.

Obviously that bird isn't named David Pryor.

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Carvell_AJC/status/755774898849669120

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/hscheinukphoto/status/755962577193095172

[jbcarol]

Kevin Brockway ‏@gatorhoops 25m25 minutes ago

Florida's O'Dome joins growing list of college arenas with naming rights deals - via @Gator_sports http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20160720/ARTICLES/160729998/1136/FRONTPAGE?p=all&tc=pgall ...

Exactech reached a 10-year, $5.9 million naming rights agreement with Florida that will begin when the newly renovated O'Dome re-opens in mid-December.

Exactech, an orthopaedic implants device company, joined the growing list of corporations eager to put their names on college sports arenas for increased local, regional and national exposure. The trend began in 1980, when an air conditioning company, Carrier, spent $2.75 for naming rights toward the $25.63 million Carrier Dome in Syracuse. The irony? The Carrier Dome is not air-conditioned.

Save Mart Center at Fresno State in 2003: $40 million for 20 years.

Comcast Center at Maryland in 2002: $20 million for 10 years.

KFC Yum Center at Louisville in 2010: $13.5 million for 10 years.

Value City Arena at Ohio State in 1998: $12.5 million. Duration not available.

Viejas Arena at San Diego State in 2009: $6.9 million for 10 years.

Exactech Arena at Florida in 2016: $5.9 million for 10 years.

Colonial Life Arena at South Carolina in 2003: $5.5 million for 12 years.

Wells Fargo Arena at Arizona Statein 1998: $5 million for 10 years.

Taco Bell Arena at Boise State in 2004: $4 million for 15 years.

Alaska Airlines Arena at Washington in 2011: $3.5 million for 5 years.

— Compiled by Kevin Brockway

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Carvell_AJC/status/756660117576249344

[Inhogswetrust]

https://twitter.com/OConnellCTR/status/748236795364712448

Blah entrance to an already Blah building.

[Inhogswetrust]

Kevin Brockway ‏@gatorhoops 25m25 minutes ago

Florida's O'Dome joins growing list of college arenas with naming rights deals - via @Gator_sports http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20160720/ARTICLES/160729998/1136/FRONTPAGE?p=all&tc=pgall ...

Save Mart Center at Fresno State in 2003: $40 million for 20 years.

Comcast Center at Maryland in 2002: $20 million for 10 years.

KFC Yum Center at Louisville in 2010: $13.5 million for 10 years.

Value City Arena at Ohio State in 1998: $12.5 million. Duration not available.

Viejas Arena at San Diego State in 2009: $6.9 million for 10 years.

Exactech Arena at Florida in 2016: $5.9 million for 10 years.

Colonial Life Arena at South Carolina in 2003: $5.5 million for 12 years.

Wells Fargo Arena at Arizona Statein 1998: $5 million for 10 years.

Taco Bell Arena at Boise State in 2004: $4 million for 15 years.

Alaska Airlines Arena at Washington in 2011: $3.5 million for 5 years.

— Compiled by Kevin Brockway

Some of those are not on the respective college campus and are not operated by the athletic departments.

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/UKAthletics/status/756479118540173312

https://twitter.com/UKAthletics/status/756493284579610624

A new $45 million, 100,000 square feet Kentucky Football Training Center was unveiled to players on Thursday morning after 19 months of construction.

The training facility is located adjacent to both Commonwealth Stadium and Nutter Field House, placing the three areas where nearly all team activities will take place within mere walking distance. Moreover, the training center's exterior and interior appearance matches that of Commonwealth and its recently completed $126 million renovation.

The statue honoring the four players who broke the Southeastern Conference's color barrier – Nate Northington, Greg Page, Wilbur Hackett and Houston Hogg – will be located outside the building's main entrance.

Inside, visitors are greeted by an expansive lobby with a pedestal featuring Kentucky football's uniforms and a rear wall honoring the program's historic greats. Recruits will also be able to enjoy an interactive display allowing them to customize uniform combinations and an Experience Room that gives them a peek into what it's like to be a Kentucky football player.

The rest of the first floor is occupied by state-of-the-art functional space, starting with a 15,000 square foot weight room with a booming sound system and accordion-style doors that open to two new grass practice fields. The weight room houses 20 multi-functional racks, literally tons of free weights, specialty workout machines, a second-floor cardio deck and a corner wall with reinforced concrete designed to absorb the force of medicine-ball training.

Adjoining the weight room is a new training room with an X-ray machine, two exam rooms, hot and cold tubs, and an underwater treadmill.

The hallways of the first floor and the entire building – secured by retina scanners – are lined with pictures honoring former greats and the new marks unveiled in conjunction with Nike this winter as part of Kentucky's updated graphic identity, including the refined interlocking UK logo and new Wildcat logo. One wall has an interactive display featuring all Kentucky players in the NFL, both currently and in the past.

Across one of those hallways from the weight room is the training table. Staffed by an executive performance chef and featuring a full kitchen, the training table is where players will eat three meals a day for much of the year. Outside the training table is the Gatorade Fuel Bar – a $250,000 nutrition bar provided as part of UK Athletics' latest contract with Gatorade. There, players will have access to shakes, drinks and snacks specially tailored to their training needs.

The centerpiece of facility is the new team locker room – where the team will dress for both practices and games – with a giant UK logo in the ceiling and screen on the rear wall. The 120 lockers will be personalized with players' photos, names and numbers and grouped by position. Each locker has an electronic locking system, ventilation, heating and air conditioning. The locker room is surrounded by a barber shop with a wall painted by a local artist and a lounge with video games, Ping-Pong, table shuffleboard and pool. Coaches have their own first-floor locker room outfitted with a steam room and showers.

Players will be able to walk into the locker room following practice on the two outdoor fields, but not before passing through the plunge pool. The plunge pool – always kept at 52 degrees – has room for up to 40 players and is essential to the post-practice recovery process.

Walking upstairs to the reception area outside coaching offices and overlooking the weight room, visitors will pass by the new Center for Academic and Tutorial Services location. Before its construction, players had to come to Memorial Coliseum across campus for tutoring sessions.

All meeting rooms are located on the second floor, including the main team meeting room. Featuring 162 seats – each with ample room and a foldable desk table – it's equal parts meeting room and movie theater, with whiteboards, a giant dropdown screen and two side screens, and a sound system featuring a massive subwoofer. Down the hall – with the words to the UK fight song emblazoned on the wall in the form of the new Wildcat logo – are meeting rooms customized for each positional group, complete with photos of Wildcat greats at each position, and a room accommodating the technological needs of the football program's video operation. 

The remainder of the second floor is occupied by offices and meeting areas for UK's coaching and support staff, including a war room with space for the entire staff. Stoops is able to walk from his office – which features three huge televisions, a bathroom and shower – directly into the war room.

Stoops' office also has a patio overlooking the facility's two new outdoor practice fields. The grass practice fields are surrounded by turf training areas and a conditioning area known affectionately – or not so affectionately, depending on who's speaking – as the "Encouragement Stairs."

[jbcarol]

SEC football stadium capacities in 2016

14. Vanderbilt Stadium – 40,550

13. Commonwealth Stadium – 61,000

12. Davis Wade Stadium – 61,337

11. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium – 64,038

10. Faurot Field – 71,168

9. Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium – 72,000

8. Williams-Brice Stadium – 80,250

7. Jordan-Hare Stadium – 87,451

6. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – 88,548

5. Sanford Stadium – 92,746

4. Bryant-Denny Stadium – 101,821

3. Tiger Stadium – 102,321

2. Neyland Stadium – 102,455

1. Kyle Field – 102,733