On Thursday afternoon, the Arizona Board of Regents approved a plan to begin construction on four new facility projects for Arizona Athletics. These projects include the construction of the Indoor Sports Center as well as improvements to Arizona Stadium, Hillenbrand Softball Stadium and Hillenbrand Aquatic Center.
“We’re grateful to the Arizona Board of Regents for approving these much-needed projects as part of the Capital Improvement Plan,” UA athletic director Dave Heeke said in a statement on Thursday.
“We want to be aggressive as we approach facilities and these four projects will address some major needs, while improving the experience of virtually all of our student-athletes,” Heeke continued.
In total, the cost of the four projects will cost an estimated $66 million and funds will come from both private donations and the new student fee, which came into effect Fall of 2017.
Here’s a closer breakdown of each project:
Indoor Sports Center
-Project budget: $18 million
-Construction commencement: May 2018
-Multipurpose facility for each of Arizona’s sports programs to use and will also serve as a gameday hospitality area.
-Center to contain a 90 yard field with a ceiling height of 65 feet
-Expected location: Between 6th St. and Enke Dr. (location not finalized)
-Expected date of completion: October 2018
Arizona Stadium
-Projected cost: $25 million for two phases of renovations
-First phase: Will focus on east side ground level and student section
-First phase construction commencement: January 2018
-Expected first phase completion: By start of 2018 football season
-Second phase: Renovations to club areas and additional concessions and restroom upgrades
-Second phase construction commencement: January 2019
-Expected second phase completion: By start of 2019 football season
Hillenbrand Stadium
-Projected cost: $8 million
-Complete renovation that is expected to include a number of amenities for both the team and fans.
-Construction commencement: June 2018
-Construction completion: By start of 2019 softball season
Hillenbrand Aquatic Center
-Projected cost: $15 million
-Renovations to rebuild the 50-meter pool and repair a deteriorated pump and plumbing infrastructure
-Construction: Tentatively set for April 2018
-Completion: January 2019
Lastly, the athletics department will conduct a $1.5 million renovation in McKale Center which will provide upgrades to locker rooms. The renovation is set to begin in January 2018.
Dave Heeke said the projects are now in the design phase and he will continue to help plan them in the coming months.
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