Gophers talking about overhaul of Williams Arena, modernization effort similar to Pur

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BleedGopher

BleedGopher

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per Anderson:

“The next big project” for the athletic department will be to address venerable Williams Arena, the home of Gophers basketball, which is “coming up on its 90th anniversary,” Cunningham said. That could entail a modernization effort similar to what Purdue did with Mackey Arena, which—among other things—included enlarging the concourses of the raucous home of Boilermakers basketball.

Williams Arena doesn’t have a kitchen, which limits concessions possibilities, and bathrooms need an overhaul, too, he said. Fortunately, “we have the space to do it,” and—even though “it will be an expensive undertaking”—“we are talking about it.”

http://www.southernminn.com/owatonn...cle_40117c66-749a-5fd9-aee1-56244dc55f56.html

Go Gophers!!
 

Yes it's past time:

The Mackey Arena renovation about 10 years cost around $100 million.

http://www.cslintl.com/casestudies/mackey-arena/

A $100 million renovation of Mackey Arena was completed in 2011 and an included expanded concourse, more restrooms, a ring of honor, courtside seats, club seats, staff offices, new locker rooms, fitness center, sports medicine and a new basketball practice facility
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The Crisler Arena renovation at Michigan about 10 years ago cost $50+ Million:

https://mgoblue.com/news/2012/10/30/Michigan_Athletics_Unveils_New_Crisler_Center.aspx
This portion of the Crisler Center renovation project added approximately 63,000 gross square feet, allowing for new fan entrances, expanded and renovated concourses, new restrooms and concession areas, fan interactive areas, additional retail spaces and ticketing areas, as well as a private club space.
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Not to forget the recent $50 million renovation at Michigan State:

https://www.mlive.com/spartans/2017/10/michigan_state_unveils_new_50.html
The structure, with a large glass exterior, houses the new Tom Izzo Basketball Hall of History, which showcases the program's trophy collection, tributes to notable former players and more.

The addition also includes a new weight room, funded by a gift from Draymond Green, a locker room for former players, a players lounge, a recruiting room and more.

A series of improvements were also made to existing portions of the arena. Those include a widening of the concourse, new restrooms and concession stands and infrastructure upgrades.

The $50 million project was approved two years ago, and the Breslin Center has been under construction for the last two basketball seasons.

Quicken Loans Founder and Chairman Dan Gilbert gave a $15 million gift to fund the addition and a scholarship fund. The outside of the building is dubbed the Gilbert Pavilion.
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While we'd all like to see some "fixes"......there's the small item of where will they get the money to pay for it. The U still hasn't raised all the money for Athletes Village. Naming rights, big donor? And, if I had to guess, to do that kind of major renovation, we'd be playing elsewhere (as would the men) for 1 season? Will be interesting to see where this discussion at the U goes.
 

No doubt we would like to see some historical factors within the new/rebuild arena. Raised floor for one. Somehow the beams have got to go. Yes its historical as to appearance, but holy cow, the obstructed seats is not welcoming. I agree, they need to do it right and play elsewhere for a season if need be. As posted elsewhere, WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THE MONEY GOING TO COME FROM?
 
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"Coming up on its 90th anniversary"? Williams Arena opened in 1928.
 

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