FAQ: Athletics South Competition and Performance Project
9/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | General, Athletic News
Regents Approve Athletics South Competition and Performance Project (9/18/2014)
What is the cost of the Athletics South Competition and Performance Project?
The estimated cost for the Athletics South Competition and Performance Project is $168 million, all of which is funded by athletics resources and gifts. No tuition or tax dollars are being used to fund the project.
How many buildings make up this project?
This project consists of five buildings (some of which are interconnected) that primarily service nearly two-thirds of Michigan's student-athletes. This includes the cost to build a men's and women's lacrosse stadium, indoor track, outdoor track, men's and women's soccer team building, and a team and performance center. The team and performance center is expected to include strength and conditioning space, athletic training and medical areas, team locker rooms, coaching staff offices, private meeting space and a rowing team center.
Why do you need these facilities?
The facilities that currently exist for each of these sports are outdated, cramped or don't have their own dedicated team space. Others are too small and/or unsafe to host collegiate competitions. For all but a handful of Michigan's varsity teams, all of the strength and conditioning and training/medical functions are housed in a small footprint located inside Canham Natatorium.
Why are you grouping the projects together rather than building them separately?
The project maximizes both donor dollars and our use of space. By grouping the elements together rather than working on each as a stand-alone effort, we will save significantly on construction costs because of the ability to create shared spaces in some cases.
How many sports will benefit from this project?
Nearly two-thirds of the student-athletes associated with Michigan Athletics will benefit from the Athletics South Competition and Performance Project. The Olympic sports teams that directly benefit from new facilities on a daily basis are men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track and field (indoor and outdoor), men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, and women's rowing. The men's and women's tennis, women's gymnastics and wrestling teams will benefit from the Team and Performance Center as will other student-athletes associated with Michigan Athletics. In addition, the facilities will be available to students who participate in the university's recreational sports programs.
How many student-athletes will benefit from this project?
Nearly two-thirds of the 931 student-athletes that represent Michigan Athletics will benefit from these consolidated facilities on a daily basis. Every student-athlete will have the opportunity to take advantage of the Team and Performance Center.
How will this benefit the University and community? Will the public be able to use these facilities?
The University, Ann Arbor and sports enthusiasts will benefit from the new facilities in many ways, most notably from the improved parking, concessions, restrooms and gameday experience that the area presents our fans.
The partnership between athletics and the School of Kinesiology will be enhanced for the athletic training program and the testing that the unit will conduct in the performance center. In addition, athletics has cemented an agreement with Rec Sports that continues its commitment to recreational and club sports. Athletics will provide Rec Sports with $1.8 million per year for facility improvements and will continue to allow usage of athletic department facilities. The men's club rowing team will also have the ability to use the rowing tank when the women's team is not training.
Following the current usage policies and procedures, athletics anticipates allowing for the utilization of the Athletics South Competition and Performance facilities by the University and Ann Arbor community.
When will construction start? When is the expected completion date?
Every proposed construction project goes through a three-step process that must be considered by the Board of Regents. The first step is seeking permission to pursue a project and hire an architect. The second step is seeking approval on the schematic design, and the final step is seeking approval for the construction bid. A construction schedule with a start and completion date won't be established unless the final approval is received from the Regents.
Will recent NCAA legislation and legal rulings on college athletics affect this project or your ability to build new facilities?
No. The Athletics South Competition and Performance Project is 100 percent funded by athletics resources and donor support.
How will this affect the athletic department's budget?
We are fortunate to be one of the 22 NCAA Division I athletic programs that are self-sustaining. Our business model is one where that self-sufficiency will not change as we plan and budget in a manner in which our revenues exceed our expenses.
What guarantees do you have that these sports will be around long-term given the current state of collegiate athletics?
Michigan Athletics has been able to provide educational and athletic opportunities for student-athletes when others have cut sports in the past two decades. We have added six varsity sports since the mid-1990s (women's soccer, women's rowing, men's soccer, women's water polo, men's lacrosse and women's lacrosse). We have not cut a sport since synchronized swimming, an original women's varsity sport, was eliminated when the Big Ten started women's athletic competition in 1973-74.
Where will the facilities reside?
The map included with the Regents action item indicates the general area where construction would occur. More specific information will come further in the process.
How does this project fit into the University-wide Victors for Michigan Campaign?
The athletic department's $355 million goal is part of the Victors for Michigan campaign with an overall goal of $4 billion. Donors who give to athletics often give to other parts of the University as well. In addition, 87 percent of donors to athletics facilities have also made a gift to another part of the University during their lifetime. Our goals are to provide student-athletes across 31 teams with the resources they need to be the Leaders and Best in every way. Athletics has invested in three campaign pillars: Building Our Home - The Stephen M. Ross Athletic Campus, Student-Athlete Enrichment, and Scholarship Support. To learn more about these campaign priorities, please visit support.MGoBlue.com.
How many jobs will this project generate?
The Athletics South Competition and Performance Project will generate an estimated 250-400 construction jobs for the Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County area. When the project is finished, the athletic department will be looking to hire a half-dozen team members to assist with the day-to-day operation of the facilities.
