It takes a Village
December 11th, 2007, 12:41 am · Post a Comment · posted by Dan Zeiger
Preliminary designs related to the construction of an indoor practice facility at Arizona State reveal the school’s vision for the land sitting East of the intersection of Rural Road and Sixth Street.
The football “bubble” and Weatherup Center basketball practice structure — both projects were approved by the Arizona Board of Regents last week — are the impetus for the creation of the Sun Devil East Athletics Village, which will eventually house the game or practice facilities for at least 14 of ASU’s 22 varsity teams.
The area, which already includes Karsten Golf Course, softball’s Farrington Stadium, the Soccer Stadium and practice facilities for gymnastics and wrestling, is also expected to house a relocated Mona Plummer Aquatics Center.
ASU’s “bubble” football practice facility will resemble the one used by Texas, the Sun Devils’ opponent in the Holiday Bowl.
The football facility will be located on the current band field and is expected to be ready by the start of the 2008 season. The cost of the project is $8.4 million.
“Our target for the football facility includes everything relative to the property,” athletic director Lisa Love said. “Not just the structure itself, but where we move the field for band and intramurals, landscaping, walkways, a lot of the necessary other things.”
The Weatherup Center is due to be completed in March 2009. The $22 million price tag includes aquisition of the Athletes Performance Institute facility, which sits adjacent to the future basketball facility site. ASU owns the API property but must pay $2.5 million to terminate the lease early.
API’s facility is 19,875 square feet. The school is expected to utilize it for strength and conditioning, training tables and office space for trainers and strength coaches.
The current Mona Plummer Aquatics Center, which is located south of Sun Devil Stadium, is in need of repair. However, with the Stadium Tower condominiums and Lumina Hotel being constructed at Veterans Way and College Avenue, the 27-year-old pool sits on prime real estate, making relocation a more attractive option.
And all of this, the Sun Devil East Athletics Village, can be named after you — if you have $10 million to spare.