Topic: Proposed Renovations to the Athletic Facilities FY25-30

[MarshallHerdFan99]

This is included in a list of capital projects the entire University is proposing. The entire list for all University projects can be found starting on page 142 from yesterday's board meeting at https://www.marshall.edu/board/files/June-12-2024-Board-of-Governors-Regular-Meeting.pdf


-Athletic Band & Sport Performance Upgrade
Renovate existing athletic training space/band space on A level of the arena and turn it into improved AT area for
all athletes in building. Also, partner with University sports science department to provide additional lab area.
Transform band space into strength & conditioning space.

-Athletic Facility Signage/Naming Project
Renovate exterior athletic facility signage by removing existing and replacing with uniformed consistent brand across
all facilities.

-Henderson Center/Gullickson Hall HVAC
Henderson Center Arena is not air conditioned. This area is underutilized. If an appropriate HVAC system is
installed, this facility could become a venue for special events well beyond its utility for basketball and
volleyball. Currently there is no heating, ventilation, or air conditioning in the Gullickson Hall Gymnasium. Space
temperatures will drop into the 50-degree range during the winter months and into the 90-degree range during the
summer. A climate-controlled space would increase the utilization of the space. Safety concerns for physical
activity in extreme elevated temperatures during the summer months and low temperatures in the winter months would
be eliminated if the space had an HVAC system.

-Henderson Center Creative Suite Upgrades
Upgrade all signage/video production equipment/monitors for creative team. They use this space to shoot social
media, headshots, make videos, hold press conferences and more to promote our athletic programs.

- Henderson Center Student/Band Bleacher Replacement
Student and band bleachers in facility are in state of disrepair and result in safety concerns for students and
visitors that sit in the section. Frequent maintenance is needed.

-Intramural Field Space
Building of a new recreational field on or near the main campus. The number of students who take part in intramural
sports has vastly increased over the past years. The current multi-purpose field is in such high demand it cannot
handle the current intramural sports.

-JCE Stadium/HC Arena Premium Seating
Renovate targeted seating areas in both the stadium and arena to offer various new& diverse premium seating options.

-Joan C Edward Stadium Concourse Gates Expansion
Stadium concourse areas need to be expanded to allow more space for spectator and help with emergency egress.
Improves functionality and safety in preparation for campus carry.

-Joan C Edwards Stadium North Videoboard Removal
Remove old videoboard from the Shewey Building in north endzone of football stadium.

-Joan C. Edwards Stadium Restroom Renovations
The Stadium restrooms are in dire need of renovations. Steel urinals and wash basins need to be replaced. Walls,
ceilings, and doors need to be painted. Light fixtures need to be replaced with high efficiency fixtures. Project
will improve functionality and aesthetics and improves spectator amenities.

-Joan C Edwards Stadium South Bleacher Removal
Remove obsolete, unused, and unsafe bleachers in south endzone of football stadium. This will create a much safer
environment and added opportunities for revenue generation.

-Joan C Edwards Stadium South Endzone Project
Enhance stadium aesthetic and concessions/suite/restroom areas. Plan would involve removing bleacher seating, built
out concourse/restrooms/concession opportunities. Increase suite space & premium seating options.

-Natatorium & Tennis Center
Build an off-site joint facility with natatorium & tennis complex with courts both inside and out. This facility
would be state-of-the-art and provide our athletes with top-notch experience. We would look to partner with health
professionals and incorporate a sports medicine and science component that could be utilized by the public, as well
as athletics. The facility would also be ran by our coaching staffs for outside rentals/clinics etc.

-Outdoor Track & Soccer Training Complex
There is currently no outdoor track for the women's track and field team. The track is needed for practice and
competitions. Grass soccer field inside the track as well, to augment our soccer programs.

-Sand Volleyball Courts
Future championship sport in the Sun Belt Conference. Should we add, will need to acquire land to support five
competition sand volleyball courts adjacent to one another.

-Shewey Athletic Building Renovations

-Tennis Courts Sub-Surface and Replacement
Safety Concern-Tennis court surface currently has numerous cracks and low areas. The courts are unsafe and not to the
standards for NCAA Division I tennis. Improvements installation of bleacher on the north end of the Courts.

-Track & Field/Swimming/ Locker Room Renovations
Our track & field, swim and softball programs have deficient locker room spaces in comparison to some of our athletic
programs. It is imperative that we provide equitable training and auxiliary spaces for our student-athletes across
the board.

[THECHAMPISHERE]

-Joan C Edwards Stadium South Endzone Project
Enhance stadium aesthetic and concessions/suite/restroom areas. Plan would involve removing bleacher seating, built
out concourse/restrooms/concession opportunities. Increase suite space & premium seating options.

Why is the South Endzone "unsafe"...it seems like it's just "unsafe" because we can't fill it and we want to do something else with it. It was never "unsafe" when we sold tickets there for a decade or more.

Also I get short term upgrades to the Cam but I'm shocked there aren't talks about just building a new arena. That thing is a dinosaur and here we are again in another situation where Sunbelt, CUSA, FCS (a whole lot of them) and DII (a handful of them) schools have nicer arenas. 

[Flat Tire 2]

I am not trying to be a debbie downer. This sounds like the "wish list" that Marshall would like to do in the future. Like so many of these "master plans" Marshall has suggested over the last 50 plus years, where is the money to do the projects? You can plan or suggest many things, but you need the money to build or replace. The state is not sending much money to the colleges for building projects.

A new basketball arena idea is nice idea, but I don't think the state will appropriate the money for a new arena. Most the new buildings at Marshall haven't had financial support from the state except for the new cyber building and the baseball stadium. Marshall has had to raise the money for most of the newer projects on campus.

[MarshallHerdFan99]

Why is the South Endzone "unsafe"...it seems like it's just "unsafe" because we can't fill it and we want to do something else with it. It was never "unsafe" when we sold tickets there for a decade or more.

Also I get short term upgrades to the Cam but I'm shocked there aren't talks about just building a new arena. That thing is a dinosaur and here we are again in another situation where Sunbelt, CUSA, FCS (a whole lot of them) and DII (a handful of them) schools have nicer arenas.

I believe the south endzone seats are unsafe since they took out some of the support structures for the new scoreboard. I wish we would just tear down the Cam and build a new arena on top as well. Could just play at the Civic Center while its being done.

[MUther]

Explain:

"Improves functionality and safety in preparation for campus carry."

Does that mean what it sounds like?
They are going to allow weapon carry on campus and for events?  I'm all for it, but never thought I'd see the day.

Where I went to school in Alaska we had AK-47s hanging on the walls in our dorm rooms, amongst many other choices.  Never had an issue with gun violence.  Of course you could walk into a bank with a hunting rifle and a sidearm up there at that time.

[gochneaur645]

Explain:

"Improves functionality and safety in preparation for campus carry."

Does that mean what it sounds like?
They are going to allow weapon carry on campus and for events?  I'm all for it, but never thought I'd see the day.

Where I went to school in Alaska we had AK-47s hanging on the walls in our dorm rooms, amongst many other choices.  Never had an issue with gun violence.  Of course you could walk into a bank with a hunting rifle and a sidearm up there at that time.

We're adding metal detectors or some other security measure for this season in response to the state legislature's new law forcing state schools to allow campus carry which takes effect on July 1. Also not allowing re-entry starting this season.

[W0lfman]

This alone puts me in a happy place...

-Joan C Edwards Stadium North Videoboard Removal
Remove old videoboard from the Shewey Building in north endzone of football stadium

[MUther]

We're adding metal detectors or some other security measure for this season in response to the state legislature's new law forcing state schools to allow campus carry which takes effect on July 1. Also not allowing re-entry starting this season.

Happy about the no re-entry thing, too.  Should have been done decades ago along with beer sales and kept the money in the stadium, while we were a winning program and in-demand entertainment.

[coalherd]

This is included in a list of capital projects the entire University is proposing. The entire list for all University projects can be found starting on page 142 from yesterday's board meeting at https://www.marshall.edu/board/files/June-12-2024-Board-of-Governors-Regular-Meeting.pdf


-Athletic Band & Sport Performance Upgrade
Renovate existing athletic training space/band space on A level of the arena and turn it into improved AT area for
all athletes in building. Also, partner with University sports science department to provide additional lab area.
Transform band space into strength & conditioning space.

-Athletic Facility Signage/Naming Project
Renovate exterior athletic facility signage by removing existing and replacing with uniformed consistent brand across
all facilities.

-Henderson Center/Gullickson Hall HVAC
Henderson Center Arena is not air conditioned. This area is underutilized. If an appropriate HVAC system is
installed, this facility could become a venue for special events well beyond its utility for basketball and
volleyball. Currently there is no heating, ventilation, or air conditioning in the Gullickson Hall Gymnasium. Space
temperatures will drop into the 50-degree range during the winter months and into the 90-degree range during the
summer. A climate-controlled space would increase the utilization of the space. Safety concerns for physical
activity in extreme elevated temperatures during the summer months and low temperatures in the winter months would
be eliminated if the space had an HVAC system.

-Henderson Center Creative Suite Upgrades
Upgrade all signage/video production equipment/monitors for creative team. They use this space to shoot social
media, headshots, make videos, hold press conferences and more to promote our athletic programs.

- Henderson Center Student/Band Bleacher Replacement
Student and band bleachers in facility are in state of disrepair and result in safety concerns for students and
visitors that sit in the section. Frequent maintenance is needed.

-Intramural Field Space
Building of a new recreational field on or near the main campus. The number of students who take part in intramural
sports has vastly increased over the past years. The current multi-purpose field is in such high demand it cannot
handle the current intramural sports.

-JCE Stadium/HC Arena Premium Seating
Renovate targeted seating areas in both the stadium and arena to offer various new& diverse premium seating options.

-Joan C Edward Stadium Concourse Gates Expansion
Stadium concourse areas need to be expanded to allow more space for spectator and help with emergency egress.
Improves functionality and safety in preparation for campus carry.

-Joan C Edwards Stadium North Videoboard Removal
Remove old videoboard from the Shewey Building in north endzone of football stadium.

-Joan C. Edwards Stadium Restroom Renovations
The Stadium restrooms are in dire need of renovations. Steel urinals and wash basins need to be replaced. Walls,
ceilings, and doors need to be painted. Light fixtures need to be replaced with high efficiency fixtures. Project
will improve functionality and aesthetics and improves spectator amenities.

-Joan C Edwards Stadium South Bleacher Removal
Remove obsolete, unused, and unsafe bleachers in south endzone of football stadium. This will create a much safer
environment and added opportunities for revenue generation.

-Joan C Edwards Stadium South Endzone Project
Enhance stadium aesthetic and concessions/suite/restroom areas. Plan would involve removing bleacher seating, built
out concourse/restrooms/concession opportunities. Increase suite space & premium seating options.

-Natatorium & Tennis Center
Build an off-site joint facility with natatorium & tennis complex with courts both inside and out. This facility
would be state-of-the-art and provide our athletes with top-notch experience. We would look to partner with health
professionals and incorporate a sports medicine and science component that could be utilized by the public, as well
as athletics. The facility would also be ran by our coaching staffs for outside rentals/clinics etc.

-Outdoor Track & Soccer Training Complex
There is currently no outdoor track for the women's track and field team. The track is needed for practice and
competitions. Grass soccer field inside the track as well, to augment our soccer programs.

-Sand Volleyball Courts
Future championship sport in the Sun Belt Conference. Should we add, will need to acquire land to support five
competition sand volleyball courts adjacent to one another.

-Shewey Athletic Building Renovations

-Tennis Courts Sub-Surface and Replacement
Safety Concern-Tennis court surface currently has numerous cracks and low areas. The courts are unsafe and not to the
standards for NCAA Division I tennis. Improvements installation of bleacher on the north end of the Courts.

-Track & Field/Swimming/ Locker Room Renovations
Our track & field, swim and softball programs have deficient locker room spaces in comparison to some of our athletic
programs. It is imperative that we provide equitable training and auxiliary spaces for our student-athletes across
the board.

This is something that I believe is required by law via the WV Legislature.  Namely, a 10-year plan for State Higher Ed Institutions.  I know that MU had one around 2003 and again in 2013.  I printed out hard copies of both at those times.  Believe me, it is essentially just a "wish list" by individual schools when it comes to Capital Projects, IMO.  Things proposed, planned for, etc., back in 2003, and 2013, often bare little to no resemblance to actual facilities, etc., which subsequently get constructed.  On the other hand, various deficiencies, needs, etc., in existing buildings, facilities, identified 10, 20 or more years ago, like HVAC problems, roofing, energy conservation measures, etc., are still around and unchanged today.  In Athletics, that includes items like the ongoing ventilation/AC issues in the Henderson Center Arena, which have existed since DAY ONE in the now nearly 50-year-old Facility/Monstrosity!!  Same goes for the Rest room issues at the JOAN, etc., etc.

In reality, it is not a bad concept, by far.  The real problem, however, is that traditionally leaderless WV Legislature has had NO inclination to authorize anywhere NEAR the amount of funds, $$$$$$, etc., to correct and improve anything close to the problems and needs identified in said studies!!  Sadly, this fact compares quite poorly to our former "Mother" State, Virginia, which has a two-year budget cycle, IIRC.  And not one of those, I believe goes by, without that State's legislature authorizing bonding for various capital projects in the two-year period to various State Higher Ed schools, Tech, UVA, JMU, Geo. Mason, ODU, etc., etc.  A very BIG FACTOR in the Old Dominion's perennial ranking as having one of the "best business climates" in the USA and West "By God", on the other hand, perennially being among the nation's "bottom feeders"!!!

[herdloyal]

Question: what is the estimated cost for all these improvements? Can somebody text because you never know who maybe interested to gift the funds for these improvements? WV is in debt by the Billions. Several years ago I asked the Secretary of State in his office how much was the State debt?.his answer at the time was 7-8 Billion. Looking no further than up north to the money-hole you guested it nothing to really show for it. No Championships and a LAW School top of the hill overlooking the whole campus in money-hole! There will be a reversal of fortune's in the future. Your enemy Marshall?.the Bar Association and the political atmosphere of oppression this State has had to endure.
 

[herdorbust2]

Question: what is the estimated cost for all these improvements? Can somebody text because you never know who maybe interested to gift the funds for these improvements? WV is in debt by the Billions. Several years ago I asked the Secretary of State in his office how much was the State debt?.his answer at the time was 7-8 Billion. Looking no further than up north to the money-hole you guested it nothing to really show for it. No Championships and a LAW School top of the hill overlooking the whole campus in money-hole! There will be a reversal of fortune's in the future. Your enemy Marshall?.the Bar Association and the political atmosphere of oppression this State has had to endure.

The Big 12 is in negotiations to sell their conference for naming rights to All State. It would reportedly bring each school around 75 million plus a year. It's reported the sale would be for 1 BILLION.