Only Northwestern and Minnesota among Big Ten schools is without a modern practice facility for its basketball teams. “We’re way behind the eight ball,” Joel Maturi told Sports Headliners.
The Gophers athletic director said some conference schools have had facilities so long they’re enhancing what was originally built. The Gophers can’t wait any longer to pursue a privately financed practice facility to be used by both the men’s and women’s programs.
During the last few months the University has started meeting with potential donors. “The good news is the process has begun,” Maturi said.
The practice facility is to be located just west of the Sports Pavilion-Williams Arena complex. It will be built on a now empty parking lot facing Fourth Street at a projected cost of $15 million.
Maturi said the facility will have two basketball courts, one for coach Tubby Smith’s team and the other to be used by women’s coach Pam Borton and her players. The facility will include a weight room, training room, lockers and a place to host recruits. The facility will connect by tunnel to Williams Arena.
Maturi said only initial meetings have been held with potential donors and more presentations are planned. A lead donor — or donors — is particularly needed.A contribution that paid for 40 percent or more of the cost could result in naming rights to the facility.
The donor solicitations have generated “positive feedback” but no one has said yes to a significant contribution. Because “these things take time,” Maturi won’t place a timeline on when construction will begin.
Although Williams Arena is in need of costly repairs, that project will be separate from the practice facility campaign. Among the 83-year-old building’s needs is roof repair and money for that could come from general University funding, not the athletic department, according to Maturi.