Facility Friday: Proposed MLS Stadium, Big Ten Venues

Prospective owners for the Columbus Crew MLS franchise revealed plans for a $230 million stadium. The franchise, which had toyed with the idea of leaving town earlier this year, could be bought by an ownership group led by Dee and Jimmy Haslam, who own the Cleveland Browns. Plans call for a 20,000-seat stadium located adjacent to the city’s Arena District neighborhood, and for the the team’s current home at Mapfre Stadium to be remodeled into a practice facility and community sports park. — ESPN.com

Here are the renders of the proposed $230 million, 20,000-seat downtown stadium for Columbus Crew SC. #CrewSC #SaveTheCrew pic.twitter.com/VMOQCmxUcn

— D.J. Switzer (@wrongsideofpond) December 6, 2018

Indiana University announced that Wilkinson Hall, the new home for its volleyball and wrestling programs, would open with a wrestling match on Jan. 13. The 3,000-seat arena will host an official dedication on Jan. 16. — IUHoosiers.com

We are incredibly excited about our future arena, Wilkinson Hall! pic.twitter.com/GE0aksmQgc

— IU Wrestling (@IndianaWR) October 1, 2018

Rutgers University announced that it had received a $15 million gift to support the construction of the Barbara and Gary Rodkin Academic Success Center. The building will consolidate academic support services for athletics under one roof. In addition, the center will feature training facilities for the school’s men’s and women’s soccer and lacrosse programs, as well as athletics offices. Construction is expected to begin in spring of 2019. — Rutgers.edu

Largest Gift in Athletics History Enables Build of Gary and Barbara Rodkin Center for Academic Success https://t.co/hTmrR5R6EB

— Rutgers Scarlet Knights (@RUAthletics) February 5, 2018

Pittsburg State University announced plans to add baseball and softball facilities to its Gene Bicknell Sports Complex. The $1.8 million project will include new locker rooms, coaching offices, batting cages, press boxes and grandstands for both sports. Construction on the new facilities is expected to be complete by the start of the 2019 baseball and softball seasons. — PittStateGorillas.com

Pitt State Announces Nearly $2M Improvement to Gene Bicknell Sports Complex @GorillasBSB @gorillasoftball https://t.co/T3nwuPVUkz

— Pitt State Athletics (@PittStGorillas) November 30, 2018

Saint Joseph’s University’s Hagan Arena became one of the first Division I venues to offer an autism break room. The room, which is housed within the arena and staffed by the school’s Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support, contains sensory-friendly items like stress balls, weighted blankets and noise cancelling headphones. — Press release

At today's women's basketball game vs. Villanova, SJU and the Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support will unveil a dedicated, sensory-friendly break room in Hagan Arena. https://t.co/a6Xd8cCR3D

— Saint Joseph's (@saintjosephs) December 2, 2018