Interesting facility flip: Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium will play host to the Miami Open for the first time after $70 million went into transforming the facility from a football-first venue to a world-class tennis facility. The facility features 29 permanent courts (11 competition and 18 practice), an entertainment plaza and a space for live music and dining. The 14,000-seat Stadium Court is a temporary structure built inside the stadium, between the football field’s 30-yard lines. Designed for intimacy, the temporary space uses none of the building’s permanent seats. — Miami Herald
For the first time ever, the @MiamiDolphins' Hard Rock Stadium was transformed into a tennis court to welcome @serenawilliams, @rogerfederer and @DjokerNole at the Miami Open. pic.twitter.com/7cpT8TjD4s
Interesting facility flip: Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium will play host to the Miami Open for the first time after $70 million went into transforming the facility from a football-first venue to a world-class tennis facility. The facility features 29 permanent courts (11 competition and 18 practice), an entertainment plaza and a space for live music and dining. The 14,000-seat Stadium Court is a temporary structure built inside the stadium, between the football field’s 30-yard lines. Designed for intimacy, the temporary space uses none of the building’s permanent seats. — Miami Herald
Minnesota State University received approval from the Minnesota State Board of Trustees for a 108,000-square-foot sports bubble this week, clearing the way for the project to begin construction this summer. The facility will feature a synthetic turf field, over which the temperature-controlled dome will be inflated during the six coldest months of the year. It’ll be used both by MSU athletics teams as well as a recreation space for intramural sports. — Mankato Free Press
West Virginia University’s new Mountaineer Center track complex will host its first meet this week. Since it’s dedication in a ribbon cutting ceremony last October, prep teams from local high schools have been using the $7 million facility to practice, but the West Virginia Open will be the first varsity meet. The event, to be held on Saturday, will be the school’s first outdoor home meet since 2009. — Dominion Post
The University of Texas has released new renderings of its planned south endzone expansion to Royal-Memorial Stadium. The new renderings focus mostly on premium seating areas, which will include loge boxes and field-level club suites. The $175 million project is expected to be complete prior to the 2021 football season. — Hookem.com
As part of its $1.1 billion “Give Light” fundraising campaign, Baylor University plans to build a new basketball fieldhouse. Plans call for improved sightlines and a slight decrease in capacity to improve the fan experience. By relocating the basketball teams to the new facility, Baylor will free up space in the Ferrell Center for the volleyball and acrobatics and tumbling teams. A video of what the new facility could look like is below. — Baylor.edu
