University of Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione and university president Joseph Harroz Jr.’s goal for the future is to be proactive.
After several months of discussion regarding a potential new arena, the coalition of Norman leaders heavily involved in the creation of the proposed $1.2 billion University North Park entertainment district released the public’s first look at conceptual renderings Wednesday afternoon in the president’s conference room inside Evans Hall.
The images depict what would be a new $330 million, 8,000-seat capacity arena for both OU men's and women's basketball teams as well as women's gymnastics that would open in time for the 2027-28 seasons. The arena would be surrounded by retail shops, bars and a hotel. [The Oklahoman]
Indiana University is expected to add a $110 million athletics center to its campus in downtown Indianapolis.
The university’s Board of Trustees recently approved the construction of the center. According to a news release from the university, the new facility will be located on the university’s downtown campus south of Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Hall.
Officials said the new athletic facility will give the university the capability to host indoor sports and athletic events. Features of the facility include:
- 134,000 gross square feet, as well as a basketball/volleyball court with seating for 4,500 spectators
- Multipurpose arena with an auxillary gymnasium and community gathering spaces
- 16,000 square feet of office spaces
The court will be used for collegiate and high school sports, including volleyball and wrestling, as well as other recreational activities. The release said that the facility will also include locker rooms and training facilities. [WTOW]
Part of the Vision Atlantic project includes improvements to the Nishna Valley Family YMCA ranging from a 24 hour access fitness floor to an outdoor community recreation area and event space to a children’s museum. Vision Atlantic made a proposal related to economic development in Atlantic, and identified housing, child care and amenities as needs for it.
YMCA Executive Director Dan Haynes said that the idea for the improvements for the YMCA came from meetings about what people would like to see for recreation in Atlantic and around the county. YMCA officials compiled information from a survey, determined different spaces that reflected what was found in it. [Atlantic News Telegraph]
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