Indiana Wesleyan University on Monday announced plans to construct a $30 million basketball arena on its Marion campus, about 50 miles southwest of Fort Wayne.
Construction on the 80,000-square-foot I Am Third arena is scheduled to begin Friday, with hopes of having the facility ready for games by the end of 2026.
Plans call for the arena to be multilevel, with spectators entering on the second level. In addition to the main court, it will include a full-sized practice court, weight room, training room, team shop, broadcast/filming area, two team rooms, five suites, and concessions.
“This new facility will significantly expand the scope and mission of IWU Athletics and give us a top-tier arena that matches not just our current basketball programs, but our athletic department as a whole,” said Deane Webb, IWU’s athletic director, in written remarks. [Inside Indiana Basketball]
The University at Buffalo will hold a grand opening ceremony for the Brittany Murchie Mulla Sports Performance Center at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17.
Serving all student-athletes on UB’s 14 varsity teams, the 12,000-square-foot, multilevel facility is directly connected to the Murchie Family Fieldhouse on UB’s North Campus. Mulla is the daughter of UB alumni Tunney and Deanna Murchie, whose family have been longtime supporters of UB Athletics.
The facility’s construction is part of a building boom happening across UB’s campuses, which will see $1.64 billion in construction planned over the next decade.
The state-of-the-art facility aims to elevate the training experience of UB’s student-athletes and foster excellence on the courts and fields of play, with features that include:
- Eighteen free-weight training racks.
- A 42-foot, 17-degree turf training incline.
- A 1,000-square-foot cardio mezzanine.
- A supplemental nutrition area.
- Three offices and a conference room. [University of of Buffalo]
On Friday, October 11th, Ludlow High School celebrated the opening of its new sports facility with a brief ceremony. The inaugural football game showcased state-of-the-art sound systems, a brand-new turf field, and a fully functioning scoreboard. This is just the beginning: in the spring, the baseball team will benefit from new dugouts and fresh grass, while the track team will enjoy upgraded throwing areas and jumping pits.
Selectman Derek Debarge highlighted the positive impact the new facility will have on Ludlow sports, both on the field and in the stands. “I’m very excited for the Ludlow track,” he said, sharing that he has purchased season tickets to attend all the games and meets. Debarge also expressed a desire to hold a special celebration for the first track meet, recognizing that the track team has “suffered the most during the construction of this facility.”
Sports Administrator Timothy Brillo echoed this sentiment, stating, “It’s been a long time coming, especially for our track team, which hasn’t had a home meet in seven years. I’m really looking forward to giving them that opportunity.” He added that he hopes the athletes “enjoy it, take care of it, and take a lot of pride in it.” [Ludlow Cub]
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