Missouri State Releases Renderings of Athletics Master Plan
Missouri State University Director of Athletics Patrick Ransdell and University Architect Mark Wheeler presented a plan to the university’s Board of Governors on Thursday to address the long-term facility needs of the Athletics Department.
The multi-phase plan, subject to ongoing fundraising efforts, will begin with the renovation of historic McDonald Arena, just north of Robert W. Plaster Stadium.
The initial phases of the McDonald Arena project include the following:
– New football team locker room in the east wing of McDonald Arena
– Re-opening and extension of the tunnel from McDonald Arena to the stadium playing field
– Renovation of the main McDonald Arena court for a large-scale weight room
– Build out for modern athletic training, exam, office, equipment, laundry and restroom spaces in McDonald Arena
“Our fundraising efforts for the McDonald Arena project have been going very well, and we are at the point where we can begin initial construction steps in the coming months,” said Ransdell. “With that project set to commence soon, we also wanted to be transparent about the long-term vision for Plaster and the areas surrounding the stadium over the next decade and beyond. Elevating our facilities and our game-day experience will ensure that Missouri State will remain competitive well into the future.”
Construction Set to Begin on New Athletics Facilities at Rice University
Construction is about to begin on the first phase of Rice's historic Gateway Project, the Patricia Lipoma Kraft '87 and Jonathan A. Kraft Football Pavilion.
Thanks to a principal gift from Patricia '87 and Jonathan Kraft, the 80,000-square-foot Patricia Lipoma Kraft '87 and Jonathan A. Kraft Football Pavilion will feature a full-length turf football field under a split gable roof, with immediate access from the Owls' current grass practice field behind the Patterson Center. The open-air design will maximize airflow and cooling during Houston's hot summer months, allow Rice student-athletes to safely train during inclement weather, and maintain an outdoor environment.
The construction of the state-of-the-art training facility will provide Owls fans with a first taste of the dramatic changes on the horizon as part of The Gateway Project.
Texas District to Invest $91M on New Athletics Facilities
As the return of football nears in the state of Texas, one Houston-area suburb is all-in on ensuring its playing surfaces receive the upgrades they deserve.
Tomball Independent School District (TISD) filed multiple projects with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation on Thursday, focusing on athletic department improvements. One high school, Tomball Memorial, and four junior high schools will receive new synthetic turf installations for their football fields, upgraded energy-efficient LED field lighting, and additional storage facilities.
The Tomball Memorial Wildcats football stadium will also receive a new 250-square-foot press box atop the current bleachers, and the track around the field will be resurfaced.
Other athletic department improvements across the five schools will include installing new safety netting at the backstops for the baseball and softball fields and replacing bleachers in the schools' basketball gymnasiums.
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