University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Athletic Facilities Renovation Plan Unveiled
4/10/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Athletic Facilities Renovation Plan Unveiled
Posted by: sid
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced specific plans for its ambitious facilities renovation project at a news conference held on the University campus today.
Those renovations include such major projects as the addition of luxury suites and club level seating and press box renovation and expansion at Roberts Stadium, additional seating and luxury suites at Green Coliseum, construction of a tennis stadium, construction of a facility for the olympic sports programs, completion of the softball complex, lighting for the track/soccer complex and the addition of artificial "field turf" at Roberts Stadium. Other smaller projects also are included in the plans.
Director of Athletics Richard Giannini and his staff have worked with design and architect firms extensively in recent years to develop the overall plan, and recently Giannini revealed plans for financing the $40 million project. Those plans call for the Athletic Department to fund $28 million of the total through the sale of luxury suites and other premium seating, and is seeking the remaining $12 million from city and county resources.
"Many of our facilities have had only cosmetic renovation since their construction and, by today's standards, are fast becoming obsolete," Giannini said. "In order to remain competitive in Conference USA and in NCAA Division 1-A, this is a move we have to make. We've been fortunate to be able to attract such home opponents as Illinois, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Cal, and, this season, Nebraska. For the Nebraska game this season, we'll have an overflow crowd and ESPN's No. 1 broadcast crew. Our press box facilities and our stadium seating are not adequate for games of this magnitude. The same is true at Green Coliseum.
"We have put a lot of work, thought and planning into this project, and we're at a point where it's something we have to do. In today's world of college athletics, you're either moving ahead of you're falling further behind. Maintaining the status quo is not an option. While the plan may sound ambitious, it certainly is well within our reach, and the result will be something that we all can be proud of as we continue to reach for new heights. We must continue to seek our vision of excellence in everything we do; however, vision is expensive. I'm confident that with the full support of our donors and area leaders, our dreams and goals for the program will be accomplished."
Projected costs include:
| | Roberts Stadium | $32,660,000 |
| | Green Coliseum | $4,000,000 |
| | Olympic sports facility | $1,000,000 |
| | Tennis stadium | $950,000 |
| | Roberts Stadium artificial turf | $700,000 |
| | Complete softball stadium | $450,000 |
| | Light soccer/track complex | $240,000 |
| | Total | $40,000,000 |
Some of the more visible renovation proposals will include:
M. M. Roberts Stadium
- Premium seating
- South End Zone
-
- 30 luxury suites (600-plus seats)
- 1,352 club level chairback seats
- 1,832 bench seats
- Four elevators
- Appropriate concession and restroom areas
- Available space for future academic area growth
- Future upper deck expansion to seat 3,548 (increasing stadium
- capacity to 41,300)
West Side Club Level- 650 covered chairback seats
- Private concession and restroom areas
- Restrooms and concession area improvements
- Additional seating
- Press box and television broadcast area renovation
- Elevators to upper deck
- Improvements to handicap areas to meet ADA standards
Green Coliseum
Upper Concourse
- Replace HVAC system
- Renovate men's and women's basketball offices
- Construct a banquet/meeting room to accommodate 250
- Enclose exterior concourse
- Add two main entry points
- Add 14 suites (upper concourse)
- Upgrade public restrooms
- Expand men's and women's dressing and training areas
- Add weight room and meeting/video rooms
Southwest Wing - New volleyball team dressing room
- New dressing room for coaches/performers
- New storage room
- New media room
- 465 courtside chairback seats
- New removable playing floor
- Portable stage
- Acoustical treatment for ceiling
- New sound system
-
- New stage and arena lighting
Southeast Wing
