Maturi: U ‘Behind 8-Ball’ for Facility; won’t place a timeline on construction

[BleedGopher]

per this update from Shama:

Maturi: U ‘Behind 8-Ball’ for Facility

Only Northwestern and Minnesota among Big Ten schools is without a modern practice facility for its basketball teams. “We’re way behind the eight ball,” Joel Maturi told Sports Headliners.

The Gophers athletic director said some conference schools have had facilities so long they’re enhancing what was originally built. The Gophers can’t wait any longer to pursue a privately financed practice facility to be used by both the men’s and women’s programs.

During the last few months the University has started meeting with potential donors. “The good news is the process has begun,” Maturi said.

The practice facility is to be located just west of the Sports Pavilion-Williams Arena complex. It will be built on a now empty parking lot facing Fourth Street at a projected cost of $15 million.

Maturi said the facility will have two basketball courts, one for coach Tubby Smith’s team and the other to be used by women’s coach Pam Borton and her players. The facility will include a weight room, training room, lockers and a place to host recruits. The facility will connect by tunnel to Williams Arena.

Maturi said only initial meetings have been held with potential donors and more presentations are planned. A lead donor — or donors — is particularly needed.A contribution that paid for 40 percent or more of the cost could result in naming rights to the facility.

The donor solicitations have generated “positive feedback” but no one has said yes to a significant contribution. Because “these things take time,” Maturi won’t place a timeline on when construction will begin.

Although Williams Arena is in need of costly repairs, that project will be separate from the practice facility campaign. Among the 83-year-old building’s needs is roof repair and money for that could come from general University funding, not the athletic department, according to Maturi.

http://shamasportsheadliners.com/

Go Gophers!!

 

[ruppertflywheel]

I like the McHale Center. Kevin has donated a ton of money to Hibbing

 

[station19]

If UMD got 40 million for a hockey rink included in the Twins stadium bill, why can't we get 15 mill included in a vike stadium bill.

Just sayin.

 

[zambam]

If UND got 40 million for a hockey rink included in the Twins stadium bill, why can't we get 15 mill included in a vike stadium bill.

Just sayin.

I hope you mean UMD... if not, there is something wrong here. Lol.

 

[station19]

I hope you mean UMD... if not, there is something wrong here. Lol.

Just checking to see if you would catch that.

Will edit.

 

[zambam]

Just checking to see if you would catch that.

Will edit.

Okay, lol. I was like, "there is no way UND got money from a bill passed in MN. Just no way. Then again... politics is messed up. Gotta check." Lol.

 

[Gopher in Texas]

This was the status 1 year ago. It appears no progress has been made.

No one has said yes to a "significant" contribution is unacceptable progress - it could not be any worse. Sounds like we need a change in management of the fund drive.

 

[Swede]

How fast could this be paid for if a few non-revenue sports were disposed of and/or this idea of building a baseball park were abandoned?

As an aside on the topic work on Williams, how much longer will the Barn suit it's purpose? Certainly now is not the time to ask anybody for a Barn replacement fund. However, that day is coming. The idea of building a practice facility as a necessity is a sales pitch to recruits. Does the Barn provide our club an advantage any more? I find it hardto believe that any kid outside Minnesota would hold any reverence for the old place. Do Minnesota kids even care? I consider myself a traditionalist, but reality will set in sooner or later. Certainly we don't play at Northrup Field any more. Is it heresy yet to say the Barn will need to go?

 

[zambam]

You can't just "dispose of" non-revenue sports. This has been suggested way too many times on this board.

 

[calminnfan]

How about Garnett...he got multi millions of dollars from MN, even though it was the TWolves...he could give some back. Since he never went to any college or University, why not the U?

 

[SelectionSunday]

How about Garnett...he got multi millions of dollars from MN, even though it was the TWolves...he could give some back. Since he never went to any college or University, why not the U?

Based on the stories I've heard about KG's tipping (in restaurants, pizza deliverers, etc.), I wouldn't hold my breath on that!

 

[station19]

How about Sid. I know he's ultra cheap, but he has lots of bucks.

Come on Sid, you can't tote a U-Haul behind a hearse.

 

[Swede]

You can't just "dispose of" non-revenue sports. This has been suggested way too many times on this board.

Why not? Keep on the right side of title nine and you certainly could.

 

[zambam]

Why not? Keep on the right side of title nine and you certainly could.

That's the thing, no one ever mentions Title IX when they talk about this. Just "get rid of them."

 

[station19]

You can't just "dispose of" non-revenue sports. This has been suggested way too many times on this board.

Wisconsin did.

 

[zambam]

Wisconsin did.

That makes me not want to do it.

 

[Maximus]

Wisconsin did.

Wisconsin didn't cut sports to give more to FB and MBB. They cut sports because of a huge budget deficit. As it stands, they have one less sport than Minnesota.

 

[station19]

That's the thing, no one ever mentions Title IX when they talk about this. Just "get rid of them."

There are plenty of mens sports that are 'non-revenue", they aren't all womens sports.

 

[station19]

Wisconsin didn't cut sports to give more to FB and MBB. They cut sports because of a huge budget deficit. As it stands, they have one less sport than Minnesota.

Irrelevant, the statement was you can't just dispose of non-revenue sports. Wisconsin did.

 

[Maximus]

Irrelevant, the statement was you can't just dispose of non-revenue sports. Wisconsin did.

Minnesota tried to dispose of three sports in 2002 and failed.

 

[station19]

Minnesota tried to dispose of three sports in 2002 and failed.

That's because those damn donors showed up and ruined everything.

 

[howeda7]

If UMD got 40 million for a hockey rink included in the Twins stadium bill, why can't we get 15 mill included in a vike stadium bill.

Just sayin.

First, UMD's hockey rink was not included in the Twins stadium bill. Not at all. Some Iron Range legislators did threaten to vote No on the Twins stadium if they didn't get it included in the bonding bill, but that's not the same thing.

The best hope for the U to be linked to any Vikings funding is that they will create an ongoing 'sports facilities fund' via Racino/Pulltabs that the U could have access to. Then even replacing the Barn becomes viable. I'd say the odds of them passing an ongoing funding source is unlikely, but given they haven't had a session without a stadium debate since 1994 or so, I'd think it would be tempting. That or quietly make Ziggy cough up a 'donation' for the Practice Facility as part of the deal.

 

[station19]

First, UMD's hockey rink was not included in the Twins stadium bill. Not at all. Some Iron Range legislators did threaten to vote No on the Twins stadium if they didn't get it included in the bonding bill, but that's not the same thing.

The best hope for the U to be linked to any Vikings funding is that they will create an ongoing 'sports facilities fund' via Racino/Pulltabs that the U could have access to. Then even replacing the Barn becomes viable. I'd say the odds of them passing an ongoing funding source is unlikely, but given they haven't had a session without a stadium debate since 1994 or so, I'd think it would be tempting. That or quietly make Ziggy cough up a 'donation' for the Practice Facility as part of the deal.

Looks like I have been corrected. Thanks.

 

[mnboiler]

The best hope for the U to be linked to any Vikings funding is that they will create an ongoing 'sports facilities fund' via Racino/Pulltabs that the U could have access to.

I think this touches on what I think is a GREAT idea. Minnesota needs to come up with a long term, on going solution to the sports facility funding problem. Having this seemingly end debate over the funding of new sports facilities isn't moving the state forward, and quite simply it's gets old. Either the legislature needs to pass a law or it may take a constitutional amendment(like the Legacy Amendment) but specifically for sports arena.

I'm not sure on where the funding should come from, although it does need to be dedicated, although I don't mind Chris Coleman idea of a 3 cent tax on every drink sold, I'm not sure if it's the best funding source. Also I'm not sure on how to administer exactly but I like the idea of having board comprised of a 2 reps from the Big 4(Vikes, Wolves, Twins, Wild) 1 from the U, 1 from the MNSCU schools, 1 from the minor sports(Lynx, Swarm, maybe a MLS, etc), 2 from MSHSL, and 2 reps from amateur sports around the state. You would have to find a way to limit the amount any team or organization and request and get over a period of time, for example the U can only get $5 million a year, the Vikings can only get $15 million a year, etc(you could mess the amount and time periods, vary the amount each group can get with revenue, allow teams or organization to bank money and build it up over time, etc.) I'm open to debating the specifics of the organization but I think it would work if it followed that general plan.

Personally I think this is only ways to solve the long term sports facility funding problem the state.

 

[EG#9]

"The Gophers athletic director said some conference schools have had facilities so long they’re enhancing what was originally built. The Gophers can’t wait any longer to pursue a privately financed practice facility to be used by both the men’s and women’s programs"

This is incorrect. The Gophers "couldn't wait any longer" 2, 3, or 4 years ago. How do you let it get to the point that 10 of your 11 conference opponents have something and you haven't even found the funding for it yet? It's inexcusable and it's just another black mark on a resume full of them for Joel Maturi.

 

[easy]

The best hope for the U to be linked to any Vikings funding is that they will create an ongoing 'sports facilities fund' via Racino/Pulltabs that the U could have access to.

Considering the hefty donation the U got from the Native American community for TCF Bank Stadium I would say this is highly unlikely.

 

[Reserve]

Caught this tweet from Marcus today:

How much do Gophers need practice facility? Well, they're practicing today at Concordia St. Paul because of women's tourney at the Barn.

Can we not just get a stinking practice facility one of these days?

 

[Maximus]

This is incorrect. The Gophers "couldn't wait any longer" 2, 3, or 4 years ago. How do you let it get to the point that 10 of your 11 conference opponents have something and you haven't even found the funding for it yet? It's inexcusable and it's just another black mark on a resume full of them for Joel Maturi.

3-4 years ago they were completing a 90 million dollar fundraising project for the facility across the street from Williams. Speaking of four years ago, Ohio State began raising 22 million for basketball facilities. They still aren't close four years ago. Last spring they cut the project into two parts and still haven't raised enough for the first half. But hey, that must be Maturi's fault.

 

[GopherinPhilly]

The truth is...Maturi should have bundled the practice facility and Williams Arena upgrade in with the stadium package...fund raising the additional 25 million needed with naming rights for Williams Arena and the practice facility along with the main Stadium would have allowed for the fundraising mechanism in place to just keep going a few extra months. Could have been prioritized with TCF Stadium first, the Williams/Practice second...but the machinery was in place...include the baseball stadium in this...but instead, we built a machine to raise money for the stadium and then started over with the baseball stadium and are starting over again for the practice facility...this is just mismanagement to me. We should always have a fund raising goal and machine in place to raise funds in our athletic department.

 

[bga1]

The truth is...Maturi should have bundled the practice facility and Williams Arena upgrade in with the stadium package...fund raising the additional 25 million needed with naming rights for Williams Arena and the practice facility along with the main Stadium would have allowed for the fundraising mechanism in place to just keep going a few extra months. Could have been prioritized with TCF Stadium first, the Williams/Practice second...but the machinery was in place...include the baseball stadium in this...but instead, we built a machine to raise money for the stadium and then started over with the baseball stadium and are starting over again for the practice facility...this is just mismanagement to me. We should always have a fund raising goal and machine in place to raise funds in our athletic department.

This is correct. You think small and lack a master plan and you end up paying more and getting less.