University of Tennessee Athletics
UT Athletics capital projects on track
April 19, 2008 | General
The University of Tennessee Athletics Board met Saturday and presented an update on academic and community success of student-athletes, UTAD???s budget and several facility projects.
The meeting began with a discussion of UTAD???s academic success for the 2007 fall semester:
--?????????? 79 student-athletes were named to the SEC Fall Honor Roll
--?????????? 220 student-athletes were named to the Thornton Center Honor Roll
--?????????? 20 student-athletes graduated in December
Following this discussion was a report on UTAD???s budget and fundraising. For fiscal year 2007-08, UTAD is projecting an $82.5 million operating budget. Athletics??? proposed budget for 2008-09 is $86.3 million. The department has continued to see strong growth in donations through the Volunteer Athletics & Scholarship Fund (VASF). The VASF reported that total giving to UT Athletics has exceeded $33.8 million. Marketing reported that the first complete year of the IMG College (formerly HOST) Vol Network agreement has been highly successful and could net UTAD approximately $1 million in additional revenue this year.
Among the facility projects discussed were:
Neyland Stadium Master Plan ??? Phase 2 of the Neyland Stadium Master Plan began following the Vanderbilt game on Nov. 17. Renovations include the lower west concourse, expansion of the team locker room and the addition of a field level Lettermen???s Room and media center.
Lindsey Nelson Stadium ??? Phase I began in July and includes expanded permanent chair back seating down the first base line, a new team clubhouse and coaches offices. Phase I is scheduled for completion in June.
Sherri Parker Lee Softball Stadium ??? The softball team has moved into the facility and a grand opening celebration was held on April 12.
Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center ??? The swimming and diving offices have moved into the facility. A grand opening celebration is planned for this fall.
Intercollegiate Golf Complex ??? The bid has been awarded to Southern Contractors and construction is scheduled to begin in May. The first phase will include three practice holes and a practice green.
Tennis Outdoor Complex ??? The athletics department plans to build a new pavilion to replace the existing structure.?? Bids will go out this spring.
New football offices will be constructed in the next few years adjacent to the McKenzie-Lawson Athletic Center to make room for 110 employees who will be relocated from Stokely Athletics Center to the current football offices.
Riverview Club ??? A new club will be built on the east side of the arena. The club will be open before football and men???s and women???s basketball games as well as halftime of basketball games. The club will bring in additional revenue for athletics.
A pedestrian bridge will be added to the G-10 parking garage this year to connect the garage with Thompson-Boling Arena.
The meeting ended with an overview of the departments??? athletic success. In addition to the success by football and men???s and women???s basketball, currently six of seven men???s spring sport teams are ranked in the top 10 and the Lady Vols have four teams ranked in the top 10 and three additional teams ranked in the top 25. UTAD currently ranks seventh in the Director???s Cup.
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