CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Clemson announces $50 million plan to continue athletic facility improvements

Clemson announces $50 million plan to continue athletic facility improvements


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CLEMSON — Clemson University’s athletic department is continuing its plan to improve facilities by announcing a goal to invest $50 million over the next five years in capital projects. The master plan includes enhancements to facilities for football, baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis and golf.

The projects, many of which are pending board of trustee and state approval, will be funded through private gifts and generated athletics revenues. A committee led by Ed and Jane Duckworth of Atlanta will study the plan and implement a funding strategy. All gifts in support of these initiatives will be included in The Will to Lead capital campaign.

“This plan is a continuation of what Clemson started in 2003 with the WestZone project to enhance our football stadium and build a first-class operational center for our football program,” said Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips. “We must develop facilities to allow us to continue to put our student-athletes in an environment where they can become as good as they possibly can be and also to increase our ability to recruit top student-athletes.”

“Over the past 10 years, Clemson has invested nearly $120 million in athletics facilities enhancements. These investments have benefited virtually every team, from football to women’s volleyball, from baseball to track, from golf to women’s rowing,” said President James F. Barker. “The next phase of improvements will be equally comprehensive in scope. Just as importantly — speaking as a president and architect — they will also improve pedestrian safety and visually enhance one of America’s most beautiful campuses.”

Football

Facility improvements for football will include building an indoor practice facility and finishing the WestZone project.

The indoor practice facility, which will be located where the current practice fields are, will feature a regulation-size artificial turf football field, a coach’s tower and video platforms. The building will have large garage-style doors, which can be raised to create an open-air space. The estimated cost of the project is $10 million.



“The indoor practice facility will be a highly significant addition for Clemson, not only for football but also for other sports to use,” Phillips said.

The $15.3 million WestZone project will feature the oculus, which is the main entrance to the WestZone, a four-level museum and an expansion of the northwest concourse. Construction on the northwest concourse expansion is slated to begin soon and will be completed by the start of the 2011 season.



Baseball

A baseball players’ facility will be added to Doug Kingsmore Stadium behind the first-base side seating. This building will include a “Lobby of Legacy” where trophies and other achievements can be highlighted, a locker room, a players’ lounge, study areas and meeting space, suite and club level seating for fans, a training room, laundry and kitchen facilities and coaches’ offices. Estimated cost for the project is $5 million.

Basketball

An additional practice facility will be built at the southwest corner of Littlejohn Coliseum. It will include a new practice floor and a multi-purpose room. On the southeast corner of Littlejohn, an open-air pavilion will be built that can be used for events such as concerts and private parties. Total cost for the project is estimated at $5.1 million.



Soccer

Additional renovations to historic Riggs Field include creating a “Championship Plaza” behind the stands, landscaping and improving the stadium entrance, building a multi-purpose room under the stands, adding seating behind the goal, enclosing the area underneath the visiting side stands and a new scoreboard. This projected cost is $6.1 million.

Tennis

Improvements to tennis facilities will include adding two new indoor courts, landscaping and enhancing both entrances to the outdoor courts, adding new fan seating and building a roof to cover all seating. These enhancements will cost approximately $5.1 million.



Although not directly connected to athletics, a new pedestrian bridge planned for construction along S.C. 93 will further enhance the entrances to both Riggs Field and the tennis facility and will provide safer access for fans to both areas. The project is a collaboration with the city of Clemson, which partnered with the university to secure $800,000 of federal funding for the project, and the Pickens County Transportation Committee, which contributed another $200,000 in local matching funds.

Golf

Also included in the plan is the Larry B. Penley Jr. Golf Facility, which is already under construction. The structure will be a three-story, 6,600-square-foot building that will include meeting rooms, offices, a repair shop, a service kitchen and locker rooms. It will be located behind the golf team’s driving range at the Bobby Robinson Golf Practice Facility. Estimated cost for the building is $2.6 million.



“With athletic facilities, you’re never finished,” Phillips said. “You always have to be planning ahead to improve your facility infrastructure. We feel very good about everything we’ve accomplished so far, but we must keep going.”

Images

The indoor football practice facility

The indoor football practice facility #2

The indoor football practice facility #3

The indoor football practice facility #4

WestZone

WestZone #2

Doug Kingsmore Stadium

Riggs Field

Riggs Field #2

Riggs Field #3

Tennis facilities

Tennis facilities #2

Tennis facilities #3

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Subject (Replies: 47) Author
spacer Clemson announces $50 million plan to continue athletic facility improvements
B-Meist®
spacer Why didn't they show anything about the additional
citadelcock
spacer As a Citadel ####, why would you care?*******
toptentiger®
spacer Re: As a Citadel ####, why would you care?*******
Litefoot
spacer Really wish that while they are at it, they would....
kbtiger®
spacer I bet they put another one on the first base line***
MarineOneClemson®
spacer 2 extra indoor courts are needed
T_I_P
spacer I thought we were exiting tennis
74TIGER
spacer Re: 2 extra indoor courts are needed
palmettoson
spacer Re: Clemson announces $50 million plan to continue athletic facility improvements
TigerFanClint
spacer To cement his legacy
deserttiger85®
spacer The Hill
wstoddard
spacer when are they supposed to start on the new student union
colatiger89
spacer Wow!!!! What is the cost going to be to turn the water
tigersuper
spacer "Your Name" must have alot of $$$$!***
kbtiger®
spacer Was hoping for a Pergola but hey an Oculus will do!! :)***
TigerD4Him
spacer Re: "Your Name" must have alot of $$$$!***
SOLOS®
spacer what year will this be done?***
T_I_P
spacer Maybe its just me...
Gods_Country
spacer Re: Maybe its just me...
exleym
spacer Re: Maybe its just me...
allorangeallthetime52®
spacer Remember the "rainy day fund" that the former
1Tiger1
spacer Re: Remember the "rainy day fund" that the former
pmdaniel14
spacer Either one of these work for you?
1Tiger1
spacer I missed the plans for the new 50 meter pool, oh that's
flyingtiger23®
spacer Further evidence that TDP is not committed...
Completely Solid Orange
spacer Re: Clemson announces $50 million plan to continue athletic facility improvements
allorangeallthetime52®
spacer Re: Clemson announces $50 million plan to continue athletic facility improvements
orangetiger05
spacer woot! we finally get the Oculus!
clemsonsuzi
spacer I would have preferred a pompatus of love.***
Razzmatazz
spacer Re: I would have preferred a pompatus of love.***
SOLOS®
spacer The w. endzone looks really... "excessive"?
WolfMan2
spacer hahahahahaha***
Completely Solid Orange
spacer Re: Clemson announces $50 million plan to continue athletic facility improvements
CC440
spacer I like the way it looks inside the stadium, but this new
WolfMan2
spacer Wow, someone has a problem with the eastside gateway?***
WolfMan2
spacer What about the Swim Team?
hla231
spacer Re: What about the Swim Team?
zharner
spacer good link to learn more about:
cuswim03
spacer Nothing new at CU hla..it would have taken a new pool to ...
Ihopehedo
spacer You're just upset that the swim team doesn't attract the
tigerfanjack
spacer Re: Clemson announces $50 million plan to continue athletic facility improvements
cuswimmer
spacer Re: Clemson announces $50 million plan to continue athletic
Stronghold
spacer Re: Clemson announces $50 million plan to continue athletic facility improvements
CUNC
spacer Re: Clemson announces $50 million plan to continue athletic facility improvements
Moosedawg
spacer Maybe the Oculus can have a 50 meter fountain.***
tigerfan40
spacer Oculus FTW***
tigerdrummer®
spacer we could get Nick Saban for less than that ; )***
AFWtigerDline