Two donors recently came forward to support the $82 million renovation of Purdue University’s Mackey Arena.
Tom Spurgeon, a 1961 alumnus and current Purdue trustee, has contributed $3 million toward the project. The gymnasium in the student-athlete academic center will be named for Bob Holloway, a 1948 alumnus who has committed $2 million to Mackey.
There are several interesting elements included in the overall project--notably increasing the number of concession sale points from 12 to 48, and adding cushy club seats and two corporate entertaining areas. These extras will be significant revenue boosters for Purdue’s athletic department. And if fans drink more liquid refreshments, fear not, the renovation creates three times as many women’s restrooms than there are now and increases the number of men’s restrooms by 35 percent.
Other upgrades to the 40-year-old basketball arena include improved ticket offices and widened concourses. The project is designed to bring academic, athletic and training needs into one complex. Morgan J. Burke, Purdue's director of Intercollegiate Athletics, said the upgrades will be an important student recruiting tool.
With Indiana University also in a fund-raising mode for its athletic department, has an arms race begun between the in-state Big 10 rivals?
Tom Spurgeon, a 1961 alumnus and current Purdue trustee, has contributed $3 million toward the project. The gymnasium in the student-athlete academic center will be named for Bob Holloway, a 1948 alumnus who has committed $2 million to Mackey.
There are several interesting elements included in the overall project--notably increasing the number of concession sale points from 12 to 48, and adding cushy club seats and two corporate entertaining areas. These extras will be significant revenue boosters for Purdue’s athletic department. And if fans drink more liquid refreshments, fear not, the renovation creates three times as many women’s restrooms than there are now and increases the number of men’s restrooms by 35 percent.
Other upgrades to the 40-year-old basketball arena include improved ticket offices and widened concourses. The project is designed to bring academic, athletic and training needs into one complex. Morgan J. Burke, Purdue's director of Intercollegiate Athletics, said the upgrades will be an important student recruiting tool.
With Indiana University also in a fund-raising mode for its athletic department, has an arms race begun between the in-state Big 10 rivals?
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For those that don't know what I'm talking about, here's the definition of university, borrowed from m-w.com:
Main Entry:
uni·ver·si·ty
Pronunciation:
?yü-n?-?v?r-s?-t?, -?v?r-st?
1: an institution of higher learning providing facilities for teaching and research and authorized to grant academic degrees; specifically : one made up of an undergraduate division which confers bachelor's degrees and a graduate division which comprises a graduate school and professional schools each of which may confer master's degrees and doctorates
*sigh*
IU's Assembly Hall was built 4 decades ago for what would be small change by today's standards. It's paid for itself numerous times and it's time to fund a new one. Athletics provide a presitge and culture to a school moreso than any other part of it. I don't think that is so wrong. I could foresee situations where the line can be crossed, but we are nowhere close. IU and Purdue are realizing that their venues need attention and they are going about it in a respectful manner that doesn't tread on the Academic nature of both Universities. I donate to both IU's Athletics and Academics and will proudly do so for the rest of my life.
accomplishments and image. How many people travel to the Bug-Bowl compard to to the Rose or Capital One bowl or whichever bowl IU is going to lose in every
10+ years. It is something to be proud of and embrace.
If you want to support the academics, hire an alum from
that school.