Thank you Tallahassee Democrat for some articles coming out this week.
My take away from today's piece is that FSU's Athletics Department has been operating ad hoc without a plan for its sports facilities which is no way to run a $100M business.
On the other hand I am glad for the progress and appreciative that after years of sunburns they installed a $500 tarp (equivalent to about 10 minutes of Jimbo's salary) to give a few fans a little shade at the softball field.
Massive facility upgrades coming to FSU
Wayne E McGahee III , Democrat staff writerPublished 2:45 p.m. ET April 29, 2017 | Updated 17 hours ago
Florida State athletic director Stan Wilcox talks about the facility upgrades that will be happening at FSU in the coming years. Wayne McGahee III/Democrat
It’s the arms race of athletics.
Facilities are constantly being upgraded, and new ones built, as technology improves or as rivals get new facilities. At Florida State, where the athletic department houses top programs in nearly every sport, it’s always going to be an issue.
“Basically, within athletics, you’re always going to be in the facilities business,” FSU athletic director Stan Wilcox told the Tallahassee Democrat.
“Either renovating or upgrading existing buildings or building new facilities. It’s no different that when I first came here to now. That’s what we’ve been doing that’s what we’re going to continue doing. We’re going to try to give each of our sports what they need to be successful from a facilities standpoint.”
Stan's Plan: Wilcox’s vision for the future of athletics
Stadium upgrades:Champions Club making adjustments, too
A number of facilities at FSU are in need of an upgrade, including baseball’s Dick Howser Stadium. The facility has not been upgraded since a two-year, $12 million renovation was completed in 2004.
Tully Gymnasium, home to the Seminoles’ indoor volleyball team, was built in 1956. The building has undergone renovations over the years, including upgrades to the locker room in 2011.
In January, FSU teamed up with golf legend Jack Nicklaus to renovate The Don Veller Seminole Golf Course and Club.
And, of course, one of the biggest projects on the docket is a football-only facility.
$55 million football-only facility.
The Seminoles currently share the Moore Athletic Center with a number of programs. FSU head football coach Jimbo Fisher has been campaigning for the new facility since Clemson’s opened at the beginning of 2017.
The 10 coolest things to see at FSU's Moore Center
So it may make more sense to give the other sports more room in the building and build a new facility strictly for football. If that happens, FSU is looking for a spot close to the stadium.
“We’re looking at a number of spots,” Wilcox said.
“I don’t want to say that there’s not a spot that we’re looking at. This area, where football really resides right here at the stadium, where the locker rooms are, where the indoor practice facility is, where the outdoor practice facility is. We’ve got to look at this whole area to find out what’s going to be the best spot.”
Of course, existing facilities like Howser Stadium - once considered among the crown jewels of college baseball stadiums – are in line for upgrades, including a new scoreboard.
The Tucker Civic Center, home to men’s and women’s basketball, underwent $17 million in facility upgrades prior to the 2014-15 season.
And, of course, FSU delivered, as promised, on its state-of-the-art players lounge for football.
The area features table tennis, an arcade, a pool table, a movie theater with leather seats, a dining area and Direct TV.
“We have plans to upgrade a number of our facilities,” Wilcox said.
“Hopefully by this time next year we’ll have a full master facilities plan that we’re going to roll out. And it’ll show basically every facility that we’re looking to make improvements to.”
My take away from today's piece is that FSU's Athletics Department has been operating ad hoc without a plan for its sports facilities which is no way to run a $100M business.
On the other hand I am glad for the progress and appreciative that after years of sunburns they installed a $500 tarp (equivalent to about 10 minutes of Jimbo's salary) to give a few fans a little shade at the softball field.
Massive facility upgrades coming to FSU
Wayne E McGahee III , Democrat staff writerPublished 2:45 p.m. ET April 29, 2017 | Updated 17 hours ago
Florida State athletic director Stan Wilcox talks about the facility upgrades that will be happening at FSU in the coming years. Wayne McGahee III/Democrat
It’s the arms race of athletics.
Facilities are constantly being upgraded, and new ones built, as technology improves or as rivals get new facilities. At Florida State, where the athletic department houses top programs in nearly every sport, it’s always going to be an issue.
“Basically, within athletics, you’re always going to be in the facilities business,” FSU athletic director Stan Wilcox told the Tallahassee Democrat.
“Either renovating or upgrading existing buildings or building new facilities. It’s no different that when I first came here to now. That’s what we’ve been doing that’s what we’re going to continue doing. We’re going to try to give each of our sports what they need to be successful from a facilities standpoint.”
Stan's Plan: Wilcox’s vision for the future of athletics
Stadium upgrades:Champions Club making adjustments, too
A number of facilities at FSU are in need of an upgrade, including baseball’s Dick Howser Stadium. The facility has not been upgraded since a two-year, $12 million renovation was completed in 2004.
Tully Gymnasium, home to the Seminoles’ indoor volleyball team, was built in 1956. The building has undergone renovations over the years, including upgrades to the locker room in 2011.
In January, FSU teamed up with golf legend Jack Nicklaus to renovate The Don Veller Seminole Golf Course and Club.
And, of course, one of the biggest projects on the docket is a football-only facility.
$55 million football-only facility.
The Seminoles currently share the Moore Athletic Center with a number of programs. FSU head football coach Jimbo Fisher has been campaigning for the new facility since Clemson’s opened at the beginning of 2017.
The 10 coolest things to see at FSU's Moore Center
So it may make more sense to give the other sports more room in the building and build a new facility strictly for football. If that happens, FSU is looking for a spot close to the stadium.
“We’re looking at a number of spots,” Wilcox said.
“I don’t want to say that there’s not a spot that we’re looking at. This area, where football really resides right here at the stadium, where the locker rooms are, where the indoor practice facility is, where the outdoor practice facility is. We’ve got to look at this whole area to find out what’s going to be the best spot.”
Of course, existing facilities like Howser Stadium - once considered among the crown jewels of college baseball stadiums – are in line for upgrades, including a new scoreboard.
The Tucker Civic Center, home to men’s and women’s basketball, underwent $17 million in facility upgrades prior to the 2014-15 season.
And, of course, FSU delivered, as promised, on its state-of-the-art players lounge for football.
The area features table tennis, an arcade, a pool table, a movie theater with leather seats, a dining area and Direct TV.
“We have plans to upgrade a number of our facilities,” Wilcox said.
“Hopefully by this time next year we’ll have a full master facilities plan that we’re going to roll out. And it’ll show basically every facility that we’re looking to make improvements to.”
