Big Ten schools engage in arena arms race

New practice facilities and upgraded locker rooms are not just for the benefit of players participating in college athletic programs.

State-of-the-art facilities can provide an important edge in recruiting and vividly illustrate an institution’s commitment to the sports it offers.

“There is a correlation,” said Michigan men’s basketball coach John Beilein, who has administrators at his school listening when he compares the Wolverines’ facilities with those at nearby Michigan State. The home of the Spartans had a $1.3 million upgrade to locker room facilities completed before the 2007-08 season.

“Everywhere we’ve been in the Big Ten, the facilities have been outstanding, and those are programs we compete with, both on the court and as we recruit. It’s important that we look at it in those terms, through the eyes of an 18-year-old recruit.’’

Iowa coach Todd Lickliter said it is not common for recruits to ask about the availability of practice facilities when they visit a campus.

“But, if you go to a place that has one, it becomes obvious or apparent that there is something there that is a benefit,’’ Lickliter said. “It’s unspoken, but it is noticed.”

It also has fueled an athletics building boom on college campuses.

The ongoing $121 million renovation of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium and Iowa’s recently-completed renovation of Kinnick Stadium follow similar projects elsewhere.

Iowa State is in the midst of a $95 million project that includes upgrades at Jack Trice Stadium and Hilton Coliseum.

“It’s an arms race, no question,” Cyclones women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly said.

“At the BCS level, you cannot compete over time without good facilities. When you work to build a program, there are certain things you cannot control — population base, for example — but you can control your environment, your facilities.’’

The first phase of the ISU project is ongoing at Jack Trice Stadium, where $19.8 million is being spent to expand club suites, reconstruct concession and restroom facilities and renovate the Cyclone Club section.

On Thursday, the Iowa Board of Regents approved the planning process for the second phase of the Iowa State project. That $65 million project includes enclosing the south end of Jack Trice Stadium.

Construction of a new practice facility adjacent to Hilton Coliseum remains a priority for ISU once the football facility is completed.

“Jamie Pollard (Iowa State’s director of athletics) has a good plan in place that coach (Greg) McDermott (the Cyclone men’s coach), and I support because we know the needs are there if we want to have any kind of program in our conference,” Fennelly said.

“Anytime we go on a road trip in the Big 12 it’s like ‘Wow.’ We don’t see a lot of state gyms being used for practice anymore but sometimes, that’s where we end up.”

Iowa State isn’t alone.

Michigan State completed a renovation of its basketball locker rooms at the 19-year-old Breslin Center last year, Indiana broke ground on a $63 million, 67,000-square foot basketball facility adjacent to the Assembly Hall last fall and Purdue is preparing to do the same for a $99.5 million renovation and expansion of Mackey Arena.

At Michigan State, new locker rooms include 42-inch custom wooden lockers, a domed ceiling, a large TV featuring nine separate 42-inch flat-screen monitors and bronze plaques commemorating the Spartans’ national championships. There also is a pool table, photos and murals of MSU all-Americans and NBA players, a full kitchenette and a smartboard in the locker room connected to a video server.

In addition to housing training and locker room facilities and separate practice courts for men’s and women’s teams, the Indiana facility will be the home of Legacy Hall, a showcase for Hoosiers memorabilia.

At Purdue, improvements at Mackey Arena are being made to seating, ticket offices and other fan amenities. The facility will also bring academic, athletic and training needs into a single Intercollegiate Athletic Center.

Illinois also is looking at what it needs to do with its basketball facilities.

The Illini built a $5.5 million practice facility several years ago, but the question of whether to renovate the Assembly Hall or build a new arena remains on the table for debate.

Engineers are looking at both possibilities and early cost estimates indicate that it likely would cost $90 million to renovate the Assembly Hall, which was constructed in 1963, or as much as $140 million to construct a new arena.

Keeping pace

The University of Iowa athletics department has made $107.46 million in facilities improvements in the last six years and plans to spend at least another $49.7 million by the end of the decade. Here’s a breakdown: