With all the financial resources collected, U-M practice facility finally on the horizon

By MARK SNYDER
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

For years, Michigan athletic director Bill Martin said the only thing holding back a basketball practice facility was money.

Apparently, that is no longer an issue.

In a Big Ten Network interview that aired Sunday, Martin said he has all the financial resources to build the facility.

“We need to go through the approval process with the university, we have the resources to do it, we’ve hired an architect to start our preliminary planning,” Martin said. “We haven’t had the project approved through our administrative and regental process but I expect to be able to take that in the very near future and move forward with that project. And we need it.”

Though Martin did not discuss the specifics on BTN – he was unavailable for comment at midday Monday -- U-M discussions have centered around placing a facility on the east side of Crisler Arena where a large grassy hill now rests.

Michigan has been working with a few architectural firms (TMP Associates and Sink Combs Dethlefs) for nearly 18 months, studying the infrastructure of Crisler and gathering preliminary thoughts on the practice facility.

The estimated $20-million facility featuring two basketball courts, offices and the other features common to other schools’ facilities, is still in the early planning stages, U-M executive associate athletic director Mike Stevenson said Monday.

As with all building projects at U-M, the Regents will have to approve an architect at one meeting, then approve the project at a later meeting.

“There’s a lot of work to do before we get close to building,” Stevenson said, adding it could be months before getting to that point.

In his interview, Martin added that he doesn’t expect to replace Crisler Arena but after the football stadium construction is completed in 2010, he said U-M will “take on” Crisler.

“But the practice facility is something I’m going to personally push forward,” Martin said.

what grassy hill is he referring to? Next to Crisler is a parking lot, then the field hockey field across the tracks.

A not-so-interesting Tahoe fact: A friend, who is like my brother, teaches at Pioneer HS.

Isn't there a golf course or something right by Crisler?

A not-so-interesting Tahoe fact: A friend, who is like my brother, teaches at Pioneer HS.

Isn't there a golf course or something right by Crisler?

The U of M course is across the street from there. That's where everyone tailgates for football games.

I love the smell of tenuosity in the afternoon.

I love the smell of tenuosity in the afternoon.
I was watching the election coverage on CNN last night and one of the analysts used the word tenuous (to describe Hillary's arguments). I almost cracked up but my wife would have thought I was crazy.

It's about effing time. UM actually spending money on the basketball program? What's next? A mobile quarterback running the spread offense in a winged helmet? Oh.

There is a smallish grassy hill next to it, as in RIGHT next to it. Opposite side from the Big House. If it's the "hill" I'm thinking, this facility would be more like an extension of Chrisler, attached to it on the one side.

Look at the picture below. The area I'm talking about is at the very edge of the picture, covered by trees. If you think about it, a facility with two courts and some offices, but no need for any kinds of stands for fan seating, would not have to be huge.
http://media.collegepublisher.com/media/paper851/stills/416a67c7bc3eb-53-3.jpg

Looking at this next photo, they almost HAVE to be talking about that same area. Maybe they would tear up some of the parking lot Chris is referring to.
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~buzznau/pics/DCP_1677.JPG

By the way, last note of the morning. I think the parking lot that sits there adjacent to the two current facilities needs to be turned into a 4/5 level parking structure. Something that doesn't take away from the sight of the Big House, but adds to "the look" of it and provides another parking solution. Of course, part of what is cool about UM football is the masses of people walking from miles around on a Saturday morning, but there is potential for something there that adds to the mystique.

There's a grassy knoll back and to left of Crisler.

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/5726/crislereg1.png

Yeah, that's pretty much exactly the area I've been talking about. Plenty of room for two courts and some offices.

Back and to the left

I suppose I would know what you were talking about if I my monitor wasn't upside down, eh?

My bad Jethro. Its a really bad attempt at humor. Back on topic.

Looks like there would be plenty of room for a couple practice courts.

From Ann Arbor News

Price tag for Crisler renovations: $46.7 million
by Jeff Arnold | The Ann Arbor News
Saturday June 21, 2008, 10:38 PM
Alan Warren | Ann Arbor News

While giant cranes and other heavy-duty construction equipment remain busy on the largest addition in Michigan Stadium history, John Beilein patiently waits his turn.

Since taking over the University of Michigan's men's basketball program in 2007, Beilein has coached and run practices in 40-year-old Crisler Arena, armed with athletic director Bill Martin's promise that a basketball practice facility and an arena overhaul is planned.

"I do have a lot of faith - the cranes are moving, and (the university) is taking one project at a time," Beilein said. "I have a lot of confidence in the plan that there's going to be a crane over Crisler hopefully in the near future ... when we do this, we're going to do it right."

Exactly when that happens, however, remains unknown.

According to a Crisler Arena infrastructure report recently completed for the university by architectural firm Jicking Lyman Powell Associates, renovating Crisler Arena could cost more than $46.7 million.

The report estimates the cost of a new practice facility at $20.5 million, bringing the cost of overhauling and building to approximately $67.2 million.

Martin said last week that renovating Crisler Arena and providing Michigan's basketball programs with a practice facility are priorities for the department, but declined to set a timetable for the projects.

He said athletic officials devote daily attention to them.

"(Crisler) is our last major priority that we need to address," Martin said Thursday. "We don't have a project yet, but we've been working on the information and studies it takes to get to that point."

Martin said renovating Crisler and building the new practice facility were separate components, but that work could be completed at the same time.

"That's the beauty of it," Martin said. "We can look at it as one project or two, and we've looked at it from both of those perspectives."

According to report, Crisler Arena is in "relatively good condition" but "some components of the building are beginning to show serious need for significant maintenance and/or replacement."

The report said delays in implementing these modifications would result in subsequent failure and additional damage.

Associate athletic director Mike Stevenson, who collaborated on the report with the architectural firm, said officials received what they felt was accurate data, which allowed officials to prioritize projects as outlined in the report.

Listed as the top recommended priority is completing repairs to or replacing the roof at a cost of $2.43 million.

The report recommends breaking repairs into four priority groups, covering everything from seating in both the upper and lower bowls, electrical and mechanical upgrades to spending more than $16.5 million to improve fans' experience at Michigan home games.

Separated from the internal work is the construction of a basketball practice facility - Michigan is one of the few major-conference programs nationally without one - which likely would be built into the earthen berm on the arena's east side, according to the report.

Beilein said such a facility would include offices, practice courts and strength-training facilities, providing more efficiency for his coaches, who now work in offices in
Weidenbach Hall on State Street.

He said recruits also take notice of such amenities, which, Beilein said, can play a part in a program's success.

"We have to know that kids are looking for those types of things," Beilein said. "But while we all know it's important, if you have the greatest practice facility and arena in the world, but you don't have the right coach or the right kids, it doesn't make a difference."

Martin said funding for a Crisler Arena project could come from multiple sources, ideally through fundraising. If needed, though, Martin said the athletic department would look into either dipping into reserves or borrowing.

While athletic department officials have not put together a formal presentation, Martin said he hopes to continue moving forward.

"I feel comfortable," he said. "I feel comfortable with the plan and comfortable with our abilities. But we need to go through the processes internally, and that's the first step."

earthen (http://wtfdetroit.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12504)

UM to build $23.2 million basketball center (http://e.ccialerts.com/a/hBJdN-5AGhvOMAdh$LYAI9EcHnS/cdb4)

Curious about projected completion date.

THIS chick digs UM getting a new basketball facility!

http://socialitelife.celebuzz.com/images/coral_smith_061807.jpg

THIS chick digs UM getting a new basketball facility!

http://socialitelife.celebuzz.com/images/coral_smith_061807.jpg

Not sure if that is just a random picture or if you know who that is Zip, but I got to see those (.) (.) in Cancun a few years ago. She was happy to flash them more than once.

Thats the real world chic right?

Thats the real world chic right?

Yeah it is............and don't get me wrong she is a little man-ish and she is a complete Bitch, but when she gets hammered she apparently loves to just show everyone her tits so thats a +1 in my book for most girls.

Why else would she have gotten them? She knows how she makes her money.

These chicks LOVE the new Crisler Renovation plans!

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m237/vylette88/XXX/GiantTits.jpg

The real world chick pic is Coral right?

Although I thought she had a tattoo on one of her tits.

The real world chick pic is Coral right?

Although I thought she had a tattoo on one of her tits.

Yeah it is