University of Minnesota Athletics
Athletes Village Ceremonial Groundbreaking Set
10/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Along with the University of Minnesota, Gopher Athletics today announced that it will host a ceremonial groundbreaking event on Friday, Oct. 30 to kick off the construction phase of its Athletes Village project.
The groundbreaking event will be hosted at the Bierman complex at 11 a.m. Several key University leaders and project supporters will speak at the event before shoveling out the first bits of earth to symbolically advance the project. Snacks and refreshments will be served during a social after the program, and the University of Minnesota pep band, cheerleaders and Goldy will provide entertainment throughout the event.
"Getting the Athletes Village project to this point, from a vision for the future of Gopher Athletics to a reality that will take shape over the next two years, demanded countless hours of work from a great number of people," said Interim Director of Athletics Beth Goetz. "This event is a chance to celebrate all of that hard work, thank everyone who has supported this project, and take a moment to appreciate the positive impact these new facilities will have on generations of Gopher student-athletes."
Earlier this month, the University's Board of Regents approved schematic design and financing plans for the $166 million project that will build three new structures on the athletic department's existing footprint at the intersection of 15th Avenue SE and 5th Street SE. The cornerstone of this project will be the new Land O'Lakes Center for Excellence, a facility that will provide all 720 Gopher student-athletes with a significantly expanded academic center, a leadership center focused on developing job skills, leadership and community service, and Gopher Athletics' first training table (dining area) which will host a variety of nutrition and wellness programs. In addition to the Center for Excellence, the project will add new practice and training spaces for both the men's and women's basketball programs and football.
These new structures will open up space in the department's existing buildings - the Bierman Field Athletic Building and the Gibson-Nagurski complex. These buildings will be renovated to provide more practice space, meeting rooms and offices for many other Gopher programs and student-athletes, ultimately having a direct, positive impact on every Gopher program.
The groundbreaking event is open and the public is welcome to attend. Recommended public parking is located in the 4th Street Ramp.
