GMU: Where Construction is Tradition

[Pikapppatri8]

The Hazel Hall stuff and all 3 athletic facilities are under the heading "NON-GENERAL FUND AUTHORITY/100% DONOR FUNDED"

My apologies then I misread that - if this is true - Double Boner.

 

[GSII]

are we getting a practice facility?

 

[GMUgemini]

are we getting a practice facility?

Looks like that's the plan, stan.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

are we getting a practice facility?

We are getting a dedicated basketball practice facility; a dedicated athletic academic center; and a new wrestling facility.

 

[gmujim92]

Young, aggressive AD ... check
Smart, driven coaching staff ... check
Influx of young, talented players ... check

All of the above are a great start. But I honestly never imagined that Mason would join the college facilities arms race and build a dedicated training center for the basketball programs.

Obviously a huge deal for the future development of our MBB program -- especially recruiting and keeping our coach happy -- if it comes to fruition.

If the BOV says no, I'm going to borrow PiKapp's tank and "visit" some of their homes for a little "chat."

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Young, aggressive AD ... check
Smart, driven coaching staff ... check
Influx of young, talented players ... check

All of the above are a great start. But I honestly never imagined that Mason would join the college facilities arms race and build a dedicated training center for the basketball programs.

Obviously a huge deal for the future development of our MBB program -- especially recruiting and keeping our coach happy -- if it comes to fruition.

If the BOV says no, I'm going to borrow PiKapp's tank and "visit" some of their homes for a little "chat."

Added the latest version of the CROWS to her. You can do 50 caliber suppression fire without lifting the top hatch.

I doubt the BOV will reject this if there are donations funding the bulk of it.

On a side note - I drove past the new HHS building site. Good Lord it is huge!


Broads, Buicks, and Buckley

 

[GMUgemini]

Young, aggressive AD ... check
Smart, driven coaching staff ... check
Influx of young, talented players ... check

All of the above are a great start. But I honestly never imagined that Mason would join the college facilities arms race and build a dedicated training center for the basketball programs.

Obviously a huge deal for the future development of our MBB program -- especially recruiting and keeping our coach happy -- if it comes to fruition.

If the BOV says no, I'm going to borrow PiKapp's tank and "visit" some of their homes for a little "chat."

I think the strategy is super smart, though. A, this is an expansion of the facilities already at the RAC (not a separate, on its own facility) and B, you hit wrestling and, C, the coup de grace academic support facility.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

I think the strategy is super smart, though. A, this is an expansion of the facilities already at the RAC (not a separate, on its own facility) and B, you hit wrestling and, C, the coup de grace academic support facility.

I would like to highlight the one key word in your post - STRATEGY.

Something we lacked in the AD for a while.


Broads, Buicks, and Buckley

 

[MasonSAE4]

Anyone worried we're half-assing it? Not saying we are, and it's hard to tell from just the one pic but wasn't the previous plan for 25 million? Now we're doing three different things for 15. Hope Paulsen gets all he needs and isn't just settling for the sake of getting something.

 

[psyclone]

Anyone worried we're half-assing it? Not saying we are, and it's hard to tell from just the one pic but wasn't the previous plan for 25 million? Now we're doing three different things for 15. Hope Paulsen gets all he needs and isn't just settling for the sake of getting something.

I think the "savings" is due to the fact that the basic building (RAC) is in place and the money will largely involve refurbishing the core of what's already there. Think more along the lines of putting an addition on a house.

Saying this, I'm certainly not an expert of state-of-the-art basketball practice facilities. But a stand-alone building would be a very difficult sell, especially on a campus where space is at a premium.

It sounds to me like a pragmatic solution to a problem of having a place to practice to call your own. The RAC itself is a very nice facility that was a refurbishing of the old PE building. I don't know how much that cost, but it was a significant positive and modern transformation.

 

[GSII]

Let me get this straight, are we getting this or simply asking for it? And is it in the report that its paid for too?

 

[GMU92]

I hope the new place includes a nice display area for the Final Four trophy, nets and ball from the UConn game, etc.
Every place I've been that has a Final 4/National Title has these little areas to toot their own horn.

 

[MasonSAE4]

I think the "savings" is due to the fact that the basic building (RAC) is in place and the money will largely involve refurbishing the core of what's already there. Think more along the lines of putting an addition on a house.

Saying this, I'm certainly not an expert of state-of-the-art basketball practice facilities. But a stand-alone building would be a very difficult sell, especially on a campus where space is at a premium.

It sounds to me like a pragmatic solution to a problem of having a place to practice to call your own. The RAC itself is a very nice facility that was a refurbishing of the old PE building. I don't know how much that cost, but it was a significant positive and modern transformation.

Hope you're right. If they want to redo the Cage Gym it's gonna take quite a lot though. It's not even wood floors and I'm sure Paulsen will want a facility that mirrors the Patriot Centers court. And I also hope the final four museum type thing that was in the original plans gets carried over.

 

[GMUgemini]

I think the "savings" is due to the fact that the basic building (RAC) is in place and the money will largely involve refurbishing the core of what's already there. Think more along the lines of putting an addition on a house.

Saying this, I'm certainly not an expert of state-of-the-art basketball practice facilities. But a stand-alone building would be a very difficult sell, especially on a campus where space is at a premium.

It sounds to me like a pragmatic solution to a problem of having a place to practice to call your own. The RAC itself is a very nice facility that was a refurbishing of the old PE building. I don't know how much that cost, but it was a significant positive and modern transformation.

The RAC was a tear own and rebuild mostly (I think only a quarter of the original structure still exists) and cost around $25 million.

 

[gmujim92]

Bells and whistles are nice for recruiting, but it's ultimately more important that the team be able to hold practice without having to jump through hoops for court time.

Knowing how coaches are creatures of habit, I could see how it would be a huge deal for DP to be able to develop a consistent workout schedule and know they will be practicing in the same place every day.

It wouldn't surprise me if DP got assurances about a practice facility as a condition of taking the job.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Anyone worried we're half-assing it? Not saying we are, and it's hard to tell from just the one pic but wasn't the previous plan for 25 million? Now we're doing three different things for 15. Hope Paulsen gets all he needs and isn't just settling for the sake of getting something.

I am not - if they have private funding and get authorization from the state - then they can add construction funds from other parts of the budget if needed. Adding these things to the RAC results in a lot of cost savings. It is actually a smart move to get this project started sooner rather than later.

I have a check coming in for this.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

The RAC was a tear own and rebuild mostly (I think only a quarter of the original structure still exists) and cost around $25 million.

Correct 70% of the old Gym building was demolished and it was more than doubled in size with the new construction for $26 million.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Bells and whistles are nice for recruiting, but it's ultimately more important that the team be able to hold practice without having to jump through hoops for court time.

Knowing how coaches are creatures of habit, I could see how it would be a huge deal for DP to be able to develop a consistent workout schedule and know they will be practicing in the same place every day.

It wouldn't surprise me if DP got assurances about a practice facility as a condition of taking the job.

Given how they want to do this - there can be plenty of bells and whistles. Keep in mind - if more donations come in as well - more things can be included in the plan.

 

[MasonSAE4]

I am not - if they have private funding and get authorization from the state - then they can add construction funds from other parts of the budget if needed. Adding these things to the RAC results in a lot of cost savings. It is actually a smart move to get this project started sooner rather than later.

I have a check coming in for this.

Any reason the state wouldn't ok it if it's privately funded?

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Any reason the state wouldn't ok it if it's privately funded?

If the project is significantly or entirely funded the odds are slim. Keep in mind the practice facility was included in previous requests without private funding and made it through most of the gauntlet.

In particular, since they included an academic center for athletes as part of the kitty - it should increase the chances of approval.


Broads, Buicks, and Buckley