The regents approved the practice facility today in a unanimous decision:
The University of Michigan Regents today unanimously approved the athletic department’s plan to move forward with a $23.2-million basketball practice facility project.
Though U-M athletic director Bill Martin said there still is not a major donor, he hopes to draw significant donations. If not, the department has the resources to cover the project, he said.
The Basketball Player Development Center, to be built next to Crisler Arena, will cover about 50,000 square feet and include two practice courts, team locker rooms, a video theater, areas for strength and conditioning, athletic medicine and coaching and staff offices.
A little happier news before I post my thoughts on the Ekpe situation. Mark Snyder of the Free Press is reporting that Michigan has the money together for a practice facility and plans to move forward with the project.
“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.â€
This is certainly encouraging, apparently its a multi step process before actual ground can be broken but Martin taking it on as a personal project and pushing it is definetely a big step. Martin also mentioned that U-M will “take on” Crisler after the stadium renovations. Proving that they are taking concrete steps and having the plans would be a boost to recruiting by itself I would think.
Video:
