Arizona Athletics' strategic investment of $66 million to its 4+1 projects created and enhanced a handful of crucial facilities, renovating the East Side of Arizona Stadium, Hillenbrand Aquatic Center, Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium and McKale Center locker room space while constructing the Cole and Jeannie Davis Sports Center. All five of these projects improved the student-athlete experience of numerous athletic programs while also enhancing the game day experience of Arizona's fan base. These key facility enhancements have not only positively affected the lives of current student-athletes and fans but created new landmarks on the beautiful campus of the University of Arizona.
The construction and renovation of these state-of-the-art facilities was funded through private donations and a newly-implemented student fee. The strategic project began with a powerful $5 million anonymous donation as all of the construction projects were finished in just over a year. A transformative $8 million gift by Cole and Jeannie Davis towards the construction of the indoor practice and strength and conditioning facility left an everlasting impact on Arizona Athletics, the University of Arizona and the Southern Arizona community. An additional $2 million was raised towards the Hillenbrand Softball Stadium renovations as well.
While all the projects are completed, ongoing donor support for these projects is paramount. Additional fundraised revenue will be utilized to support ongoing enhancement of the facilities and to continue to change the trajectory of Arizona Athletics.
Cole and Jeannie Davis Sports Center
The Cole and Jeannie Davis Sports Center is Arizona Athletics' state-of-the-art indoor, climate-controlled practice facility that opened in February of 2019. The $16.5 million center is the crown jewel of the Arizona Athletics Capital Campaign, and it will serve as a practice facility for Arizona Football and indoor conditioning for numerous other Arizona programs. The Davis Sports Center will also act as a key hospitality area for fans on Arizona Football game days as a premium tailgating area.
- Officially dedicated on Feb. 24, 2019
- $16.5 million construction cost
- Named after Cole and Jeannie Davis for their $8 million gift
- Features approximately 74,000 square feet of interior space with an additional 26,000 square feet of useable exterior patio space
- Adjacent to a pair of exterior grass practice fields with new LED lighting
- Nearly 90 percent of work done on the project was by local contractors
- Includes memorial recognition of Jerry Kindall Field at Frank Sancett Stadium, which previously stood on the site as the home of Arizona Baseball from 1967 to 2011.
EAST SIDE OF ARIZONA STADIUM
The lower east side of Arizona Stadium was completely renovated prior to the 2018 season. The complete overhaul of the area included fan enhancements and improved fan movement while adding additional amenities. Arizona's student section, the Zona Zoo, had its home modernized with new open patio seating areas, upgraded stadium bowl seating and an exclusive entrance as part of their dynamic new environment on game days. New concession areas through the east half of the facility were also constructed as Arizona Stadium began serving beer and wine during the 2018 season as part of the ongoing fan experience enhancement process. Arizona Football also received a new recruiting lounge during the renovation, which is an essential amenity in the program's recruiting operations.
- Opened for the 2018 Arizona Football season
- $30 million construction cost
- Added a new in-stadium game day retail store
- Modernized all areas used by students on gamedays, including seating for nearly 8,000 students
- New and renovated concession areas and restrooms throughout lower east side
- Connected north and south ends of east side for improved fan movement
- New high top tables, televisions and graphics added
An icon in college softball as one of the first on-campus softball facilities in the west when it opened in 1993, Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium was renovated from the ground up into one of the finest softball facilities in the country. Enhancements include brand new seating, construction of a press box, addition of club level seating, new restrooms and new shade structure among other additions. It's a prestigious new home for Arizona Softball that honors the rich tradition of the facility.
- Officially opened on February 15, 2019
- $10 million construction cost
- Comprehensive new seating, which includes chair and bench-back seating
- Addition of an alumni plaza to recognize the exceptional history of the program
- Brand new concourse features new restrooms and concession areas as well as a new ticket office, A-Store and main entrance
- Creation of a new premium club seating area
- Enhanced student-athlete amenities include enlarged dugouts with new restrooms and water stations and bullpens.
After decades as the home of Arizona Swimming & Diving, the Hillenbrand Aquatic Center was completely rebuilt before opening in January of 2019. The state-of-the-art facility houses the Kasser Family Pool used for Wildcat divers as well as additional lanes for swim training. From new pipes to new bulkheads to new shade, the entire facility was renovated into one of the premier outdoor swimming and diving facilities in the nation while utilizing Arizona's exception weather for outdoor use year round by both the men's and women's programs.
- First meet held in renovated facility was on Jan. 11, 2019
- $13.2 million construction cost
- Complete overhaul of infrastructure, including all pumps and plumbing.
- Expanded 50-meter pool to 65 meters
- The number of 25-yard short course lanes was expanded from 18 to 22
- New shade structures added for fans and student-athletes
New season, new locker room ?? #BearDown pic.twitter.com/jX13hSSmnB
— Arizona Men's Tennis (@ArizonaMTennis) September 26, 2018
With the vacated space from C.A.T.S Academics' move into the brand new Ginny L. Clements Academic Center, coupled with other repurposed space in McKale Center, numerous athletic programs received new or renovated locker room spaces. Men's Tennis, Men's Golf, Men's Women's Track and Field/Cross Country and Soccer received new locker rooms while Women's Swimming & Diving's locker room space was overhauled.
- Locker room spaces began finishing renovations in August of 2018
- $1.9 million construction cost
- McKale Center Media Room was also expanded and renovated
- The Courtside Lounge, a premium basketball hospitality area, was added during the season
- Beer and wine sales began in McKale Center during the 2018-19 season