‘Building Champions’

Athletics Kicks Off Effort to Upgrade Seven Facilities

By Annie Dankelson | Images courtesy of Maryland Athletics

Maryland Athletics is laying the foundation for an enhanced athlete—and fan—experience.

Along with ongoing projects to renovate and expand Cole Field House and to build the Basketball Performance Center, the athletic department in January unveiled a sweeping plan to upgrade seven facilities for 13 Olympic sports.

The nine building projects together make up Building Champions: The Maryland Athletics Facilities Campaign, the next step in a long-term effort to bolster all 20 UMD varsity programs and benefit their 500-plus student-athletes.

“Our vision is to provide the best possible environment for our student-athletes so they can succeed academically, athletically and socially,” Athletic Director Damon Evans says.

The seven new projects are stadiums for field hockey and women’s lacrosse, track and field, and soccer; player development centers for baseball, softball and golf; and the transformation of the football team house into Gossett Hall for multiple teams’ use.

Maryland Athletics is investing $25 million in athletic revenue in those facilities; it’s continuing to fundraise for them as well as part of Fearless Ideas: The Campaign for Maryland.

The first construction work is expected to begin soon and will take an estimated three to five years to complete, although there is no official timetable.

Take a look at the game plan for each facility.

Soccer Stadium

A significant upgrade to Ludwig Field, home of the men’s and women’s squads, will accommodate 8,800 fans, including premium seating options, general-admission bleachers and standing room for the “Crew” student section. It will also feature improved player facilities, video and audio systems and LED lighting.

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Golf Player Development Center

Six heated hitting bays and putting labs, located near the University Golf Course, will allow for indoor and outdoor practice for the men’s and women’s teams, and technological enhancements will improve swing analysis.

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Field Hockey and Women’s Lacrosse Stadium

The 5,500-square-foot building will grow to 12,000 square feet, including larger locker rooms, an enhanced sports medicine room, a lobby full of memorabilia commemorating the teams’ successes and a relocated fan entrance.

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Stanley Bobb Baseball Player Development Center

The new 8,500-square-foot indoor hitting and pitching facility, which will be located beyond Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium’s outfield fence, will feature state-of-the-art analytics technology and allow for climate-controlled training year-round.

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Softball Player Development Center

This facility, which will be built near Maryland Softball Stadium, will include the same amenities as the baseball player development center.

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Gossett Hall

The football team’s move to the upgraded Cole Field House allows for the transformation of the Gossett Football Team House into Gossett Hall, with larger locker, team and meeting rooms; an enhanced sports medicine room; a weight and training area for multiple teams; and an expanded academic support center for all student-athletes.

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Track and Field Stadium

The new, dedicated track and field complex will have an eight-lane, 400-meter track surrounding a grass infield, a full hammer cage and multiple throw areas, reversible pole vault and jumping pits, and bleachers for 1,500 fans.