Gophers athletic director Norwood Teague on Wednesday presented phase one of a massive $190 million athletic facilities master plan to the U of M Board of Regents.
Projects included in phase one include a new academic center, training table, football complex, women's gymnastic facility, Olympic sport indoor practice facility, outdoor Olympic sport track, men's/women's basketball practice facility and a wrestling training facility.
Teague said wrestling and the hoops practice facility could go in the same building, and that the current track could be moved elsewhere. The timetable for completing the entire project is estimated at 6-8 years.
"Am I guaranteeing that all this will be done in 8 years?" Teague said. "No. But that's our goal."
Teague previously estimated the facilities project would cost between $80 and $125 million, though he said Wednesday he always suspected it would be higher.
Teague said the $190 million will be privately funded, though the feasibility of that is still being studied. No numbers were released regarding how much has been raised already. Teague said some donors are already on board and he is hoping to add others. Presenting to the regents was a major early step, he added.
The basketball practice facility appears to be the most donor-ready project. Teague explained to regents that there is a need to upgrade across the board to keep up with recruiting and because current facilities have become outdated.
Said U of M president Eric Kaler: "We are in the Big Ten and we are going to compete in the Big Ten."
