BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. — Significant upgrades to Camp Randall Stadium, the Kohl Center and the UW Field House are included in the latest facility master plan for the Wisconsin Athletic Department.
More academic, competition and wellness amenities for student-athletes, expanded office space for coaches and administrators as well as additional premium seating options for fans are among the focal points.
The master plan, shaped in part by input from donors, season ticket-holders, UW coaches and department heads, depicts a grand, futuristic vision for Badgers sports facilities across the board.
Athletic department officials stress that the outline is a collection of discussion points and that any projects are years away from being implemented, if at all.
2017 UW Athletics
Facilities Master Plan
"Images in this report are just concepts for us to continue to explore," said Jason King, the UW senior associate athletic director for capital projects. "They're not set in stone.
"A master plan is a road map to your future and there are a lot of different ways to get to where you need to be."
The potential improvements are part of a 169-page report, months in the making, that was shared with members of the UW Athletic Board for discussion at their meeting Friday.
The master plan for UW Athletics is independent from one currently being assembled by the campus, but the two plans work hand in hand.
The most recent master plan for Wisconsin athletic facilities, compiled in 2007, resulted in the $86-million Stephen M. Bennett Student-Athlete Performance Center and the $27.9-million LaBahn Arena.
The SAPC provides a modern hub for academic, sports medicine, nutrition and conditioning needs for student-athletes around the Camp Randall footprint. It opened in January of 2014.
LaBahn Arena is home to the men's and women's swimming and hockey programs which opened in 2012. The facility, adjacent to the Kohl Center and linked via walkway to the pool in the Southeast Recreational Facility, includes a rink that's used for competition by the women's hockey team and for practice by the men's squad.
It remains to be seen what pieces of the latest master plan come to life.
It references multiple potential upgrades at Camp Randall, which opened in 1917 and is the fourth-oldest stadium among Football Bowl Subdivision schools in the nation.
One project would focus on the south end zone, where premium seating opportunities would be created and, perhaps, tie in with the adjacent Field House to benefit volleyball.
Current estimated cost: $40 million to $50 million.
Another possible undertaking at the 80,321-seat facility involves the west side, where concourses would be widened, premium seating options added and the press box modernized.
Current estimated cost: $125 million to $150 million.
"We're excited about the prospect of doing additional renovations at Camp Randall, but we want to be careful with our resources. It's more likely that the project at the south end of Camp Randall would come first," King said.
In addition to new windows and air conditioning, the south end of the Field House is thought to be in need of an updated exterior. One idea calls for the creation of a plaza-like entryway along Little Street.
Current estimated cost: $8 million.
The southeast corner of the Kohl Center harbors another idea. A three-level addition would triple the size of the current academic services area and double the area for strength and conditioning. It would also provide new coaches offices for both basketball programs and the men's hockey program, in addition to renovated locker room spaces.
Current estimated cost: $40 million to $45 million.
There's the idea that the McClimon Track and Soccer Complex could use a modern grandstand and press box as well as locker rooms.
Current estimated cost: $8 million to $10 million.
The master plan also casts an eye toward Nielsen Tennis Stadium, where additional outdoor courts, locker room space and an athletic training area are outlined.
Current estimate cost: $10 million
As always, any projects that become reality will eventually be of great benefit to student-athletes at the UW.
Long before Chris McIntosh became the UW associate athletic director for business development he was a captain and All-America offensive tackle for the Badgers. He spoke to athletic board members about his personal experiences as a student-athlete in Madison in the mid-1990s.
McIntosh noted how there was no dedicated academic services area when he arrived on campus in 1995 and how there were two academic advisers dedicated to athletes.
Now the Stephen M. Bennett Student-Athlete Performance Center has three floors and 38,000 square feet committed to advisers and tutors.
Speaking from his own experience, McIntosh said improvements to UW athletic facilities "are investments that we make in our student-athletes that have a return later on."
He said the 800 or so student-athletes in the 23 sports programs at UW "are the direct beneficiaries" of the millions of dollars that are spent on capital projects.
How do additional premium seating areas at Camp Randall and the Kohl Center factor into this discussion?
"That improvement becomes an asset for us and a revenue-generator that allows us to support other facets of the overall student-athlete experience," McIntosh said.
King said UW lags behind its Big Ten peers in terms of premium seating options for fans at Camp Randall and the Kohl Center. He said available inventory is all spoken for and a survey of donors and season ticket-holders outlined interest in more.
King emphasized that items on the master plan for UW Athletics are currently years away from fruition.
"When we get to a point where we think we might unveil one of those projects, we'll have a plan," he said. "We're not at that point right now, but we're excited about what the future might hold."
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UW ATHLETICS FACILITIES MASTER PLAN FAQs
Why create a new master plan?
Nine of the 12 items on the 2007 master plan have been completed, so it is time to unveil a new plan that will continue our momentum into the future. We are always looking at ways to better the experience of our student-athletes. The potential projects at the Kohl Center, McClimon and Nielsen directly address that. The potential renovations at Camp Randall Stadium are the result of a number of surveys we sent out to donors and season ticket holders over the last year. Through those surveys, we were able to address some of the desires raised by our supporters, including a desire for increased premium seating options.
How would all of this be paid for?
Any future construction plans outlined in the UW Athletics Facilities Master Plan will be financed through a combination of Athletic Department program revenue, gifts to the Athletic department and bonding. No taxpayer money will go towards these construction plans.
When will construction start?
We can't say at this time when any of these potential projects would begin.
Will any current football season ticket locations be impacted by the possible renovations?
Any potential renovation of Camp Randall Stadium will not happen for a number of years. If the renovation moves forward as detailed in the UW Athletics Facilities Master Plan, a number of options for affected season ticket holders will be put in place and communicated well before any seats are impacted.
Is there any plan to open the upper deck of the Field House included in the master plan?
Improvements to the Field House include beautification of the main entrance (south end), replacement of the windows and a possible addition of a club area/premium seating space in the upper level that will be connected to an outdoor area that looks out into Camp Randall. We are continuing to evaluate the prospect of opening portions or the entire upper deck for general admission.
