Ohio Athletics administrators aim to have the Ohio University multipurpose center up and running by fall 2013, but a possible change in plans could have more athletes running inside at a later date.
The planned 74,000 square-foot facility is designed to house a 190-by-390 foot artificial turf surface and sprint lanes, among other features.
But a track was not part of the package approved by the OU multipurpose center committee that suggested plans for the $11 million building.
All previous indications were that a track would push the price tag well above the limit set by Ohio Athletics. But university officials have not ruled out the option entirely.
“The recommendations that went to the president were for a facility without a track,” Assistant Athletic Director of Facilities and Operations Jason Farmer said. “That recommendation was based on finances, but if funding does come through, we are all theoretically open to adjusting that scope and adding a track.”
Ohio Athletics intends to take the next step — finalizing funds and entering the bidding process — by February or March. Within that timetable, the department will set its funding deadline, effectively creating a drop-dead date for accommodating the track or sticking to the original plan.
“Once we break ground, we can’t do it,” Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development Jim Harris said. “You can’t come in after you’ve started construction, even if it’s just groundbreaking, and say, ‘Oh, by the way, we’re going to increase (the size of) this thing by 30,000 square feet so we can put a track in.’ It just doesn’t work.”
Though having an indoor track would allow for a wider range of use, time might not permit the upgrade.
“We do want a track,” Harris said. “We don’t want the funding for that track to hold this facility up another couple years. This facility has been something that has been on the radar for almost a decade for Ohio Athletics.”
The athletic department has $9.2 million of the $11 million necessary in hand or pledged.
The fundraising campaign was jump-started with $8 million of a $10 million gift from Robert and Margaret Walter last December. Fundraising efforts targeting high-profile donors account for an additional $1.1 million, while other athletics supporters have contributed another $100,000 during the past three weeks.
“We just sent out a mailing to the masses,” Harris said, referring to Bobcat Club members, season-ticket holders, former student-athletes and general donors. “The gifts range from $50 all the way up to $25,000 off of that mailing.”
Barring a major donation, Ohio Athletics will need to start receiving checks in the $25,000 range if the track is in Ohio’s future. By the time February rolls around, the athletics department will know whether a track will be included in the new facility, which will be located in the current Bobcat Student Park adjacent to Peden Stadium.
“To put a track in increases the footprint of this facility, and it probably takes away our ability to have an outdoor practice field,” Harris said, in reference to the second practice field that sits behind the Bobcat Student Park.
Farmer also noted that there is no intention of butting into the parking lot behind Peden Stadium. A larger venue would instead cut into the second practice field.
Ohio Athletics has put in all of the legwork in gathering the funds for the facility, Harris said. Because of that, football and the other outdoor varsity teams would hold priority over student organizations, the Marching 110, Reserve Officer Training Corps programs and club and intramural sports.
“If these other agencies on campus can help us raise money to get more than $11 million and more toward a $14 million goal and we can fit a track, and we’d love it,” Harris said. “Is that realistic for Athletics to raise $14 million by themselves over the next six months? Probably not. We need another big donor to step up in a big way for it to become a reality.”
jr992810@ohiou.edu
