Urban Meyer and the Utes are likely to become $6 million men soon.
Pending approval from the University of Utah's Board of Trustees on Monday, a permanent indoor training facility will be constructed in place of the "bubble" on Guardsman Way. The $6 million project, funded entirely from private donations, features a regulation football field with a FieldTurf surface identical to that in Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Construction could begin as early as June or July and take approximately nine months to complete. According to the recommendation issued by the Office of the President, an RFP (request for proposal) could be issued as early as the end of next week.
The 74,000-square-foot complex, with architecture intended to match the adjacent George S. Eccles Tennis Center, will be used year-round for training. Netting and additional equipment will be installed to allow its use by other sports.
"The president recommends to the Business Affairs/Capital Facilities Committee for recommendation to the full Board of Trustees approval to construct a permanent Indoor Training Facility to replace the air-supported structure at Guardsman Way for the Athletics Department," reads an agenda item dated May 5.
The Institutional Council first approved an indoor athletic facility on Jan. 12, 1987, but donor funding was not available until March 13, 1995, when permission was granted to install an air-supported structure over the synthetic turf practice field. In its recommendation, the Office of the President said the air-supported structure is now "deteriorating."
Approval, it explained, is sought to design, bid and award a construction contract to complete the project with a permanent facility.
Liz Abel, assistant athletics director, said the department is in the process of raising the necessary funds and hopes to have more information on the matter in June.
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