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WVU Coliseum To Receive Modern Upgrades

The Coliseum, which opened December 1, 1970, is set to receive a multi-millon dollar upgrade and modernization. The poured concret cup ceiling has the desired effect of enhancing crowd noise during basketball games.

By WVUNite

The West Virginia Coliseum first opened December 1, 1970. The construction team broke ground December 1968 and over the following two years, construction of one Morgantown's most iconic structures was completed. The Coliseum replaced the WVU Fieldhouse, now Stansbury Hall, as the home of the basketball teams. It was designed using over 10.5 million cubic yards of poured concrete, including an acoustically designed cup ceiling, intended to direct the sound from fans back down to the court.

Athletic Director Shane Lyons has focused on facility upgrades during his short time as AD at WVU. Milan Puskar Stadium is scheduled for concourse upgrades. Now that the basketball teams are reaching the end of their seasons at the Coliseum, the 46-year old facility will receive numerous upgrades and modernizations to improve fan experiences.

Some improvements to the Coliseum include increasing the number of restroom plumbing fixtures from 62 to 155, and will increase the number of family restrooms from 1 to 4, as part of Phase I of the construction. Phase II will increase the number of ADA seating from 42 to 164. Construction teams will also upgrade and modernize the existing structure, which was constructed and built during a different era of construction. Construction is slated to begin in the next two weeks and will last until late October, concluding in time for tip off in November for Phase I. Phase II will follow a similar construction schedule, beginning in March 2017 and concluding November 2017. The Coliseum is not the only building being renovated at this time.

The goal of these renovations is to create a fan friendly atmosphere where fans will come to the Coliseum before the game, shop for their favorite West Virginia jerseys in the fan shop, grab a bite to eat in the new concourse eateries including Mountaineer Cafe, Country Roads Pit Stop, and Almost Heaven Bistro and Wild & Wonderful Canteen.

Simultaneously, work will begin on the construction of a new strength and conditioning center that will reside in front of the WVU Shell Building, as well as long-needed improvements to the Shell Building itself, home of the West Virginia University women’s track team.

The new strength and conditioning facility will give Mountaineer student-athletes a first-class, 12,000-square-foot workout and nutrition center for improved performance, as opposed to the antiquated 2,500-square-foot weight room they are now using.

The Shell Building will also undergo a significant overhaul, including the installation of a new running surface, the installation of new mechanical and environmental control systems, additional lighting fixtures as well as the introduction of natural lighting along the north facade to significantly upgrade the 33-year-old facility.

Additionally, the golf team will have a 1,400-square foot area to house its new indoor simulator; the rowing team will have a 2,000-square-foot training facility to utilize and the Olympic sport athletic training room will be expanded from roughly 2,000 square feet to almost 5,000 square feet when work is completed.

These two projects will cost approximately $10 million, bringing the total price tag for this round of Coliseum complex improvements to more than $25 million. - WVUSports.com

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