Major gift to UNL makes Student Life Complex a reality
Last month I said UNL gave the city an indirect ultimatum of 18 months to get a city arena at least in the works. It seems that NU will go ahead with plans to make improvements on the Bob Devaney Sports Center and build a practice facility connecting to the BDSC thanks to a 10 million dollar gift from Tom and Mary Hendricks. More specifically, this gift not only closes the fund raising for the Student Life Complex (but continues for the Devaney Center Improvement Projcet), but it will give a new practice facility for the mens and womens basketball teams. It also includes new practice facilities for wrestling and women’s and men’s gymnastics and updates planned for the athletic medicine and strength and conditioning facilities for each Husker sport that competes or trains at the Devaney Center.
This has been a long time coming for the Devaney Center. As I’ve said before, as of last year, Nebraska was the only Big 12 team that didn’t have, constructing, or had plans in place for a basketball practice facility. For Nebraska ever to become a upper half Big 12 school, a practice facility would be needed. Just like football, recruits like new flashy things...and practicing in Mable Lee Hall isn’t new and flashy. In fact, its down right deplorable for a Big 12 school. Thanks to the Kendricks family, Nebraska finally has moved into the 21st century on the basketball front.
Now, the NU press release specifically points out that “Nebraska athletics is still looking to participate in a downtown arena project with the City of Lincoln in the future. However, the basketball practice facility would continue to be located and fully function from the Devaney site, without compromising the City Arena Project.” But I seriously question that. I mean if it took only a month from announcement to the first major gift of 10 million dollars...it tells me that NU is serious about making NU basketball facilities top notch. Could the city of Lincoln’s apprehension on going forward with the arena be the end of a dream of a downtown arena? I think time is running out for the city.
The Comments
Gene says RE: Major gift to UNL makes Student Life Complex a reality March 10, 2009 at 6:36pm
I think you’re absolutely right about time running out for the city if it wants the basketball teams on board. This isn’t great for the arena supporters but this is huge for the NU teams. Good for them.
Benn says It's just real bad timing March 10, 2009 at 7:35pm
It’s just real bad timing for the new arena ... and Nebraska needs to make moves and plans b/c it’s not like you just decide and can have it all done ... takes some planning and commitment.
I personally don’t think it’s financially feasible in a GOOD economic environment for Lincoln to have a new facility large enough to please NU that could draw enough other activities to make it profitable ... we have to compete with Omaha and K.C. for larger acts and there’s not really a reason to choose Lincoln ... conventions, ditto ... plus most would fly into Omaha and drive down here b/c of flight prices and that doesn’t make sense either.
It would sure be nice to have a brand spanking new facility for our basketball program though!! I’m not anti-Devaney and think it’s fine, but you have to be forward-thinking these days and there’s not a lot of opportunities to get a new place built.
It’s just bad timing unfortunately.
jake rhymes with cake says GIDDY March 11, 2009 at 10:57am
this makes me very giddy, especially for the men’s gymnastics team… the women’s gymnastics team already has a pretty sweet practice facility in Mabel Lee Hall, but all the same, they deserve better… Most BIG 12 schools have whole facilities specific for each team. except nebraska. this will definitely help UNL to bring in great athletes; and fandom.
D.M.B. says RE: GIDDY March 11, 2009 at 5:51pm
Jake, not to be mean...but men’s gymnastics is lucky to have a team much less a place to practice. They have been victims of Title IX cuts throughout the country...the fact that they’re still a team is impressive in these economic times.