Al Renovation Rumors

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I'm excited about the mass email Wojo sent out about the Al renovations. Anyone hear what might be in the works?

[ChicosBailBonds]

On our way to SLUesque 

[Texas Western]

On our way to SLUesque 

what do you mean by that?

[4everwarriors]

Gettin' new crappers too. The last 2 coachin' dudes plugged them all up, hey?

[77ncaachamps]

Gettin' new crappers too. The last 2 coachin' dudes plugged them all up, hey?

Glad the stench left with them!

[Texas Western]

Wojo mentioned in his mass email last week that MU is going to be looking at renovating the Al's locker room. I have heard that this will also include an in house kitchen for the players and the hiring of a professional dietitian.

Have also heard that long term the administration is looking for space where the can house the other sports. They want to make the Al strictly for basketball and volleyball.

The school would like to build a field house so various outdoor teams could train indoors, this would also include locker room and training facilities. I think it is a bit beyond our budget constraints but a great idea.

[Dawson Rental]

what do you mean by that?

I would point you toward CBB's use of teal in his post to indicate its sarcastic nature.  In other words, MU's drop in athletic statute to the level of SLU is greatly exaggerated.

[ChicosBailBonds]

what do you mean by that?

The predictions of our demise and a landing spot equivalent to Saint Louis (who has made the NCAAs the last two years) was greatly overblown.  MU continues to spend a lot of money on basketball.  The previous coach felt like he couldn't get certain kids to MU because of the dorms, etc.   Many ways to win, many ways to skin the cat, all types of players, individuals, quality hoops players that will want to come to MU.

[77ncaachamps]

Read: Goodbye Old Gym (and maybe the Rec?)

Multilevel facilities on a campus already boxed in.

Where else can MU go?
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Marquette+University/@43.0357884,-87.9291522,16z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x55bd51582acc120b

[MUMonster03]

Read: Goodbye Old Gym (and maybe the Rec?)

Multilevel facilities on a campus already boxed in.

Where else can MU go?
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Marquette+University/@43.0357884,-87.9291522,16z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x55bd51582acc120b

MU has a long history of buying up buildings, tearing them down, and building what they want in there place.

[jsglow]

Read: Goodbye Old Gym (and maybe the Rec?)

Multilevel facilities on a campus already boxed in.

Where else can MU go?
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Marquette+University/@43.0357884,-87.9291522,16z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x55bd51582acc120b

There's zero indication that either are slated for the wrecking ball.  The next building razed is the old Jes Res.  That'll become green space while the Schroeder parking lot goes away replaced by the new Jes Res.  I believe but am not certain that the road dubbed 'Shamu' will remain.

[MUMonster03]

There's zero indication that either are slated for the wrecking ball.  The next building razed is the old Jes Res.  That'll become green space while the Schroeder parking lot goes away replaced by the new Jes Res.  I believe but am not certain that the road dubbed 'Shamu' will remain.

I agree that I don't believe there is currently any plans to tear down other buildings but the university has always found ways to build what they want despite limited availability of space. (i.e. New Engineering Building, The Al, 2nd parking garage, Campus Town expansion)

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

This sounds like The Fieldhouse that Larry Williams wanted to have built so that soccer & lacrosse among other sports doesn't have to practice all the time in cold weather.

[Tugg Speedman]

Gettin' new crappers too. The last 2 coachin' dudes plugged them all up, hey?

Maybe they can get some Japanese Squat Toliets?

[Coleman]

Have also heard that long term the administration is looking for space where the can house the other sports. They want to make the Al strictly for basketball and volleyball.

Is that not already the case? What other sports practice in the Al?

[Coleman]

Read: Goodbye Old Gym (and maybe the Rec?)

Multilevel facilities on a campus already boxed in.

Where else can MU go?
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Marquette+University/@43.0357884,-87.9291522,16z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x55bd51582acc120b

Lots of places MU can go, they just need to buy up property, tear down and build...what they've already been doing the last 20 years.

Tons of space to the west and north of campus.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Is that not already the case? What other sports practice in the Al?

The other sports have offices, lockers, and various support resources in the Al.

[Coleman]

The other sports have offices, lockers, and various support resources in the Al.

Gotcha. I thought you meant actual practice facilities.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

My guesses for future construction projects.

With the Jes Res coming down, that will offer a lot of green space. But not enough to build a significant building. I think McCormick comes down with it. The administration has been waiting a long time to get rid of it and build new. While I love the tradition of McCormick, it is one of the lowest quality facilities that I have ever seen....and I work in higher education. Once that is down, they will have enough room to build a "super dorm." It will allow the university to expand enrollment and create a new high quality living space (maybe the new home for athletes?).

I also think the rec needs to come down. Another extremely sub par facility. You could build new with enough space to shove winter practice facilities in there for the other sports. That may require tennis to be on the chopping block though

[BCHoopster]

Is there plans to build 2 or 3 basketball courts outside?  Campus missing that!

[MUMonster03]

My guesses for future construction projects.

With the Jes Res coming down, that will offer a lot of green space. But not enough to build a significant building. I think McCormick comes down with it. The administration has been waiting a long time to get rid of it and build new. While I love the tradition of McCormick, it is one of the lowest quality facilities that I have ever seen....and I work in higher education. Once that is down, they will have enough room to build a "super dorm." It will allow the university to expand enrollment and create a new high quality living space (maybe the new home for athletes?).

I also think the rec needs to come down. Another extremely sub par facility. You could build new with enough space to shove winter practice facilities in there for the other sports. That may require tennis to be on the chopping block though

The problem with tearing down McCormick is where are you going to put however many 100's of freshmen who are housed there. I don't see that dorm coming down until a new one is in place. Same goes for the Rec Center. You have to have some athletic facility for the normal students in the interim.

Would have to find new places to build the new facilities and then tear down and re-purpose the old land.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

The problem with tearing down McCormick is where are you going to put however many 100's of freshmen who are housed there. I don't see that dorm coming down until a new one is in place. Same goes for the Rec Center. You have to have some athletic facility for the normal students in the interim.

Would have to find new places to build the new facilities and then tear down and re-purpose the old land.

It takes some doing but it can absolutely be done. Or you get rid of the sophomore live on requirement (we are one of a very few who still require this) and you move them all to Schroeder. You make up for the lost sophomores by expanding freshmen enrollment. (Which would allow for lowered tuition)

[MUMonster03]

To get this back on topic though what are some of the things at the Al that need to be updated? The facility is over a decade old now. We have been able to use it as a great tool for recruiting but if we don't stay on top of keeping it up to date it will be less of a help in future recruiting. Is there any glaring things that the Al is currently missing?

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

My guesses for future construction projects.

With the Jes Res coming down, that will offer a lot of green space. But not enough to build a significant building. I think McCormick comes down with it. The administration has been waiting a long time to get rid of it and build new. While I love the tradition of McCormick, it is one of the lowest quality facilities that I have ever seen....and I work in higher education. Once that is down, they will have enough room to build a "super dorm." It will allow the university to expand enrollment and create a new high quality living space (maybe the new home for athletes?).

I also think the rec needs to come down. Another extremely sub par facility. You could build new with enough space to shove winter practice facilities in there for the other sports. That may require tennis to be on the chopping block though

I think all of that sounds good, and I know why MU would want to do it (gotta keep up with the Jones'!).

However, I'm still more concerned with the rising cost of tuition, and I'd be more interested in how MU is going to remain cost competitive and produce valuable degrees for future grads.

I'm not trying to be a wet blanket, because capital expenditures are sexy, but at the rate we are going, my children unfortunately will not be able to go to MU (unless it's on a scholarship).

I'm fearful that MU might price itself out of the market, and it would be very tough to recover from that.

[jsglow]

My guesses for future construction projects.

With the Jes Res coming down, that will offer a lot of green space. But not enough to build a significant building. I think McCormick comes down with it. The administration has been waiting a long time to get rid of it and build new.

Hate to burst your bubble but McCormick isn't coming down anytime soon.  But you are certainly correct that its replacement remains a long term administration goal.  I just don't see it in the next 5 years minimum and I've been present for numerous presentations by Planning VP Tom Ganey.  One of the big problems is that the university would need the replacement beds already in place before it could come down.  We're not even close at this time.  I do think MU remains open to the possibility of purchasing existing near campus residential structures if they ever become available on the open market.