More than $1.3 billion is being spent on major college arena construction from 2015 to 2018. Listed here is a sampling of the major projects, representing new buildings and renovations, debuting this fall or expected to be completed over the next three years. Construction partners and vendors are listed when available. Those categories not listed have either not been awarded yet or are not applicable (such as a concessionaire at a practice facility). Funding for the projects came from a combination of private and school sources, unless otherwise noted.
2015
University of Nebraska-Omaha, Baxter Arena
Cost: $87.9 million
Architects: HDR; Lempka Edson
General contractor: Kiewit Building Group
General concessionaire: Savor
Video board manufacturer: Panasonic
Soda pouring rights: Pepsi
Seat provider: Irwin Seat Co.
Wireless infrastructure partner: Xirrus
Texas Christian University, Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena
 |
Cost: $72 million
Architect: HKS
General contractor: Austin Commercial
General concessionaire: Sodexo
Video board manufacturer: Panasonic
Soda pouring rights: Pepsi
Seat provider: Irwin Seat Co.
Wireless infrastructure partners: Cisco; AT&T
University of Utah, basketball training facility
Cost: $32 million
Architects: Populous; Elliott Workgroup
General contractor: Okland Construction
Sound system: Henderson Engineers
University of Arkansas, Basketball Performance Center
Cost: $25 million
Architects: Populous; MAHG Architecture
General contractor: CDI Contractors
University of Wyoming, Arena-Auditorium
Cost: $30 million ($13 million Phase I completed for 2014-15 season; $17 million Phase II begins at the completion of this season)
Architects: Architectural Means P.C. and Sink Combs Dethlefs (Phase I); Anderson Mason Dale Architects (Phase II)
General contractor: Haselden Construction
Floor contractor: Ponder Co.
Graphic design: Advent; American Paintbrush; Digital Blues
Sound system: Pro Sound
Lighting contractor: ITC
General concessionaire: In-house
Video board manufacturer: ANC Sports
Soda pouring rights: Pepsi
Seat providers: Hussey Seating (arena seating); Haldeman Homme (courtside seating); DreamSeat (film room)
Funding: Evenly split between private donations and a matching gift program by the state of Wyoming
Endicott College, Raymond J. Bourque Arena
Cost: $10 million
Architect: Lincoln Architects
General contractor: Windover Construction
General concessionaire: In-house
Video board manufacturer: Eversan
Soda pouring rights: Coca-Cola
Wireless infrastructure partner: Avaya
University of California, Berkeley, Haas Pavilion
 |
Cost: $10 million
Architect: HOK
General contractor: Herrero Builders
Lead engineer: Idibri
Video board: Lighthouse Technologies
2016
University of Illinois, State Farm Center
Cost: $169.5 million
Architect: AECOM
General contractor: Turner/Clayco
General concessionaire and premium seat caterer: Sodexo
Video board manufacturer: Panasonic
Soda pouring rights: Coca-Cola
Seat provider: Irwin Seating
Funding: The naming rights to the arena were purchased by State Farm Insurance for $60 million over 30 years; additional funding will come via the sale of naming rights for other areas on the site, premium seating fees, and a $25 per semester fee, which Illinois students self-imposed in a 2014 referendum.
University of Mississippi, The Pavilion at Ole Miss
 |
Cost: $95 million
Architect: AECOM
General contractor: BL Harbert International
General concessionaire and premium seat caterer: Centerplate (Aramark will manage Steak ‘n Shake and Raising Cane’s)
Video board manufacturer: Daktronics
Soda pouring rights: Coca-Cola
Seat provider: Irwin Seating
Wireless infrastructure partner: C Spire
Clemson University, Littlejohn Coliseum
Cost: $62.5 million
Architects: AECOM; LS3P Associates
General contractor: Turner Construction
General concessionaire and premium seat caterer: Aramark
Soda pouring rights: Coca-Cola
Seat provider: Irwin Seating
University of South Dakota, Sports Performance Enhancement Arena
Cost: $66 million
Architect: Architecture Inc.
General contractor: Mortenson
General concessionaire and premium seat caterer: Aramark
Video board manufacturer: Daktronics
Soda pouring rights: Pepsi
Seat provider: Irwin Seating
University of Florida, O’Connell Center
Cost: $64.5 million
Architect: Davis Architects
General contractor: Brasfield & Gorrie
General concessionaire and premium seat caterer: Centerplate
Soda pouring rights: Pepsi
Georgetown University, John R. Thompson Jr. Intercollegiate Athletics Center
Cost: $61 million
Architects: Populous; Bowie Gridley
General contractor: Whiting-Turner
Scoreboard manufacturer: Daktronics
Soda pouring rights: Coca-Cola
Video room seats: Dream Seat
North Carolina State University, Reynolds Coliseum
 |
| Photo by: N.C. State |
Cost: $35 million
Architect: Corley Redfoot Architects
General contractor: Danis Construction
Video board manufacturer: Daktronics
Florida SouthWestern State College, Suncoast Credit Union Arena
Cost: $25 million
Architects: Hastings & Chivetta; Harvard Jolly Architecture
General contractor: Skanska
Premium seat concessionaire: In-house
Virginia Commonwealth University, basketball training facility
 |
Cost: $25 million
Architect: VMDO Architects
General contractor: Barton Malow
Catering contractor: Aramark
Scoreboard manufacturer: Daktronics
Florida State University, Donald L. Tucker Civic Center
Cost: $12 million
Architects: Populous; Lewis & Whitlock; Crossroads Consulting Services
General contractor: Childers Construction
General concessionaire and premium seat caterer: Spectra
Video board manufacturer: Panasonic
Soda pouring rights: Coca-Cola
Seat provider: Irwin Seating
Wofford College, Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium
 |
Cost: TBD
Architect: McMillan Pazdan Smith
General contractor: Robins & Morton
General concessionaire and premium seat caterer: Aramark
Soda pouring rights: Coca-Cola
Note: Additional construction partners are expected to be selected within the next few weeks.
Indiana University, Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall
Cost: $40 million
Architects: Smith Group; CSO Architects
University of Kentucky, Rupp Arena
Cost: $15 million
Architects: Anthony James Partners
Video board and LED ribbon board manufacturer: Daktronics
Note: Additional construction partners, including the provider of a center-hung scoreboard, are expected to be selected within the next few weeks.
California State University San Marcos, The Sports Center
 |
Cost: $11.4 million
Architect: Gensler
General contractor: PCL Construction
General concessionaire: Sodexo
Video board manufacturer: Nevco
Soda pouring rights: Pepsi
Seat provider: Irwin Seating
Funding: Entirely from a $25 per student, per semester athletic fee
2017
Note: Very few contractors or vendors have been hired for these projects.
DePaul University, McCormick Place Event Center
 |
Cost: $164 million
Architect: Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects
General contractor: Prairie District 3 Partners (a coalition led by Clark Construction that includes Bulley & Andrews, Old Veteran Construction, McKissack & McKissack, Goettsch Partners and Moody Nolan
Funding: Public/private partnership between Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority and DePaul University
New Jersey Institute of Technology, NJIT Wellness and Events Center
Cost: $100 million
Architect: AECOM
University of Jamestown, Harold Newman Arena
 |
Cost: $14 million
Architect: Icon
Construction manager: JE Dunn
Source: SportsBusiness Journal research
