Opportunity awaits
By Jaclyn Dillman | Feature Editor
As renovations are underway, rumors are flying regarding the University of Indianapolis and the 2012 Super Bowl.
Indianapolis’ new Lucas Oil Stadium is well into its opening season and will host the Super Bowl in 2012. Because this huge event is scheduled to take place in Indianapolis, local establishments, including UIndy, are vying for ways to pitch in for the effort.
UIndy pursued the possibility of hosting practice sessions of the opposing team during the event in 2012. Because of previously planned renovations to campus, Vice President of University Advancement Jim Smith said UIndy looked into partnering with the National Football League to build a practice facility on campus.
However, plans for such renovations have been ruled out as the NFL decided to go in a different direction for the facility. Regardless of practice space plans, UIndy still remains adamant in its goal to support the Super Bowl.
“We would love to support the effort here at UIndy,” said Director of Athletics Dr. Sue Willey.
UIndy has looked into many ways to be a part of the Super Bowl efforts, but as of press time, the university has no involvement.
“We are working from a number of angles to involve UIndy [in the 2012 Super Bowl],” Smith said.“A Super Bowl in Indianapolis is an extraordinary opportunity for our campus,” Smith said “We plan to look into many different ways to get campus involvement with the event.”
Despite previous attempts, UIndy is adamant on being a part of this historic event for the city of Indianapolis.
According to Smith, Mary Atteberry, university director of communications and marketing, plans to attend an upcoming Indy Hub meeting to discuss ways to promote involvement with the Super Bowl for students and organizations on campus.
According to Willey, however, nothing is in the immediate works, but that does not rule out any possibilities in the future.
Regardless of the situation with the Super Bowl and subsequent renovations at UIndy, many huge additions are being made to the campus in the area of athletics. Plans to build a new fitness center, the Student Athletics & Recreation Center, are presently in the works.
“Ideally we will break ground next spring, and the facility should not take more than two years to complete,” Willey said.
According to Willey, $5 million for the construction of this facility has already been amassed and it will most likely be located at the north side of Key Stadium.
“We would love to get started as soon as possible on the recreation center; however, we are waiting for the situation with the economy to calm down presently,” Smith said.
Smith projected that the final costs for the new recreation center would be in the neighborhood of $7 million.
This new facility would create locker-room space and workout space.
“Students will gain daily access to facilities in Ruth Lilly when more room is provided due to these renovations,” Willey said.
The UIndy athletic department includes more than 500 student athletes and only has enough permanent locker-room space for three on-campus teams, football and men’s and women’s basketball.
Willey also said that the new workout facilities could include the new space needed for athletics as well as an indoor track and space for intramural sports.
UIndy is in for some major changes, and the opportunities presented by the Super Bowl could possibly be on the horizon.
