Maryland Making Big Changes To Campus Athletic Facilities

Back in October, Maryland Athletics unveiled plans of a comprehensive fundraising campaign to build a new Basketball Performance Center on campus. The building, which will sit adjacent to the Xfinity Center, will eventually be the future home of the Terps’ men’s and women’s basketball programs.

Exactly three months later, on Jan. 8, the university’s athletic department added to its plans by announcing “Building Champions: The Maryland Athletics Facilities Campaign,” which includes the renovation and enhancement of seven Maryland Athletics facilities in College Park.

On top of the ongoing Cole Field House renovation and fundraising for the Basketball Performance Center, Maryland Athletics plans to either upgrade or build the following facilities: Field Hockey and Women’s Lacrosse Stadium, Stanley Bobb Baseball Player Development Center, Softball Player Development Center, Golf Player Development Center, Track & Field Stadium, Soccer Stadium, and Gossett Hall.

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

These various athletic facility projects are major investments that will require more fundraising moving forward, but the long-term outlook is an exciting one for Terps’ student-athletes.

Taking a closer look at the details of Maryland’s master plan, here’s an overview of the Building Champions campaign.

Maryland Stadium

The stadium experience will be enhanced at Maryland Stadium, with a new $15M video board.

Basketball Performance Center

This 60,000 square-foot facility will feature two full-sized practice courts, a shared strength and conditioning center that is tailored to basketball student-athletes, sports medicine facilities, and state-of-the-art meeting and office space for coaches and program staff.

The $36 million project is being funded through philanthropic support and other athletic revenues. Maryland Athletics raised $19 million for this project before launching the public phase of the fundraising campaign in October. Once ground is broken, construction is expected to take about 36 months. The project will be co-managed by the University of Maryland College Park Foundation.

Maryland is just one of four colleges in history that have won NCAA championships in both men’s and women’s basketball. A new practice and training facility is well-deserved, perhaps overdue.

Despite the success of both men’s and women’s basketball over the years, Maryland is currently the only Big Ten school without a dedicated basketball practice facility for both the men’s and women’s teams.

The Terps currently overcome scheduling challenges when it comes to planning practice time on the Xfinity Center and Pavilion courts. With two basketball teams and numerous other athletic programs vying for time in these spaces, practice schedules are often less-than-ideal across the board. The new Basketball Performance Center will give Maryland’s basketball coaches more flexibility to schedule practices at times that are most convenient and helpful to their student-athletes.

Not only will having more practice space and strength and conditioning facilities that are tailored to basketball help the Terps optimize their game, it should also help Maryland basketball in recruiting. The state-of-the-art amenities expected inside the Basketball Performance Center will give the Terps a competitive edge when it comes to attracting the nation’s top basketball talent.

To learn more about the Basketball Performance Center project details, see mock renderings of the facility, or donate to the cause, visit umterps.com/bpc.

Field Hockey & Women’s Lacrosse Stadium

For nearly 20 years, Maryland field hockey and women’s lacrosse have been two of the university’s most successful athletic programs. The Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex on campus has served as home to both of these winning programs during this time in which they’ve combined for 10 national titles, 38 National Player of the Year honors, and numerous All-American Awards.

The upgrade of this athletic facility is expected to cost about $4 million and will include a comprehensive enhancement of the entire complex. When it’s all said and done, the existing 5,500 square feet will be transformed into a 12,000 square-foot facility equipped with a new and improved team house.

Stanley Bobb Baseball Player Development Center

Over the last decade, Maryland baseball has advanced to two NCAA Super Regionals, three NCAA Tournaments, and five conference tournaments. In those 10 years, the program has produced 11 All-Americans, 26 All-Conference honorees, and 38 MLB draft picks.

To continue the program’s success, Maryland Athletics plans to build the Stanley Bobb Baseball Player Development Center, which will be a state-of-the-art indoor hitting and pitching facility that allows the team to train year-round in a controlled environment.

Softball Player Development Center

Much like the baseball team, Maryland softball will receive a boost by way of a state-of-the-art indoor hitting and pitching facility. A program that has sustained some success over the years but is looking to elevate itself to national prominence should benefit greatly from a facilities upgrade.

This $2 million project will result in an 8,500 square-foot single-level building that will be used for the training and development of Maryland’s 25-plus softball players on campus each year.

Golf Player Development Center

Both the men’s and women’s golf programs at Maryland have the talent to compete on the national stage, but soon they’ll have the indoor facility to help get them over the top.

A $1.5 million indoor hitting facility will allow Maryland’s gold programs to excel in the Big Ten and nationally. When inclement weather hits, the Terps will have a controlled environment to hone their craft. The project also includes the installation of labs and technological enhancements for swing analysis.

Track & Field Stadium

Maryland Track & Field encompasses more than 90 Terps student-athletes on an annual basis and will soon get the home it deserves. To help track & field produce more olympians and smash more records, a $9 million facility upgrade will take place in College Park.

The enhanced competition area will include an eight-lane 400-meter competition track, a gras infield, a full hammer cage, and multiple throw areas. The venue will have the versatility to host multiple types of track & field events and the bleachers will be able to sear 1,500 fans for home meets.

Soccer Stadium

Men’s and women’s soccer have been two of the most successful programs Maryland Athletics have had to offer over the past 25-plus years. Since opening in 1995, Ludwig Field has been home to both of these programs. In that time, Terps soccer has produced three national championships, advanced to nine College Cups, and made 37 NCAA Tournaments.

While Ludwig has been one of the best venues in college soccer over the years, it’s due for some upgrades, which will occur in this project. Increasing seating to 8,800 occupants, the new soccer stadium will create a whole new viewing experience for visitors to Ludwig Field thanks to a new audio system and LED lights.

Gossett Hall

Since 1991, the Gossett Football Team House has been home to the Maryland football team. However, with the ongoing Cole Field House project near completion, the football team is expected to move into the new field house while Gossett undergoes an upgrade that will include new locker rooms, a weight room, and a medical support area.

While Cole Field House will have the main weight room and an indoor practice football field, the new Gossett Team House will be the home of state-of-the-art locker rooms, sports medicine equipment, and private offices for the coaches and training staff.

To learn more about the Building Champions project details, see mock renderings of the facilities, or donate to the cause, visit umterps.com/buildingchampions.