STEP UP Campaign Projects - University of Tennessee Athletics


STEP UP \| WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING \|PROJECTS
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PROJECTS FUNDED BY THE UT STEP UP CAMPAIGN
McKenzie Athletics Center CONSTRUCTION UPDATE	The McKenzie Athletic Center, adjoining the Neyland-Thompson Sports Complex, will provide a new primary entrance to the athletics program and feature the Doug Dickey Hall of Champions. The hall will honor Tennessee's team and individual NCAA and SEC champions as well as provide space to host special functions. The fourth floor of the McKenzie Athletic Center, named in honor of former Athletics Director Bob Woodruff, will house the men's and women's senior administration. The facility will include a 50-yard expansion of the indoor artificial turf practice field, which is used throughout the year by nearly all men's and women's athletic teams. Construction of the McKenzie Center, named in honor of Toby and Brenda McKenzie of Cleveland, Tenn. for their $4.2 million gift, began in January 2003 and the project is scheduled for completion in January 2005. Also included in the indoor expansion will be the Chuck Smith Players Lounge, named in honor of the former Volunteer great defensive end for his commitment to STEP UP.

Allan Jones Intercolleigate Aquatic Center	Shallow water, an inadequate guttering system, and limited seating have deprived UT swimmers the advantage of competing in a first-class home pool and become a major deterrent in recruiting for Tennessee's swimming program. Construction of a new, state-of-the-art facility will begin in May 2004 and should be completed in 20-24 months. The facility will be named in recognition of the $4 million commitment from Allan and Janie Jones of Cleveland, Tenn. This facility will replace the antiquated Student Aquatic Center, which was built in 1967.

Bonnie P. Blackburn Golf Clubhouse	In partnership with UT's Turfgrass Management Program, this facility will be located on UT's dairy farm and will serve as a premier practice range and golf complex in addition to providing a valuable laboratory area for UT turfgrass management students. The Bonnie P. Blackburn golf clubhouse, with heated hitting bays for year-round practice, coaches' offices, video training space and locker rooms, will be the home of the men's and women's golf team.

Wolf-Kaplan Hospitality Center	The Wolf-Kaplan Center was dedicated September 20, 2002 and its use for game weekend recruiting and other hospitality events throughout the year has already exceeded expectations. In addition to playing host to 200-300 prospects, their high school coaches and families on game days, a myriad of special events, including faculty and university functions and team banquets, have been held in the Wolf-Kaplan Center, named in honor of the lead donors, Memphis physicians Bob Kaplan and Rodney Wolf. The final aspect of the stadium project of STEP UP is the renovation of the home locker room.

Softball Stadium	While the University of Tennessee's Lady Vol softball history is short, it's proven successful. Since its addition as an intercollegiate sport in 1995, a strong foundation has been laid which includes an impressive 180-94 record and seven players selected as All-SEC. The Lady Vols won the SEC Eastern Division crown and received their first NCAA bid in 1999. Since the program's inception, home games have been played in an off-campus, city-owned facility at Tyson Park. Plans are to build a facility on the UT Dairy Farm adjacent to the proposed soccer stadium. The new stadium will feature permanent stands, dugouts, lights, locker rooms, rest rooms and concession facilities.

Soccer Stadium	The average attendance for women's soccer games at UT is in the top 10 nationally. Games currently are held at a facility off Lainard Lane, which offers a capacity of just 1,200. With the growth of soccer nationally, plans are to build a permanent soccer stadium that can be enlarged as demand warrants. The new stadium will include a press box, rest rooms, concession stands and locker rooms.
The athletics department is in the final stages of completing construction plans for soccer and softball stadiums.

Additional renovations and improvements at Neyland Stadium, Thompson-Boling Arena and Lindsey Nelson Stadium were completed with campaign funds.
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