Crisler Arena Renovation Plans to Get Started?

At the conclusion of the 2007 Michigan football season, construction can finally get started on the Big House. The $226 million renovation will change the look of the country's largest stadium in a big way, but in the end will benefit the fans. Some may say that a renovation that expensive isn't necessary, but it doesn't matter now as the plans are official and the work can begin.

Once construction does start on Michigan Stadium, it'll be another athletic complex that has seen work done to it. Right now, the baseball and softball stadiums are being completely redone to make them state-of-the-art facilities. Don't forget about more football construction either. The football team is getting a brand new practice facility in the near future as well, meaning there will be more construction for that sport. Lost in all of this renovating and rebuilding are the basketball teams. Crisler Arena needs work and the basketball teams need a practice facility, but since both programs have struggled in recent years, there hasn't been a big outcry to get stuff done. On a similar note, there haven't been any financial backers providing donations to get the renovating done either.

Now that there are two new basketball coaches and the football renovation, the largest Bill Martin will oversee, is about to start, Martin is now going to focus on Crisler Arena and the possibility of a practice facility. Mind you, major renovations are probably still years away, but at least the ball is rolling.

When one wonders about a possible renovation of Crisler Arena, the usual thing that comes to mind first is the need for it to be brightened up. If it weren't for the darkness, the overall image of the arena wouldn't be that bad. Anyways, what else would be included in a Crisler renovation? The Michigan Daily reports:

He said Crisler's infrastructure needs major work, though he's content with the arena's size, location and architecture. Crisler - the home of the University's men's and women's basketball teams and the training facilities for the men's wrestling team and women's gymnastics team - hasn't undergone major repairs since it opened in 1967.

The Athletic Department has commissioned a study of the building's
infrastructure to determine what a renovation project would need to accomplish. Martin said he has seen a preliminary report and expects the final version within two months.

According to the initial report, the arena needs a new roof as well as improved mechanical, electrical and ventilation equipment, Martin said. He said the Athletic Department intends to make a variety of other changes to improve the facility for athletes and fans, like better lighting, more concession stands and wider aisles.

All of that sounds great and would definitely make the overall gameday experience at Crisler much better. Cost right now is completely a big question mark since the plans are just now starting, but I imagine it wouldn't be too cheap to do everything mentioned above. It won't get into the ballpark of $226 million at all, but it'll still be expensive.

On the subject of a practice facility, which really may be more important than renovating Crisler due to recruiting implications, Martin at least has the thought in his head.

Wolters said the top priority, besides improved lighting, should be the construction of a basketball practice facility, because a top-of-the-line practice facility would help the University recruit better basketball players and show that the University is committed to running a top basketball program. The men's and women's basketball teams must currently take turns using the arena's court.

Martin said a practice court could be built into a hillside attached to the southeast corner of Crisler. The Athletic Department could also expand the wrestling practice facility to include a third wrestling mat.

Again, to fund the building of a practice facility, a lot of the money would have to come from donations and things like that. If I remember correctly, I believe that is how the football practice facility is going to be paid for -- with donations and other athletic funding from the football program. I would love to see a practice facility become a reality in the next few years since it would help recruiting, but the one way to stir up enough interest to get it built is to win games. I truly believe that John Beilein has what it takes, but the play on the court will speak for itself.

My prediction is that if Michigan somehow makes the NCAA Tournament this season, then plans for a practice facility are sped up greatly. All it takes is one season of winning to turn the mindset from something like, "Michigan basketball: who cares," to, "Michigan basketball: let me donate." The big spenders will only commit to something like this is they know the product is going to pay off in the long run, so this first season will be big in regards to the future of the basketball facilities.