KNOXVILLE -- The University of Tennessee broke ground today on a new football complex. The new facility, which will be attached to the Brenda Lawson Athletic Center, is expected to cost approximately $39 million.
Construction of the new four-story 132,000 square foot facility will feature a new locker room, team lounge, equipment room, team and position meeting rooms, coaches offices, two-story weight room, men’s training room, and hydrotherapy room.
Former University of Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning pledged $1 million towards the facility in September. Manning’s donation put Tennessee at $30 million towards the facility, which allowed UT to break ground on the facility this fall.
“This is another historic moment in our rich football tradition,” said men’s athletic director Mike Hamilton. “The completion of the football training complex will set a new standard for football facilities across the country and give coach Kiffin and his staff the opportunity to bring the best and brightest athletes to Tennessee.”
The University Master Plan calls for Stokely Athletic Center (SAC) to be demolished to make room for an academic facility, which will require the relocation of approximately 110 coaches and administrators. The construction of the Football Training Center will allow for the current football offices in Neyland-Thompson Sports Center to be converted to space for those currently in SAC and will allow for the women’s programs to upgrade their preparation and rehabilitation areas by moving to the existing weight and training rooms in the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center.
“This facility will help us so much as we continue to build a championship program here at Tennessee,” said Head Football Coach Lane Kiffin. “It will give student-athletes in all sports the opportunity to train at the highest level while at our great University.”
The facility is expected to be completed in the summer of 2011.
(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)