Reading all about realignment, how much SBC sucks, the cajuns want to be in the big 12 blah, blah blah, I wanted to do a post about the current Sunbelt programs and how they're all investing in their programs (and hence investing in making the SBC a better one)
A lot of this was done fairly quickly so I'm sure their's probably some project I've missed or facts that have become dated so other posters and fans, please feel free to share additional stuff
Arkansas State:
-complete overhaul to the stadium press box, expanding it to 35,741 square feet. The face of the stadium will be redesigned to include 42 loge boxes, 20 suites and 300 club seats in its revenue-generating areas. The suites will average 433 square feet each.
-depth be added to the press box, it will span from approximately the 15-to-15 yard lines, allowing for enhanced media, coaching, broadcasting, control booth, visiting athletics director suite, and camera areas.
- indoor football practice facility, which will include a two-level football operations building and 76,000 square-foot indoor practice facility.
-the facility will also include amenities and features that will enable all university sports and students to enhance their performance on and off the fields
TROY:
-Suites: 10-14
Includes: Football locker room, weight room, equipment room, meeting rooms, state-of-the-art video and technology areas, coaches offices, administration offices, academic center, recruiting lounge, T-Club Room and more. New athletic training facility in the Tine Davis Fieldhouse would be included in the project.
ULM:
-Phase I of the new facility is scheduled to total 11,675 square feet and it will be located in the north endzone and will attach to the current facility. The current equipment room will be flipped and will tie into the new locker room that will be housed inside the new facility.
-In addition to a new locker room, the new endzone facility will feature a Hall of Fame area as well as new coaches’ offices that will have patios overlooking JPS Field at Malone Stadium. The facility will be constructed with footings and steel to add on a second floor for future expansion.
Georgia State:
-The Proposed plan would include making a part of old Turner field into a new 30,000 football stadium as well as baseball stadium. The remaining land would be used for student housing and possibly new single-family residences.
La-La:
-The player lounge, as well as a new plaza are just bits of their $115 million dollar "grand master plan", parts of which have already been completed including the endzone expansion of Cajun field which debuted last fall. Future projects include their baseball stadium being renovated, Student Athlete Academic Center, major improvements to Earl K. Long Gym, improvements to the Culotta Tennis Center, a golf facility, and a new basketball practice facility.
Appalachian State, Georgia Southern and Texas State have already completed their facilities but nonetheless are among the best in all the conference.
hell, let's not forget about non football brethern down in Arlington, with the newest basketball arena in the league, College Park!
South Al:
Obviously not a real concept, but it's definitely a dream many Jags fans hope to become a reality one day. An article from AL.com dated spring 2014 that discussed the topic asked USA athletic director Joel Erdmann left little, if any real definitive timetable of it an oncampus stadium would be coming soon to the Jaguars program.
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/...conti.html
Still, perhaps the greatest "renovation" that South Alabama has made is starting up football in itself; many will tell you (as local Jaguar fans have told me to my trip to Mobile) football has completely rejuvenated and transformed the university.
BONUS: New Mexico State, Idaho and UALR
just so we don't leave out the Aggies, Vandals and Trojans here are some concepts from New Mexico State and Idaho about proposed plans for expansion on their football facilities, as well as highlighting the crown jewel of UALRs athletic complexes, as well as facilities not so much for student athletes, but for all its students.
NMSU:
According to the architecture firm's website, they have been working with NMSU program since 2001 about renovating Aggie Memorial Stadium. Funding is "still being raised" to begin Phase one, but the following drawing is what Aggie officials are hopeful to be the finished product one day:
Idaho:
Much Like the Aggies, Vandals fans and administrators have hope and a vision of a better and expanded Kibbie Dome-some touch ups have been done including club and suite areas among other things. But the big goal is to push the capacity to 20,000-30,000. An interesting article from April of 2012 from Idaho's scout website invited AD Dr. Rob Spear discussing how the dome could be expanded.
http://idaho.scout.com/story/1182373-spe...e-expanded
UALR:
Opened in 2005, the Jack Stephens Center will turn 10 years old this year and even after a decade the $25 million arena is still among the finest in the conference
Finally to conclude, UALR's Coleman Sports and Recreation Complex (opened in summer of 2012) should serve as a friendly reminder that improving and providing top notch facilities for the "lesser sports" (soccer and track in UALR's case) as well for universities intramural programs should be of the up-most importance to remain competitive with one another as well as rival G5 conferences.