Stadium, arena revamp approved

The dawn of a new era is underway for UH sports after the Athletic Department announced last week plans to build a new football stadium and to renovate Hofheinz Pavilion.

“People are excited about it, we’re excited about it. It’s a vision for our department,” Athletic Director Mack Rhoades said.

In February, Rhoades called upon international architecture firm AECOM to conduct a $250,000 feasibility study for the University. The department presented the results to the  UH System Board of Regents and UH President Renu Khator last week and received the green light to pursue the project.

Rhoades said the announcement is greeted with jubilation but there is much to be done. It is estimated the plans will cost anywhere from $120 to $160 million.

“We’re going to have to raise quite a bit of money. We’re going to work hard over the next 12 months to do that and hopefully make this vision a reality,” Rhoades said.

The move sends a statement to the UH community that the Athletic Department seeks to restore the University’s athletic prestige.

“We want to be competitive nationally,” Rhoades said. “Football going into the season is ranked in the top 25 but we need all of our programs to be there. That’s our goal and this commitment to facilities is going to help that.”

“We’re committed to making ourselves better. For us, it’s not about waiting for opportunity, it’s about making opportunity,” he added.

The plans for the stadiums could attract more athletes, students and fans.

“It helps in terms of recruiting,” Rhoades said,  “showing (prospective student-athletes) the first-class quality facilities they’ll be able to compete in.”

New facilities could also serve to bring in more fans to athletic events.

“A new football stadium and a renovated Hofheinz will be state of the art so I think it helps in terms of fans getting involved.”

Rhoades said that students would play a significant role in the latest chapter of UH athletics.

“I think the student body is such a huge part of any type of college environment, particularly football and basketball. For them to be there, I think they set the tone. I want our students to know they are critical to our success as an athletics program,” Rhoades said.

Head men’s basketball coach James Dickey said he was glad the tradition of Hofheinz Pavilion would be maintained.

“I think Hofheinz is a great venue. It has a lot of tradition and history,” Dickey said. “I think that’s one of the things that’s great about the thought process of this project is that you preserve the history.”

Head football coach Kevin Sumlin said he was excited that his team would have a new home and that this is an important step for the University’s progress.

“It’s really exciting. It says a lot about our administration. It puts us in the best position to be successful,” Sumlin said.

“Where we are right now is certainly not where we’re going. Kind of like our team, we’ve accomplished a few things but we haven’t accomplished what we want to accomplish.”

Rhoades said it is possible that neither the basketball teams nor the football team will miss a season at home during construction but the logistics of the project may require options to be explored.