Per GoBearcats:
The University of Cincinnati Athletics Department and the UC Foundation will hold an on-campus ground-breaking ceremony for the game-changing, multi-million-dollar Indoor Practice Facility and Performance Center project on May 23.
Larry and Rhonda Sheakley’s transformational gift spearheaded the project and marked the largest single gift in UC Athletics history.
The new state-of-the art facilities will elevate the Cincinnati student-athlete experience, giving Bearcats an unrivaled advantage on the playing field and on the recruiting trail.
The 84,000-square-foot Indoor Practice Facility will feature a 120-yard football field that will give Cincinnati’s perennial championship-contending football program a year-round, permanent, all-weather home. The facility will also be used by other UC programs. It is being built on the site of the current Sheakley Athletic Center at Corry Boulevard and Jefferson Avenue.
The Indoor Practice Facility is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2024 football season.
The 96,000-square-foot performance center will include offices for the football program, and feature performance nutrition stations, a dining hall, sports performance weight room, athletic training room and mental health services. The performance center will be constructed next to the indoor practice facility. It is scheduled to open prior to the 2025 football season.
“These new facilities are essential for us to compete for championships in the Big 12 and immediately help us level the playing field as we enter our new conference,” said Director of Athletics John Cunningham. “I want to thank President Pinto, our Board of Trustees and, of course, our generous donors, led by Larry and Rhonda Sheakley, for leading this project as we all work together to provide our student-athletes with the resources needed to have the best experiences on and off the field. The start of this project and the success of the Day One Campaign are crucial to our future success. May 23 will be an exciting day.”
The University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees approved the funding for the project at a maximum of $134 million.
More than $88 million has been raised for the Day One Ready Campaign, which is funding this project and several other initiatives.
Gensler and MSA Sport are serving as the architects and designers for the project, while Messer Construction is the construction manager.
The first renderings were released today.
