by Katy Knapp
Daily Lobo
Gov. Bill Richardson announced on Saturday his pledge to give UNM athletics $15 million.
The money, which will come from capital outlay funds, will go toward upgrading and renovating existing facilities, as well as building two new facilities.
Richardson pledged $8 million for modernization of The Pit.
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The 40-year-old complex, he said at a press conference Saturday, needs to be upgraded if it is going to continue to be one the country's best arenas.
"This money will be used to provide fan conveniences that have become necessary to continue UNM's storied history with men's and women's tournament games," Richardson said.
Included in the expansion of the north, east and west concourses of the arena are additional concession stands and restrooms, another entrance into the arena, a ticket office and a Lobo Store. Richardson said he hopes the renovation will be completed within two years.
It's about time
Don Flanagan, head coach of the women's basketball team, said The Pit has brought in a lot of revenue to UNM and the state.
"It's about time we put some of that revenue back into the building," he said.
The $8 million will also help fund a feasibility study to see exactly how much money will be needed to completely renovate The Pit, said Gilbert Gallegos, spokesman for the governor's office.
There have been estimates ranging from $12 million to $20 million for renovation, which could include a new roof, he said, but for now the focus is on expanding the concourses.
Gallegos said the purpose of the expansion is to make fans more comfortable.
Flanagan agreed.
"It just gets so crowded that it becomes uncomfortable and not fan-friendly," he said. "This will make it an even better venue, a more comfortable venue, for any event."
A space of their own
The governor also pledged a down payment of $1 million toward a soccer facility that will house locker rooms, offices and meeting rooms.
Jeremy Fishbein, head men's soccer coach, said the rest of the money will have to come from the state, but he does not know if it will be for this fiscal year or next.
He also said the project could cost more or less than the projected $3 million.
"We have to see what the whole facility will cost to do what we'd really love to do," Fishbein said.
He is confident the program will receive money from the Legislature in the future to fund the entire project, he said. He said the governor and UNM have made the commitment to find funding.
Administrators have yet to meet with an architect to draw up plans for the facility, he said, but the project will be completed within two years.
Fishbein said the main thing he is looking forward to is locker rooms for the women's and men's teams.
"The women have locker rooms, but not ideal ones," he said.
The men's team shares a locker room with the track team, and when there are home football games, the room is allocated to the visiting team, he said.
"It's not a place of our own," he said.
Mike Graczyk, goalkeeper for the men's soccer team, agreed with Fishbein.
"I think it's going to be really helpful to have a soccer-specific locker room," he said, not only for morale of the team but for recruiting players.
"It will be nice to have a place that we know is ours and not have any interruptions," Graczyk said.
Flanagan said the renovation of The Pit will also be beneficial in recruiting basketball players.
"I think recruiters compare facilities and equipment to the program, and we can't compete with bigger schools," he said. "But as much as they liked The Pit, they saw it as older."
Rain or shine
Richardson also pledged $6 million for an indoor football practice facility.
Gallegos said the facility will be open for all Olympic sports teams to use, including golf, baseball and track.
The main purpose, he said, is for the football team to stay on its practice schedule despite bad weather.
"They practice during the hottest days of the summer," Gallegos said. "That is also when there are a lot of thunderstorms, and they have to miss several practices."
The Legislature still has to approve the proposal, but the money is coming from the governor's share of the state's capital outlay funds, Richardson said.
