Massachusetts State Universities on Athletics Spending Spree

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RF1
Ernie Calverley
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Massachusetts State Universities on Athletics Spending Spree

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UMass-Lowell is slated to get 20 million from a bond bill passed by the MA legislature (no direct voter approval as is the case with many RI bonds associated with URI) that would go toward athletic infrastructure improvements. The money would be used to expand the Tsongas Center adding a practice ice rink. This would allow the school the option of playing more basketball games at the arena given the hockey program will always have practice ice available. In addition to the facility investment, the school has significantly increased its spending on athletics moving up to the D1 level last year from D2. UMass-Lowell will have some of the best facilities in New England for its athletic programs having the dual hockey/basketball Tsongas Arena (approx capacity 6,500) and use of neighboring LeLacheur Park (capacity 5,030) for its baseball team

http://www.lowellsun.com/breakingnews/c ... -expansion

The flagship campus of Massachusetts, UMass-Amherst, has also increased its spending for athletics. A 28.5 million dollar practice facility is currently being built for its basketball programs and 20 million is being spent on McGuirk Stadium upgrades for football adding a new training facility and locker rooms, new press box, and luxury suites. It is on track to be completed for this upcoming season. In addition to these facility programs, UMass greatly increased athletics operating expense spending with its move up to FBS football two years ago (for football and additional women's sports scholarships for Title IX compliance).
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RF1
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Re: Massachusetts State Universities on Athletics Spending S

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Massachusetts is not the only New England state making major athletics improvements at its state universities.

UConn's 35 million dollar basketball practice facility is nearing completion and the school has announced plans for a new on campus hockey arena to replace the 16 year old Freitas Arena which is not up to Hockey East standards. It is expected to open in the next four years. The school is also in the planning stage for new on-campus facilities for soccer, baseball and softball in Storrs.

In New Hampshire, a 25 million dollar upgrade to UNH's Cowell Stadium is underway and expected to be completed for the 2015 season.
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twisted3829
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Re: Massachusetts State Universities on Athletics Spending S

Unread post by twisted3829 »

if URI asked for this money to build a practice arena and upgrade Meade we'd get laughed at. Welcome to Rhode Island
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Re: Massachusetts State Universities on Athletics Spending S

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twisted3829 wrote:if URI asked for this money to build a practice arena and upgrade Meade we'd get laughed at. Welcome to Rhode Island

Even UMass-Lowell is better positioned to get money from its state and is getting it (20m). There really have been no major big dollar facility upgrades at URI since the Ryan Center and Boss Arena opened twelve years ago. The Meade west stands (2m), new baseball field (1.3m), and SADC (2.5m) of the last decade are relatively minor when compared to what is going on at other state universities in the region. The SADC took many years longer than anticipated (nearly 10 years) and had to be scaled back as it was originally intended to be its own new building.
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twisted3829
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Re: Massachusetts State Universities on Athletics Spending S

Unread post by twisted3829 »

the baseball field was from a donor not the state, also weren't the west stands part of the Ryan Center build?
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wakefield
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Re: Massachusetts State Universities on Athletics Spending S

Unread post by wakefield »

This is an example of the sport facilities at URI helping the overall economy in RI.

http://www.providencejournal.com/breaki ... island.ece
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Re: Massachusetts State Universities on Athletics Spending S

Unread post by RhowdyRam02 »

The West stands were part of the Ryan Center cost and the SADC was put to the voters as a bond issue and it was voted down.
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Re: Massachusetts State Universities on Athletics Spending S

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Per these links regarding the 2004 bond question which went down to defeat, this it what is was for:
http://www.uri.edu/news/releases/index.php?id=2819

http://www.ramcigar.com/news/view.php/1 ... athletic-g

Approval of referendum 10 will authorize $6.7 million to construct an Athletic Performance Center at the Kingston campus and renovate facilities at Meade Stadium and Keaney Gymnasium.

"An Athletic Performance Center is important to the success of our athletic programs to physically prepare athletes for intercollegiate competition, to provide training to prevent injuries, and to properly rehabilitate injuries," said URI Athletic Director Tom McElroy. "And expansion of the Academic Advising and Study Center will help further URI's commitment to academic excellence for its student-athletes. "

The state-of-the art center will house a weight training room, aerobic fitness area, rehabilitation area, hydrotherapy station, and offices for training staff and strength coaches. In addition, the academic advising and study center in Keaney Gymnasium will be expanded to include an updated computer lab and tutoring rooms, and the athletic training and sports medicine area in Keaney will be updated and improved. At Meade Stadium, the west stands will be rebuilt and the east stands will be renovated.
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Re: Massachusetts State Universities on Athletics Spending S

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In 2004 URI had to beg the state for 6.7 million which the legislature put on the ballot knowing full well it would likely be voted down.

In 2014, the MA legislature appropriates nearly three times as much (20m) to UMass-Lowell, a school in just its 2nd year of D1 and not its flagship institution, without any voter deliberation.
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TruePoint
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Re: Massachusetts State Universities on Athletics Spending S

Unread post by TruePoint »

RF1 wrote:In 2004 URI had to beg the state for 6.7 million which the legislature put on the ballot knowing full well it would likely be voted down.

In 2014, the MA legislature appropriates nearly three times as much (20m) to UMass-Lowell, a school in just its 2nd year of D1 and not its flagship institution, without any voter deliberation.
If the point is that RI legislature is terrible and borderline abusive in its relationship with the state's flagship university then we are just beating a dead horse. The state government and the people of the state should be absolutely embarrassed by the way URI is neglected and left to fend for itself (which it does more than admirably, IMO).
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Re: Massachusetts State Universities on Athletics Spending S

Unread post by RF1 »

TruePoint wrote:
RF1 wrote:In 2004 URI had to beg the state for 6.7 million which the legislature put on the ballot knowing full well it would likely be voted down.

In 2014, the MA legislature appropriates nearly three times as much (20m) to UMass-Lowell, a school in just its 2nd year of D1 and not its flagship institution, without any voter deliberation.
If the point is that RI legislature is terrible and borderline abusive in its relationship with the state's flagship university then we are just beating a dead horse. The state government and the people of the state should be absolutely embarrassed by the way URI is neglected and left to fend for itself (which it does more than admirably, IMO).

It is not just the RI state legislature. They take their cue from the many ignorant Rhode Islanders with a defeatist attitude. Unfortunately many state citizens feel that higher education is not important. They have an attitude that they didn't go to college and don't necessarily feel others should get the opportunity. It seems as if many people in RI accept their low lot in life and feel that is what they and their neighbors all deserve. Expecting any better and working toward it are non-starters. Be miserable and learn to just accept it as the way things are.
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