Planning begins for a revamped UI football practice facility

In October 2008, the University of Iowa was given the go ahead from the Board of Regents to begin project planning for a revamp of the indoor football practice facility and the Jacobson football building.

That's kind of where it remains.

“Our goal would be to get something rolling in 2010, but I don't have any specific dates set,” Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta said recently. “We have a pretty good idea of what it is we want, need and think we can afford.”

The Jacobson building houses coach and staff offices, training facilities and meeting rooms. The indoor practice facility (”The Bubble”), which was built in 1985, is a big part of this, too. Improvements could come in the form of renovation, expansion or replacement.

Gauging on the drawings in the football complex, the preference seems to be replacement.

“Those are just sort of conceptual ideas that when a recruit walks in, we can show them,” Barta said of drawings in the football complex. “These are the types of things we're looking at. They aren't drawings of how it will look. In fact, my guess would be it won't look like any of those drawings. Those are just concepts.”

The current study will consider relocation of the “The Bubble” because it'll be 25 years old this year and its life expectancy is estimated at 15 to 30 years. It's possible the current site could be used for additional parking or other functions if the facility is relocated.

According to Barta, Iowa has funding commitments ranging from $13 million to $15 million.

“We don't have a lot of money yet in the bank because we haven't launched the project, but we know there's that kind of support already,” Barta said. “If we were to start tomorrow, we'd have about that $13, $14 or $15 million from what people have already committed if we went forward. We have that head start, so that's terrific.”

In 2008, the cost was estimated at $20 million. Barta said Iowa is looking at a range.

“I hesitate to give a number. As we've gone around the country, the range is so broad,” he said. “So, if you want a range, I'll give you a range, $15 to $40 (million). How's that? Seriously, that's how broad it would be right now. It sort of depends on how much we think we can afford versus what we need and then versus what is designed by the architects.”