THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 6, 1995 TAG: 9508060200
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
University of Virginia officials hope to decide by the end of September whether to renovate University Hall or build a new arena for the school's basketball teams.
Terry Holland, who took over as athletics director on July 1, said he expects to receive a recommendation from a private study by early September.
``We would like to kick off a campaign to raise the money for whichever way we go by the end of September,'' Holland said.
Initial estimates are that refurbishing University Hall would cost about $30 million and that building a new arena would cost about $80 million.
Holland said the funds for either project would be raised from private donations and that state tax money would not be involved.
Basketball coaches Jeff Jones and Debbie Ryan have indicated they favor refurbishing University Hall, which would be the fastest solution to the problems there.
``Time is a factor,'' Holland said. ``We have a bad situation with University Hall, and some people do not want to wait until a new arena is built to correct the problems.''
Holland, though, said university officials have questioned spending so much money to improve a facility that still would have some problems.
University Hall, which opened in 1965, can seat only 8,457 fans for basketball, and Holland said no one is sure if the domed roof can be removed to significantly increase the seating.
``We would hate to saddle future athletics staffs with an arena that is still too small,'' said Holland, who campaigned for a new arena when he was U.Va. basketball coach.
He suggested an arena that would seat between 12,000 and 15,000.
Holland said raising money to build a new facility would require a major effort.
``We have never tried raising funds for a project of this magnitude before,'' Holland said, ``but it may be time to see if we can do it.''
Holland noted he took over a program swimming in black ink.
He said athletic expenditures came in about $38,000 under the budget last year and that the success of the football and basketball teams helped to generate a $300,000 contribution to the athletic department's reserve emergency fund. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Athletics director Terry Holland is balancing the need for speed
against the desire for the best stadium.
by CNB