What happens when Maryland leaves a basketball conference for a football conference, as previously suggested by head coach Randy Edsall? The old basketball arena gets turned into an indoor football practice facility. That’s what is being rumored to be the case, at least.
Cole Field House, the former basketball home to Maryland hoops, will undergo a renovation project that is expected to cost an estimated total of $160 million. Donors and boosters have already raised a reported $110 million and the formal plans for the project are expected to be shared within the next week. We have seen glimpses of some artist renderings before, but now things seem to be coming together to make some progress on completing the project.
When Maryland left the ACC to join the Big Ten, upgrading the football program was a priority. the university may have been scrapped for cash in recent years, but joining the Big Ten opened up the door for some nice financial benefits to come through larger bowl and media revenue shares once the school is eligible for full payments from the Big Ten. Having Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank support the Maryland program is also a nice luxury to have. Plank is reportedly a significant contributor to the donations, perhaps looking to provide Maryland with the same kind of support Phil Knight of Nike has shared with Oregon over the years. Hey, it can’t hurt.
Maryland’s current football facility will likely remain for non-revenue sports moving forward.
Helmet sticker to Testudo Times.