Report: UC Approves $7 Million in Initial Funding for new Athletic Center

The Bearcats are scheduled to enter the Big 12 in 2024.

CINCINNATI — UC is getting the ball rolling on funding for a new athletic facility on the site of Sheakley Athletic Center. According to the Cincinnati Business Courier, the University's Board of Trustees approved $7 million in opening funds for the project.

The money will go towards initial design plans and construction on a completely enclosed building to replace the Sheakley Athletic Center. Athletic programs from every team will have access to the facility. It will also house other general student recreation. The university cited operation costs, along with being "beyond its useful life" as reasons for moving on from the bubble.

“A new indoor facility can be built to allow improved sports program and student recreational use with a lower annual cost to operate versus a bubble,” John Seibert, UC’s associate vice president for planning, design, and construction, wrote in the project proposal. “This will also afford greater utilization of the land for campus recreation.”

Plans are to put the field on the eastern portion of the facility while placing weight rooms, locker rooms, and other facilities on the western side. More support for the facility will come from Cincinnati's $100 million fundraising project announced last month. Estimated to be the largest in UC history.

That comes as no surprise with the school entering the Big 12 in 2024 and already needing to upgrade the current facility.

“The Performance Center allows the creation of space for football operations to align and continue to be competitive in recruiting and supporting student-athletes as UC enters the Big 12,” Seibert continued. “Its creation also allows vacated space at Lindner Athletic Center to be utilized in supporting other programs as they look ahead to move to a Power 5 conference, thus giving Athletics added flexibility.”

Stay tuned for more updates on plans for the center as the time between now and Big 12 membership ticks away.

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