Auburn University athletics officials are looking to advance plans for a football-specific facility, pitching it as a potential boost to the program.
Under the current concept, a Football Performance Center would be constructed to provide new training facilities and administrative space, along with other amenities. Auburn athletics officials are pitching the proposal as a way to give the football program its own dedicated complex, putting it in line with some competing SEC schools and other major programs.
The proposal could move forward next week, as it will go before the Auburn Board of Trustees on September 13 for approval to begin the architect selection process. Certain details, including cost and design, have not been disclosed publicly, but it has been expected that the project would be financed through athletic department funds and donations. More from AL.com:
Athletics director Allen Greene and associate vice president for facilities Dan King will make their presentation to the Board of Trustees during the September meeting at the AU Hotel. Greene and King’s presentation for a “football performance center” is scheduled during the 8:30 a.m. meeting of the properties and facilities committee. The Board of Trustees will then convene at 10 a.m. to vote on final approval for the project, which has been a goal of Greene’s since he took over as Auburn’s athletics director in January 2018.
If approved, the project will then move toward selecting an architect for the facility, at which point the design phase will commence.
Specific details on the project, including estimated cost and proposed designs, have not yet been released. The project is expected to be paid for using athletics department funding and donations from boosters, as well as a $2 million donation from head coach Gus Malzahn and his wife, Kristi. Greene told AuburnUndercover.com in May that the department is “really, really close” and “in a really good spot” in terms of reaching its fundraising goals for the facility.
“The intent of the Football Performance Center project is to provide the Auburn University football team with the key and essential capabilities and resources needed to successfully compete within the Southeastern Conference and national peer programs,” the documents read. “It is anticipated that this facility will enhance student-athlete development with space dedicated to strength and conditioning, health and recovery, and sports science, as well as to team meeting rooms, coach and staff offices, equipment storage space and common areas.”
The football program currently has meeting rooms, weight rooms, and other amenities within the Auburn Athletics Complex, a facility that originally opened in 1989 and is also used for some non-football specific purposes.
Image of Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium courtesy Auburn Football.