U-M proposes adding 50,000 square feet to Chrisler Arena

Expanding the University of Michigan’s Crisler Arena never seemed to make much sense since the words Ed Martin entered into university vocabulary. Things have changed now that Wolverine fans have their first basketball team to get excited about in a long time.Coincidence or not, U-M officials are making plans to add a “player development center” to the home of Cazzie Russell, the Fab Five and the 1989 National Champions. That 50,000-square-foot addition to the back of the arena comes with a $23.2 million price tag. The idea, which is going before the U-M Board of Regents tomorrow, is to give both the men’s and women’s basketball teams a place to practice. Both teams use Crisler as their home court.The new proposed facility will have locker rooms, strength and conditioning space and coaching offices. The addition will replace about 60 surface parking spots behind the arena. The university’s Athletic Department plans to pay for the project with its own funds and gifts. The Athletic Department wants to start design of the new facility immediately and wants to hire Jickling Lyman Powell Associates to do it.Source: University of MichiganWriter: Jon Zemke