New U-M football practice facility set to open in August

The University of Michigan’s newest football facility is getting ready to open, and no, it’s not Michigan Stadium.The storied football program plans to open the new Al Glick Field House next month. The old practice facility, Oosterbaan Field House, will be used by a number of the university’s other varsity and intramural teams. Those teams, such as women’s softball team, already use the facility from dawn to dusk when the football team isn’t using it.”Frankly, they need that facility,” says Bruce Madej, spokesman for the U-M Athletic Dept.The new $26.1 million facility measures approximately 104,000 square feet, making it big enough for a full-size football field, lobby, restrooms and storage space. The renovation also includes about 3,000 square feet in Schembechler Hall. Jickling Lyman Powell Associates designed the project, which is being paid for the athletic department and private donations.The building is named after Al Glick, an ardent follower of Michigan sports and generous benefactor. His family owns Alro Steel Corp and raised $8.7 million for the facility. The family has also supported the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Women’s Hospital.Source: Bruce Madej, spokesman for the U-M Athletic DeptWriter: Jon Zemke