UT Holds Ground-Breaking Ceremony for Fetterman Training Center
5/29/2009 7:00:00 PM | Athletics
TOLEDO, OH - The University of Toledo officially kicked off the construction of the new Fetterman Training Center, a multi-purpose Athletics practice facility that will be connected to Savage Arena, with a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, May 29. The ceremony took place on the west balcony of Savage, an area that overlooks the construction site.
Hal and Susan Fetterman committed $1 million for the facility, which is scheduled for completion in December 2009. When finished, the 90,400 square-foot facility will feature a 100-yard Field Turf playing surface, a regulation basketball court, sprinting lanes and a long jump pit for track, a golf practice area and new locker rooms. As part of the project, improvements will also be made to the adjacent UT Outdoor Track, including new permanent bleacher seating, a press box and elevated viewing platforms.
UT Athletic Director Mike O'Brien added that the new facility will give Rocket student-athletes a competitive edge as they train to compete against some of the finest college athletes in the country.
"The Fetterman Training Center will be a fantastic training environment for our student-athletes," said O'Brien. "The completion of this facility, along with the addition of Savage Arena and the Sullivan Athletic Complex last year, will give the University of Toledo an athletics complex that is second to none, and one in which our students, staff, alumni and fans can be justifiably proud. We are deeply grateful to Hal and Susan Fetterman, whose generous donation helped make the construction of this wonderful new facility possible."
Fetterman Training Center Facts
• Total Square Feet: 90,400 (71,400 sq. ft. for the practice field, 7,470 sq. ft. for the basketball court and 3,545 sq. ft. for the golf practice area)
• Dimensions of practice field: 100 yards long by 220 feet wide. 65 feet high at its highest point.
• Expected Cost: $9 million
• Funding: The project was funded through a combination of University and community commitments.
• Named For: Hal and Susan Fetterman, long-time supporters of the University of Toledo. The Fettermans donated $1 million toward the cost of the facility.
• Architects: SSOE
• Contractor: Rudolph/Libbe
• A 100-yard practice field that can be used by football, soccer, baseball, softball and other sports. The playing surface will be Field Turf, the same surface found in the Glass Bowl. At its peak, the practice field will be 65 feet high, and will include fixed goal posts and a game scoreboard.
• A regulation-sized basketball practice court in a separate enclosed area that will be located between Savage Arena and the 100-yard practice field, and be connected to both. The court will have two portable baskets, four side-wall baskets and a game scoreboard. The court will be used principally for basketball and volleyball practices.
• A 3,500 square foot golf practice area that will include a chipping and putting area, driving cages and a swing analysis center. This would be located on the lower level below the basketball practice court.
• Six sprinting lanes with a long jump pit alongside the 100-yard practice field.
• A sand sprinting track for sprint training.
• Four locker rooms, including locker rooms for men's and women's golf, as well as visiting team locker rooms for Savage Arena events.
• Improvements to the UT Outdoor Track, including permanent bleacher seating for 500 spectators, a press box and elevated viewing areas for filming and coaching.
• The use of "green" technologies, including geothermal wells under the practice field to heat and cool the facility (geothermal systems typically consume 50-70% less energy than traditional systems); low-flow plumbing fixtures; and "cool roof" that complies with LEED requirements.
What they are saying about the Fetterman Training Center
"We are deeply grateful for the generosity of Hal and Susan Fetterman. The Fetterman Training Center is not only a natural extension of our newly renovated Savage Arena, it is also symbolic of our desire to provide the best for our student-athletes and our students as they mature into tomorrow's leaders. The Fetterman family has set an excellent example for our students on what it means to serve and give back to one's community."
- Dr. Lloyd Jacobs, UT President
"The Fetterman Training Center will be a fantastic training environment for our student-athletes. The completion of this facility, along with the addition of Savage Arena and the Sullivan Athletic Complex last year, will give the University of Toledo an athletics complex that is second to none, and one in which our students, staff, alumni and fans can be justifiably proud. We are deeply grateful to Hal and Susan Fetterman, whose generous donation helped make the construction of this wonderful new facility possible."
- UT Athletic Director Mike O'Brien
"I didn't go to college, but I have a daughter, two sons-in-law and a grandson who are UT graduates, and another grandson who is a senior at UT. I like the integrity I see at the University of Toledo. God has been good to me, and I'm happy to be able to give back something to the community."
- UT Donor Hal Fetterman, whose $1 million gift helped launch the project
"The Fetterman Training Center is going to be huge for us, both in recruiting and in the development of our current student-athletes. It will provide a year-round workplace where our players can fine-tune their skills. It will be one of the finest, if not the finest, indoor practice facilities in our conference."
- UT Head Football Coach Tim Beckman
"Our new indoor facility displays the university's support of the development and growth for our student-athletes. It gives us every opportunity from a facility standpoint to be successful and win MAC Championships. It impacts every aspect of athletics. I'm thankful to President Jacobs and Mike O'Brien for their continued backing in our quest to build a championship-caliber athletic program at UT."
- UT Head Men's Basketball Coach Gene Cross
"I was impressed with the facilities when I arrived here, and the training center gives me another jewel to be so proud of. I am blown away by the committment of the University and the community to make the student-athletes' experience here second-to-none. This is another example of UT's great vision and support for the Athletic Department as a whole. The women's basketball team is very excited to be included in the plans with the practice court. It will serve as a place for our players to receive addtional individual instruction and extra shooting time when the main floor in Savage Arena is in use."
- UT Head Women's Basketball Coach Tricia Cullop
"Having an indoor chipping and putting facility, as well as a video room and locker rooms is a huge benefit for our program. I think the golf training area will end up being one Top 10 facilities of its kind in the country. It will improve our recruiting, and improve our student-athletes' skills in the winter months. Best of all, it will give our golf teams a place we can call home."
- Men's Golf Coach Jamie Mauntler
"An indoor practice facility will help the women's golf program immensely. I have always felt like we came out of the winter hitting the ball well, but our short game took time to develop in the spring. Having an area we could practice in every day will help take the Toledo women's golf program to the next level both in terms of getting ready for our spring season and in signing top recruits."
- Women's Golf Coach Nicole Hollingsworth
"The new Fetterman Training Center is going to play a vital role to our success in the future. For the first time in our program's history we will have an indoor practice facility, which is essential to building a successful indoor and outdoor track program. I am also incredibly excited about the new permanent stadium for the outdoor track. We will have the ability to show off our program with the top track-only facility in the conference. The indoor facility will provide a beautiful back drop for the stadium and be a perfect warm-up facility for our outdoor meets, as well."
- Track and Cross Country Coach Kevin Hadsell
"All of us would like to sincerely thank the Fettermans and the entire athletic administration staff for making this a priority. Having an indoor facility will provide every member of the soccer team an opportunity to better develop their individual skills, while at the same time giving coaches and players time to engage in more large-group tactical learning situations, something we have not been able to do as effectively in the past. This development time is essential if we want to continue to challenge our program to become even stronger than it is today."
- Women's Soccer Coach Brad Evans
"The new indoor facility is exciting for all of the student-athletes. We're very appreciative of all the support the university and athletic department provide to us. Along with the new Savage Arena, having an extra practice gym is something that will benefit us a lot, especially when there are times when we can't practice on the main floor."
- Men's basketball player Justin Anyijong
"I am very excited about our new practice facility and am looking forward to seeing the final product. We are very lucky to have this opportunity, and I believe it is going to help us immensely with our practice, especially during the winter months."
- Women's golfer Michelle Hui
"The indoor facility will be great for the Rocket football team. The players will be able to work on their skills and I'll be able to throw to the guys all year round."
- Football Player Aaron Opelt
