Michigan regents to consider $14 million Yost Ice Arena improvement plan
The Michigan athletic department wants to conduct a $14 million renovation to Yost Ice Arena.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
Improved concourses, new seating and new loge boxes for fans at Yost Ice Arena are among the improvements in a $14 million plan the University of Michigan Board of Regents will consider for approval when it meets Thursday.
The request for approval and authorization to hire an architect was submitted by athletic director Dave Brandon and university chief financial officer Tim Slottow. In it, they say the project cost, which also includes moving the current press box to a new location and upgrading the fire alarm system, will be covered with athletic department funds.
Yost was built in 1923 and has served as home for the Michigan hockey team since 1973. The 6,637-seat arena was renovated in 2001 to add a club-level balcony on the east side. In 1996, a $5.5 million renovation remodeled seating, locker rooms and administrative offices.
Construction is currently under way at Yost for the addition of a center-hung scoreboard system that includes nine LED video displays.
The Michigan hockey team's official Twitter account posted a photo of that work earlier today.
Comments
15crown00
Thu, Jun 16, 2011 : 8:01 p.m.
New building is needed.Yost was not impressive many years ago.
RWBill
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 5:48 p.m.
Grye, step back and try to take a comprehensive view of the situation, you seem a bit short on facts and perspective. Check into compensation packages for certain staff for very few hours of "work" throughout the entire calendar year, and there you"ll find the real budget busters and requirement to raise fees and revenue.
falman
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 5:40 p.m.
It's about time the $ is coming to Yost. The place needs new boards, new (seamless) glass, better lighting, and more revenue generating seats (with PSDs, not the $1 and $2 per game jack every year). The press box is old, needs an update, and can be consolidated. New areas for additional cameras are going to be needed for showing the game from all angles along with instant replays (something you better do if you are investing in the new screens). I understand the passion of a not wanting to maintain an older building but at the same time 14 million is a drop in the bucket to make this place nicer for many more years. During that time it can be evaluated as to the best way to replace Yost but right now this is a good plan.
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 12:28 p.m.
Steve@ "and for the 1,000,000th time, the athletic department at UM is self supporting. It takes no money from the general fund. To put it simply it has zero impact on tuition, fees, room and board, or any other non sports related function at the University." It should be noted that the athletic departments current self sufficiency has not been the norm for most of the history of the athletic department. Indeed it was operating in the red when Bill Martin took over the AD job if memory serves me. One could argue (not that I am mind you) that if the department is currently operating in the black they can repay the debt they incurred for the 100 years (made up number) they were heavily subsidized. In any case it should also be noted that "we the people" collectively own the University. That is why the publicly elected Board of Regents needs to approve the project. That means "we the people" are the ultimate recipients of any income, donations, contributions, fees, that come in to fund our University.
J. Zarman
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 11:54 a.m.
@GoBlue2009. Do you mean that the Regents will never ever approve replacement of Yost Ice Arena, much as they would never vote to move Michigan basketball out of Yost Fieldhouse and build a large, modern (Crisler) arena much more suited to current-day sports programs and crowds?
johnnya2
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : noon
If you are going to site Crisler as a good decision you are going to lose that argument. It is a HORRIBLE building. It has never been considered a top notch facility. There may be a day when they build a new hockey arena, but I don't see it as necessary today. If they can get another 20-30 years out of Yost, it will be money well spent.
oldblueypsi
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 11:09 a.m.
If the Red Baron, one of the most successful and respected coaches in the proud history of Michigan athletics, is satisfied with the project, I am too. Thanks for the past, Red, and keep those titles coming - the Michigan way!
Halter
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 12:48 a.m.
Hmm...more improvements for a building that is falling apart -- WASTE of money.... Rebuild a brand new Ice Arena and I am all for it.... I've had season tickets for hockey for 20 years and have been attending almost every home game at Yost since the 80's -- and continue to be a huge supporter and Deker member....but wasting more money on a building that is falling apart is ridiculous - it doesn't matter what the history and what the "Gametime feel" is . Just last year the facing was falling off along the roofline and required a complete renovation along the State Street roofline -- that is not going to get better. The temperature control inside the building is impossible. The electric systems are outdated and need replacement as does the outdated lighting system.... Call a spade a spade, and build a new Ice Arena instead of throwing more money at Yost. Please regents, if you are reading any of this, don't vote more millions for bandaids when the sore is much larger than that....
RWBill
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 5:53 p.m.
That is certainly not without merit, but a new facility would cost in the neighborhood of what... $100,000,000 to meet current building code and space requirements? I don't doubt that Dave has that in mind down the road but they just spent $200,000,000 on football renovation so asking already for approval of another $100,000,000 probably would not fly or reflect well on the AD.
GoBlue2009
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 1:13 a.m.
You're completely ridiculous. The Regents would never vote to tear down the treasure-trove of college sports that Yost is. In my opinion, there's no better game atmosphere in college sports. As Red says when he is courting recruits: "If you want to play in the nicest building, go to school at North Dakota or Minnesota; if you want the best atmosphere and tradition, come to Michigan."
mohomed
Mon, Jun 13, 2011 : 11:55 p.m.
Why doesn't this school put any money in my program I majored in, Women's Studies. People in school made fun of me saying I would make no money when I graduated with my B.S. degree but now I'm an assistant shift supervisor at Starbucks making well over $28,000 a year. Maybe if the Univeristy put a lot more money and resources in the school of Women's Studies and other great social science programs then more people could be enlightened of how important degree's like mine are. I'm not saying stop all funding to sports programs though just saying spread the wealth more so we can get our fair share.
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 12:12 p.m.
Dear mohomed, How do i clean the coffee off of my monitor? Well played.
Halter
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 12:50 a.m.
The sports funding is completely independent of academic funding -- they won't be funneling any of that money toward any of their studies programs.... I agree that departments all need money -- but don't look for that from monies in the athletics department
Jim
Mon, Jun 13, 2011 : 11:29 p.m.
I can't think of a better time to invest in buildings and improvements. The U socks it away during good times and spends during a poor economy, saving money and employing many people. Be proud of the projects!
Steve
Mon, Jun 13, 2011 : 10:33 p.m.
and for the 1,000,000th time, the athletic department at UM is self supporting. It takes no money from the general fund. To put it simply it has zero impact on tuition, fees, room and board, or any other non sports related function at the University.
Steve Hendel
Thu, Jun 16, 2011 : 7:44 p.m.
...and so what if it is self-supporting? Does that mean it can throw a total of $14,000,000 at Rich Rodriguez for his three years here, and nobody can say anything about it? Yes. If you are interested, I can document that figure.
Stephen Landes
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 4:17 a.m.
They also pay the university for student athletes on scholarship.
Bacon Bits
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 12:59 a.m.
It actually has a positive influence on the general fund. Last year alone, the athletic department donated $2 million to the general fund (to be used for non-athletic scholarships).
GoBlueGoWing
Mon, Jun 13, 2011 : 10:05 p.m.
Can't wait to see it. Going to be cool.
grye
Mon, Jun 13, 2011 : 8:02 p.m.
A university that continually raises tuition, fees, and room and boarding due to a lack of funds seems to have a money tree in the backyard for improvements to sports facilities. Any way I can get a seedling from that tree for my backyard?
Stephen Landes
Tue, Jun 14, 2011 : 4:16 a.m.
You should learn about our Athletic Department and how they are funded.
dadamek
Mon, Jun 13, 2011 : 9:51 p.m.
Sure. It's a three step process. Step 1 - Get me to buy season tickets to your backyard. Step 2 - Raise my ticket prices Step 3 - Convince me to renew my tickets.