Alabama board makes decision about basketball arena proposal
The decision is in. Alabama can build a new basketball arena.
The university board of trustees approved a proposal to build a new basketball and gymnastics arena on Friday. The board also approved a new golf practice facility.
Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne proposed a new arena on Thursday and confirmed Crimson Tide officials visited five different arenas — Ole Miss’ Pavilion, Virginia’s John Paul Jones Arena, Illinois‘ State Farm Center, James Madison’s Atlantic Union Bank Center and DePaul’s Wintrust Arena — to get an idea of what they want to do with the new facility.
The new arena would likely cost $183 million and paid for by gifts, cash from the Crimson Standard and UA bonds the athletic department would re-pay, according to AL.com’s Mike Rodak.
“We went and studied some other arenas,” Byrne said, via the Tuscaloosa News’ Nick Kelly. “We would recommend potentially constructing a new arena.”
Byrne also showed renderings during his proposal to show the board what officials envision the new arena looking like.
There isn’t a timetable for construction yet, however a call for bids could begin in April 2023.
More on Alabama’s plans for a new arena
Byrne also said the student section would wrap around three-quarters of the court. In addition, the 2,200 students in attendance would be closer to the court than they are now at Coleman. Officials are considering multiple sites for the new arena, including a parking lot next to Coleman Coliseum and a band practice field on University Boulevard, among others, according to Casagrande.
Coleman Coliseum was built in 1968 and holds 15,383 fans. It was renovated in 2005, but Byrne is pushing for a new arena instead of doing that again 17 years later.
Alabama is 14-8 overall and 4-5 in SEC play so far this year. The Crimson Tide sure like playing at Coleman, though, boasting a 10-1 record at their home arena this year. Their lone home loss came Jan. 11 against No. 1 Auburn, 81-77.
After its latest loss to Auburn earlier this week, Alabama will return home to Coleman this weekend for a key SEC matchup with No. 5 Kentucky. That game tips off Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.