The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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Here is what a new indoor track and field setup might look like, as part of U-M's master plan for facilities improvements. Indoor and outdoor track are targeted for an eventual move to the southern-most complex of athletic facilities, creating space for parking and expansion of other buildings. IMAGE COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT Sequencing A Key Factor In Changes Michigan's track facilities many times in his stint as AD. Even a cursory glance at a site map of potential athletics facilities shows why. An eventual move to the southern-most grouping of U-M Michigan athletics director Dave Brandon has mentioned happen before you can build some of these buildings." Brandon, a former U-M Regent himself, always empha- athletic facilities by both the outdoor and indoor track pro- grams would provide two crucial answers to issues. First, it would replace one of the most decrepit buildings on the athletic campus — the indoor track structure. Perhaps even more importantly, moving indoor and out- door track from their present locations opens the door for expansion of present facilities and the addition of a key new one — a multi-sport competition venue that could host a variety of sports, including volleyball. "There are certain pieces we can tackle that aren't depen- dent upon sequencing," noted Rob Rademacher, Michigan associate AD for facilities and operations. "Restoring the golf course to its original intent could be started tomorrow or seven years from now. "But there are certain pieces, if we are trying to create more parking, a new multi-sport competition venue in this part of campus, where we have to move certain facilities out — like the track program. We've got to build a new facility for them. "Right now, they're in one of our facilities that isn't in great shape. We need to give them the same experience as every other sport. By moving them out, it creates more opportu- nity down here. Those are the kinds of things that have to sizes the necessary approval process. "We'll go through that three-step process for every proj- ect we do," he said. "But the nature of this particular initia- tive is one where many of these projects are connected. You wouldn't do one without doing the other. You're going to move one facility so you can fix another facility. "There is enough linkage in relationship with many of these projects that we decided to do something a little outside of the norm — present it as more of a holistic, transformational facilities plan. We had to make sure we had the buy-in and support we needed." Priorities matter, he said, but so does sequencing. "Track and field is a high priority," he said. "Lacrosse is a high priority. We've added that sport, and we have not given them a permanent home yet. We need to fix that. "In certain cases, some things have to happen before we can clear the way for the construction of their facilities. Not just the financing/fundraising part of it, but in some cases, one thing has to move or get fixed before another thing can happen. "There is a sequencing as to how is the most effective way to make it happen. That's something we continue to work on and fine-tune, so when we put the shovel in the ground on the first project, we can go as fast and as ef- ficiently as possible." — John Borton NOVEMBER 2012 THE WOLVERINE 47