Planning and fundraising underway for new athletics training facilities

The Iowa Board of Regents has approved the University of Northern Iowa to begin planning a court sports training facility for the Panthers men’s and women’s basketball programs, as well as UNI’s volleyball team. The development of this complex will provide a dedicated practice space to these programs that currently share court time at the McLeod Center and UNI’s Wellness and Recreation Center. 

This new facility will meet the existing and anticipated future needs of three of UNI’s most visible and successful Missouri Valley Conference athletic programs, providing practice courts, along with locker rooms, a training room and rehabilitation area. UNI and experienced architects will collaborate on potential concepts that align with projected fundraising targets for the project.

“We appreciate the willingness of several loyal Panthers to make this facility a reality in the near future,” said Interim Director of Athletics Bob Bowlsby.

Planning for a court sports facility joins the work in progress to also add a new training facility for the UNI wrestling program. The new facility will meet the program’s existing and anticipated future needs with room for multiple mats, weight and cardio training space, locker room, training room and rehabilitation space, as well as office space for the wrestling staff. 

The facilities for both court sports and wrestling will be solely financed by private gifts, which will ultimately dictate the size and scope of the projects.