Posted April 11, 2000

IOWA CITY -- The University of Iowa will hold a public groundbreaking ceremony Saturday, April 15 for its $37 million, state-of-the-art athletics and recreation facilities complex. In addition to an Athletic Hall of Fame Building, the complex will provide vital new facilities to UI physical education programs, recreational services and intercollegiate athletics.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Hawkeye Athletic/Recreation Facilities Complex and Hall of Fame Building will be at 9:30 a.m. at the northwest corner of Melrose Avenue and Mormon Trek Boulevard, the site of the new complex. The public is invited and encouraged to attend the approximately 45-minute ceremony. Parking will be available at the site on the west side of Mormon Trek Boulevard.

A 141,000-square-foot building on the site will include six indoor tennis courts to be used for recreational, instructional and competitive purposes; recreation facilities for strength training, organized exercise and general fitness use; a multipurpose Olympic-sized swimming pool and diving well; and locker room and administrative space for tennis, swimming and women's soccer programs.

The 24,000-square-foot Hall of Fame Building will house trophies, photographs, and memorabilia commemorating the Iowa Hawkeyes' long history of excellence in intercollegiate athletics. It will also contain a branch of the Hawk Shop, where the public may purchase UI sports memorabilia, clothing and souvenirs. The Hall of Fame is expected to draw several hundred thousand visitors in its first years of operation.

Outdoor tennis courts, a soccer field, natural and maintained wetlands and grass plains, trails for jogging and walking and parking facilities all will be included on the site.

The complex is being funded through a combination of university and private resources. A $15 million fund-raising campaign, conducted by the UI Foundation and the UI athletic department, will seek private support from alumni, friends and fans.

Following the groundbreaking ceremony for the complex, Hawkeye fans are encouraged to attend the UI Spring Football Game at Kinnick Stadium, with a kickoff time of 1:05 p.m. on April 15.

The UI Foundation is the preferred channel for private contributions to all areas of the university. Foundation staff work with alumni and friends to generate funds for facilities improvements, scholarships, professorships, equipment purchases, research and other UI initiatives.

Related information:
Pride, excitement dominate groundbreaking for Roy G. Karro Athletics Hall of Fame
April 15, 2000
UI receives $3 million gift for Hawkeye athletics
September 2, 1999

Contact Information

Mark Jennings
Senior Director of Development, Intercollegiate Athletics
(319) 335-3305 or (800) 648-6973

Additional information about supporting Hawkeye Intercollegiate Athletics also is available on this site.