A facelift is anticipated at Eastern Kentucky University’s Alumni Coliseum. The facility first became home to men’s basketball for the 1963-64 season. The women’s team came along in 1971 and volleyball in 1991. The Kentucky General Assembly has approved $31 million for an overhaul. EKU Athletics Director Matt Roan said with final budget approval the spending of funds could begin in July.
“Everything from the type of seating, to again, reimagining what those concourses are, the club spaces, the suite spaces, the office spaces, lockers rooms, everything that touches everybody,” said Roan.
Roan said the project is bigger than athletics with Alumni Coliseum being the site for commencements, concerts, and other student activities. Roan noted maintaining 65 hundred seat capacity is important beyond sporting events.
“But, we want to become a little bit of an entertainment venue as well where we could host concerts, where we could host other types of special events in that space, so I think protecting that capacity is something that’s going to be very important for us moving forward,” said Roan.
Roan said the projected timeline for the renovation is about 18 months.
