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The phases
An executive summary of the plan to be presented calls for the first phase to including a football center or student-athlete performance center, which will include a football locker room, weight room and training room and coaching offices.
A portion of Floyd Stadium’s north end zone upper deck would be removed and the building would connect with it, sitting between the stadium, Kennon Sports Hall of Fame, Murphy Center and the football practice fields. The Murphy Center loading dock would be moved, and other Floyd Stadium upgrades could be incorporated into the first phase of work.
Construction of the first phase would free up space in Murphy Center for the second phase, reconfiguration of basketball practice courts and construction of training and weight rooms, locker rooms and coaching offices. In addition, fan seats would move closer to the gym floor at the bottom of the seating bowl, the first real redesign of Murphy Center since it opened.
Possibly most important to the fan and student-athlete experience will be phase three, creation of the True Blue athletic district, providing a plaza between the stadium, student-athlete performance center and Murphy, which will offer easier access to the main gym, with everything connecting to the Greenland Drive parking lot.
“It’s a very special building,” Massaro said of Murphy, “but our entrances aren’t special.” He pointed out walking up the steps to Murphy requires an odd gait, one in which people must take one giant stride or two short ones on each step. (Wookie steps as so affectionately named by WKU fans LOL)
Phase four involves upgrading VIP amenities in Murphy with new club seating, suites and logos, while the fifth phase proposes a new multi-sport indoor practice facility between football practice fields and the new student-athlete facility.
“It’s a game changer for the whole campus,” Massaro said, noting from an aesthetic standpoint, “It’s going to give a person a feel that they’re on a special campus.”
Murphy Center has been such an integral part of the MTSU for more than 45 years, it’s time to “dress it up” and “put some enhancements on it.”
Once the Board of Trustees approves the plan, it would be submitted to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission for review and approval and then the State Building Commission as an amendment to the university’s campus master plan.
The phases
An executive summary of the plan to be presented calls for the first phase to including a football center or student-athlete performance center, which will include a football locker room, weight room and training room and coaching offices.
A portion of Floyd Stadium’s north end zone upper deck would be removed and the building would connect with it, sitting between the stadium, Kennon Sports Hall of Fame, Murphy Center and the football practice fields. The Murphy Center loading dock would be moved, and other Floyd Stadium upgrades could be incorporated into the first phase of work.
Construction of the first phase would free up space in Murphy Center for the second phase, reconfiguration of basketball practice courts and construction of training and weight rooms, locker rooms and coaching offices. In addition, fan seats would move closer to the gym floor at the bottom of the seating bowl, the first real redesign of Murphy Center since it opened.
Possibly most important to the fan and student-athlete experience will be phase three, creation of the True Blue athletic district, providing a plaza between the stadium, student-athlete performance center and Murphy, which will offer easier access to the main gym, with everything connecting to the Greenland Drive parking lot.
“It’s a very special building,” Massaro said of Murphy, “but our entrances aren’t special.” He pointed out walking up the steps to Murphy requires an odd gait, one in which people must take one giant stride or two short ones on each step. (Wookie steps as so affectionately named by WKU fans LOL)
Phase four involves upgrading VIP amenities in Murphy with new club seating, suites and logos, while the fifth phase proposes a new multi-sport indoor practice facility between football practice fields and the new student-athlete facility.
“It’s a game changer for the whole campus,” Massaro said, noting from an aesthetic standpoint, “It’s going to give a person a feel that they’re on a special campus.”
Murphy Center has been such an integral part of the MTSU for more than 45 years, it’s time to “dress it up” and “put some enhancements on it.”
Once the Board of Trustees approves the plan, it would be submitted to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission for review and approval and then the State Building Commission as an amendment to the university’s campus master plan.
