UNI-Dome Renovation

[UNIpanther99]

Seems like some new info here. A potential price tag at least.

https://www.northerniowan.com/17475/...n-cedar-falls/

“The largest single project in UNI’s capital improvements plan is a three-year project for improvements to UNI-Dome restrooms and club box seating renovations, which will come to a total of $42 million, also funded through gifts and grants.”

[mwatje]

At the end of that article:

"Construction

The basketball/volleyball practice facility will be under construction for $15 million, and wrestling practice facilities for $5 million. The outdoor soccer field will also be under construction for about $2 million during the 2025 fiscal year. The sources of funds for this construction will be through gifts and grants."

[BCPanther]

The university took over fundraising and it got done. Weird.

Maybe we could be public about fundraising just once.

[sevelev711]

It's comforting to know that there's at least a modicum of competence in the university.

[mwatje]

I think it's strange how this got announced. Essentially a footnote in a Northern Iowan article. Wondering if the writer had been given some info that wasn't supposed to be released until after the Homecoming announcement. If not, then it was a strange PR decision by the University to leak out details so uneventfully.

[DomeIsHome]

I think it's strange how this got announced. Essentially a footnote in a Northern Iowan article. Wondering if the writer had been given some info that wasn't supposed to be released until after the Homecoming announcement. If not, then it was a strange PR decision by the University to leak out details so uneventfully.

Come on, you cannot be surprised by this

[FOTY]

Seems like some new info here. A potential price tag at least.

“The largest single project in UNI’s capital improvements plan is a three-year project for improvements to UNI-Dome restrooms and club box seating renovations, which will come to a total of $42 million, also funded through gifts and grants.”

It was $42 more than a year ago. Given todays economy, I’m guessing it’s at least $50M or scaled back by the time they break ground. Similar to those 1,000 additional seats in the McLeod.

[BCPanther]

I guessing we're getting a wider concourse on the west side, bathrooms, ADA compliance (seats/rails/ADA seating) and maybe a renovation of the west side suites and that's it.

Like most things at UNI, it won't get done all the way and will be already be dated 5 years after it's done, again much like the McLeod Center.

EDIT: The roof fix is $8M and in a different fiscal year. There's your $50M.

[FOTY]

There’s plenty more. For all those who have been wanting a major change on the look inside the dome, it’s included… should look and set like the McLeod!


The $8M was included in the $42M last I heard (February).

[A Fan In Lean Years]

Gee, given the chatter and disinformation from this forum, whodda thunk that Harris is INDEED doing his job, eh, friends?!

[clenz]

Gee, given the chatter and disinformation from this forum, whodda thunk that Harris is INDEED doing his job, eh, friends?!

He’s not. This was taken away from the athletic department and run by the university. It’s why it is being announced by the university as part of their capital campaign, and NOT by the athletic department as following through on the athletic strategic plan.

[A Fan In Lean Years]

He’s not. This was taken away from the athletic department and run by the university. It’s why it is being announced by the university as part of their capital campaign, and NOT by the athletic department as following through on the athletic strategic plan.

Must be why the actual article said that it's also being funded with gifts and grants, eh?

Take note: the VERY THING that the disinformationists on here say that Harris can't and doesn't do.

[UNIpanther99]

There’s plenty more. For all those who have been wanting a major change on the look inside the dome, it’s included… should look and set like the McLeod!


The $8M was included in the $42M last I heard (February).

That's very good to hear. The seats in the McLeod are comfortable, the right shade of purple, and have held up very well for 16 years. If that's what they are doing to the Dome bowl, it will look sharp.

[clenz]

Must be why the actual article said that it's also being funded with gifts and grants, eh?

Take note: the VERY THING that the disinformationists on here say that Harris can't and doesn't do.

The grants and gifts came from being part of the university's larger capital project. I've heard the numbers raised in the first 4+ years of the "Panther Rising" initiative from the AD. It wouldn't be near enough to even get a contractor to return your call. All of a sudden the university pulls the project away and a year later we have the gifts and funding to make it happen? Not a coincidence.

Again, these projects started at David's baby. It was his 5-year strategic plan. It's one of the very, very, very few public press conferences/appearances he's done in his 6.5 years as AD. If his athletic department, who BADLY, needs the positive PR managed to fund 75 million dollars in gifts (in complete secret, mind you) why would he not be the one to announce it? Why would it not be thrown out as a payoff of almost his entire 5-year strategic plan? Why is it that it gets found out, by a student reporter, at the Northern Iowan who was doing an article on the BoR review of the university? Why is it being announced as part of the university campaign, which had never made any mention of it before?

You know, at this point a number of people left on this board are actually quite connected within the Cedar Valley/University. People know things. When you hear things from people you know are connected, not on this forum but in day to day life, it is clear what the reality is. The athletic projects haven't been included in meetings/updates/communications from the AD to various committees in over a year. There's a reason for that. It kept having excuses of "It isn't ready to be presented" or "This person isn't here tonight so we can't present" but it was obvious to anyone there what was happening.


I'll ask you this. If David pulled of 75 million dollars in gifts, in secret, with zero updates to anyone on the PSC board, or any other committee that is in charge of helping fund raise, generate fans, etc. is that acceptable for how to run things?

Question 2

If David did manage to raise 75 million dollars, it would only be logical that he is on top of his ****. He is organized and the AD is well run/managed. What makes you think that is the case? I'll even let you ignore the complete failure of the marketing/PR/social media side. I'll even let you ignore the absolutely dumpster our facilities are in terms of cleanliness.

Answer that only while taking into account the BoR review of the athletic department - where it has been flagged for being poorly managed.

Ignore all of the day-to-day, public-facing, items we can all see issues with. Re-read the BoR findings when doing an internal audit, and flagging the department as being to the point of losing standing with the university. Then tell me how that matches up with the idea that the athletic director, privately, raised 75 million dollars

Athletics flagged

The UNI Athletics Department was flagged yellow in its audit report. Being flagged yellow could seriously affect a department or area within the university. The flagging involved a difficult issue requiring the attention of upper management, the audit report said.

The internal audit report stated, “The Athletics Administration audit was performed to evaluate if proper controls are in place and determine whether opportunities for improvement exist for current administration processes.”

Some of their primary recommendations include reviewing financial management practices to maintain a balanced budget and positive account balances, and to ensure that travel authorizations and advances are completed in a timely fashion. The final recommendation was making the personnel action forms and termination checklists in accordance with university policy.

“We also made recommendations related to updates needed for their handbook from their timeliness of reporting and improving the internal communication of any potential NCAA violations based on the severity and their required timelines,” Chief Audit Executive Debra Johnston said.

[Neighbor]

The grants and gifts came from being part of the university's larger capital project. I've heard the numbers raised in the first 4+ years of the "Panther Rising" initiative from the AD. It wouldn't be near enough to even get a contractor to return your call. All of a sudden the university pulls the project away and a year later we have the gifts and funding to make it happen? Not a coincidence.

Again, these projects started at David's baby. It was his 5-year strategic plan. It's one of the very, very, very few public press conferences/appearances he's done in his 6.5 years as AD. If his athletic department, who BADLY, needs the positive PR managed to fund 75 million dollars in gifts (in complete secret, mind you) why would he not be the one to announce it? Why would it not be thrown out as a payoff of almost his entire 5-year strategic plan? Why is it that it gets found out, by a student reporter, at the Northern Iowan who was doing an article on the BoR review of the university? Why is it being announced as part of the university campaign, which had never made any mention of it before?

You know, at this point a number of people left on this board are actually quite connected within the Cedar Valley/University. People know things. When you hear things from people you know are connected, not on this forum but in day to day life, it is clear what the reality is. The athletic projects haven't been included in meetings/updates/communications from the AD to various committees in over a year. There's a reason for that. It kept having excuses of "It isn't ready to be presented" or "This person isn't here tonight so we can't present" but it was obvious to anyone there what was happening.


I'll ask you this. If David pulled of 75 million dollars in gifts, in secret, with zero updates to anyone on the PSC board, or any other committee that is in charge of helping fund raise, generate fans, etc. is that acceptable for how to run things?

Question 2

If David did manage to raise 75 million dollars, it would only be logical that he is on top of his ****. He is organized and the AD is well run/managed. What makes you think that is the case? I'll even let you ignore the complete failure of the marketing/PR/social media side. I'll even let you ignore the absolutely dumpster our facilities are in terms of cleanliness.

Answer that only while taking into account the BoR review of the athletic department - where it has been flagged for being poorly managed.

Ignore all of the day-to-day, public-facing, items we can all see issues with. Re-read the BoR findings when doing an internal audit, and flagging the department as being to the point of losing standing with the university. Then tell me how that matches up with the idea that the athletic director, privately, raised 75 million dollars

One aspect CL omitted, (whether intentional or not), is the number of high level personnel that have resigned and the position not filled with competent person (save for Michelle VD). I'd love to hear those exit interviews!
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