Regents approve design phase of indoor practice facility

The Board of Regents gave approval to move forward with the design phase of a $20 million indoor practice facility for football on Thursday.

The facility will be constructed behind the TDECU Stadium Parking Garage and next to the stadium. The space is occupied by a surface parking lot.

“An indoor practice facility will continue to provide the best possible tools for our program to recruit and compete at a national level,” Vice President for Athletics Hunter Yurachek said in a news release. “We are thankful that Dr. Khator and our Board of Regents value this facility’s importance for our program, and more importantly, for our student-athlete experience.”

The announcement of the construction is unsurprising, as a stipulation in head coach Tom Herman’s contract states that his buyout price would decrease if a plan for an indoor facility was not approved by Sept. 1, 2016.

His buyout will decrease by 50 and then 75 percent if the facility is not nearing completion by December 2017 and 2018 respectively.

“This is a vital facility for our program, and we cannot be more appreciative for the vision from our administration in Dr. Khator, Hunter Yurachek and our Board of Regents,” Herman said in a news release. “We emphasize championship preparation with a fanatical effort, and having an indoor facility and a football-specific weight room maximizes our efficiency in competing for championships.”

Construction is scheduled to begin in the fall, depending on if the Board of Regents approves a final design and findings.

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