David Jones

FLORIDA TODAY

GAINESVILLE - Florida's athletic budget for the 2014-15 school year was approved by the University Athletic Association, the department's fundraising arm, on Tuesday. While the numbers are very similar to last year - an increase of more than $3 million over last year to $103,310,001 - it included plans for a couple of projects that could hold a major key to the future.

Gators athletic director Jeremy Foley announced plans to hire an engineer to draw up plans on the $50 million renovation of the O'Connell Center - which will cost over $2.7 million. The hope is to play the first portion of the 2015-16 basketball season on the road while the work is being completed, with the start date tentatively after the completion of next season.

Foley said after the UAA meeting that Florida still needs to raise about $15 million. Once the work is done, the facility will be a major upgrade with a new "hard'' roof, multiple levels of premium spaces with a new central entry and concourse.

A permanent seating bowl is part of the plans with a multi-functional space to accomodate lectures, receptions or banquets. And it's not if the renovation will be done. It's already under way in some ways - like planning games at different locations in the pre-SEC season while the facility is being finished.

"The basketball schedule for 2015-16 is being worked on as we speak . . . we've received a lot of interest, as you can imagine, from cities around the state,'' Foley said. "We'll piece it together.''

He expects that part of "the process'' to finalized in the next 7-8 months, as far as scheduling "home'' games outside of the O'Connell Center. It will likely be 6-7 games and response has already been overwhelming with every major city in the state wanting to host a game. Foley won't allow it to turn into a bidding war, though, because he wants to spread games around Florida for all the fans to get a chance to see one of the games.

The second major project is a $23 million renovation of the office of student life and academic advisement center, adding more than 40,000 square feet, a 125-seat auditorium, a sports medicine research area, etc., which Foley feels will provide a huge boost in recruiting.

A $1.75 million design is also about to begin, with a target date in July. A major donation is expected on the academic facility while fundraising continues on the basketball facility. Foley projects the facility could be completed in 18 months and called it a "game changer.''

Florida is also about to do $450,000 in practice facility field improvements - basically replacing the entire practice facility surface as soon as the summer camp for prep stars ends. There has been speculation that an indoor practice facility could be in the works but Foley said that's not a priority at the moment, adding: "Never say never.''

Ticket sales were a major item of interest this spring after Florida suffered through a miserable season last fall, winning just four games. But Foley said sales for this fall have matched last season.

"Gator fans are amazingly consistent,'' Foley said. "Their loyalty has been that way as long as I've been here and this year is no different. . . . They're not wavering at all.''

Foley also said the plans to sit down with several coaches about their contracts - including softball coach Tim Walton and gymnastics coach Rhonda Faehn who both won national titles. He noted UF is proactive in taking care of coaches and "making sure we do the right things.''

The UAA budget revealed some other tidbits: