Carver Hawkeye Arena Bursting at the Seams, Renovation Planned

IOWA CITY - The University of Iowa's Carver Hawkeye Arena is "bursting at the seams," UI Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Gary Barta said.  With Carver continuing to grow beyond its limits, Barta discussed Thursday what's in store for the Arena's planned $35-45 million overhaul.

Closets have been converted to office space.  The strength and conditioning room, initially designed to suit only the men's basketball program, now serves hundreds.  Multiple sports programs are in dire need of additional practice courts, and the 15,500 person capacity arena holds only one elevator. 

"Its gotten to the point where we had to get it done,"  Barta said.  "We finished up with Kinnick Stadium [renovations] and were able to step up to the next big project." The $89 million Kinnick Stadium renovation was completed in August 2006. 

When Carver Hawkeye Arena was built 25 years ago, its focus was men's basketball only.  "Women's athletics wasn't nearly at its current level," conceded Barta.  Today it's a different story.  Carver is currently shared by the women's basketball team, the men's basketball team and the volleyball program.  Carver is also used for university gymnastics and wrestling events.  "We have to have more practice courts," Barta said simply.

The Athletic Department has contracted former Kinnick Stadium renovators Neumann Monson Architects to create the official plans.   Planned are two additional practice courts, as well as a massive expansion of the strength and conditioning room from 1,800 square feet to 8-10 thousand square feet.  

Improving fan experience is also being considered.  Barta discussed an increase in access points, noting the lack of elevators in particular, though the arena's capacity will not increase.  "With today's [building] codes, we wouldn't even be allowed to build [Carver]," Barta said.   Barta noted that with the addition of two practice courts, the men's basketball, women's basketball, and volleyball team would all be able to practice simultaneously.

The Athletic Department's next major step is to seek final approval from the Board of Regents this June.  The renovation is planned as a two year project to start in early 2009, though Carver will still remain functional during construction. 

"We'll just have to work around it during certain times of the year," said Barta, comparing the situation to the Kinnick Stadium renovation process.  Final construction plans are still far off, though Barta is hoping to have them finalized by January 1, 2009.   What the new Carver will actually look like is still unknown.

None of the Athletic Department's $61.5 million budget is derived from student fees, tuition, or state taxes.  Approximately $21 million comes from private sector fundraising, while ticket sales, radio, TV, and merchandise income fill out the rest of the budget.  The men's basketball and football teams are the only two programs at the UI where the income is greater than the cost of operation.  As such,  men's football and basketball income is used to support the additional 22 UI sports programs and 700 UI student athletes. 

"Athletics is not the most important thing on our campus," said Barta, conceding that it is, however, the most reported on.  "We try to keep that in perspective.  Our mission is education."