WILLIAMSBURG — As the Kaplan Arena addition and Mackesy Sports Performance Center near completion on the campus of William & Mary, local architects, William & Mary officials, and media were invited to a behind-the-scenes tour.
Stops on the tour included the new men’s and women’s basketball locker rooms, the hydrotherapy and sports medicine facilities, the practice court that can be used by all teams, the weight room, coaching staff offices, strength and conditioning areas and loading docks.
With a targeted opening date in December, the new center will provide a centralized home for all student-athletes at William & Mary, regardless of sport.
“There are a lot of athletics departments around the country that are building sport-specific facilities all over campus. We’re doubling down on one magnet for the majority of our student athletes,” explained Brian Mann, Director of Athletics, in a summer interview with WYDaily.
Funds for the project were secured through donations and money allocated by the university. The estimated cost of the project is $67 million.
The project comes on the heels of fan upgrade experiences at Kaplan Arena. The arena’s upgrades feature a new sound system, scoreboard and lighting. The university is also looking into options to upgrade seating and concessions as the next step in the project.
“It not only helps us put on a better event, whether we’re hosting men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, or men’s and women’s gymnastics. It’s also allowed us to attract and better support university and campus events and gatherings in that space,” Mann said.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place once construction is complete. For more information on the project, visit tribeathletics.com/feature/wmcomplex