Missouri State expected to spend millions on upgrades to athletics facilities
Missouri State will soon undergo several renovations to multiple athletic facilities across different sports. Millions of dollars will be put into the different construction projects.
The facility upgrades are expected to be passed during Friday's Board of Governors meeting. It includes upgrades for football, baseball and soccer teams. It also makes room for Missouri State's previously announced new sports that will begin competition in the fall.
Missouri State football to receive new locker rooms
Paid for by private funds, the football locker room will be upgraded for a fixed fee of $279,927 and will be designed by Hood-Rich Architecture.
The renovation will include upgraded space while improving the mechanical systems and relocating the primary interest at Forsythe Athletics Center. The locker room suite will expand to include a lobby and a team lounge, and the restroom and shower area will be enlarged. Hallway modifications will include "to improve the presence of the football team within the building."
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Missouri State, at one point in recent years, attempted to obtain funds to build a facility in the south endzone at Plaster Stadium which would have included the team's locker room, a club, team meeting rooms and coaches offices. The cost, in 2021, was said to be around $21 million. The approved renovations appear to be an audible.
Over $2 million will go into Hammons Student Center upgrades
A $2.7 million project will go into improvements at Hammons Student Center, making room for locker rooms for STUNT and Acrobatics and Tumbling programs, along with a weight room.
Work is scheduled to be completed by the fall.
The west gym's storage at the facility will be converted into space for the new athletics programs. Costs include replacing the flooring in different rooms, new wall finishing and additional light fixtures.
Other construction costs include mercury abatement, removal of bleachers and card reader installation and storage. It is being paid by the President's Program Enhancement fund.
Missouri State baseball to receive upgrades to Hammons Field facility
Also through private funding, Missouri State will renovate the Bears' training facility at Hammons Field for $257,944. The upgrade will take place in the Bears' space in the building shared with the Springfield Cardinals. It will include remodeling the team's weight room, a classroom, two offices and an expansion to the training room.
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"This project is poised to elevate the facility to modern standards, providing functionality and improved amenities for the baseball program," the agenda said.
Missouri State soccer will have a new playing surface
Renovations to the Missouri State soccer stadium will also include a new turf field, which was previously announced. The turf will cost $689,488 which is included in the $820,000 construction cost at Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium. Work is scheduled to be done by the fall semester. It is being paid for by the University Recreation Center and the President's Program Enhancement fund.
Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email at wwheeler@news-leader.com or X at @WyattWheeler_NL.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri State athletics facility upgrades: Football, baseball, soccer
