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Work gets started on YSU’s WATTS Center
IAA Fan:
Work gets started on YSU’s WATTS Center
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
Youngstown State University began preparing for the WATTS Center, background, on Monday. The university hopes to have the facility completed by the end of this year.
Youngstown State University got started on its groundbreaking new indoor facility Monday, even if the official groundbreaking is at least a few weeks away.
Construction began on the $10 million WATTS (Watson and Tressel Indoor Training Site) Center, which will be built on the site of YSU’s outdoor track.
University officials hope the facility will be finished by the end of the year. The 125,000-square foot building will have a football field, a track, batting cages, training rooms and offices.
“The joke was that the facility would have something for every team but swimming,” said Matt Morrone, YSU’s athletic business manager. “But even they can use it to run in the offseason.”
The school has secured about half the funding for the project, Morrone said. The first $1 million was donated in 2007 by former YSU football coach Jim Tressel, his wife Ellen and Frank and Norma Watson.
“Obviously if anyone is still willing to give, we’re more than willing to accept,” Morrone said, chuckling.
YSU will be the first school in the Horizon League with an indoor facility, which will allow the Penguins to host the indoor conference track and field meet, as well as area high school indoor meets. It will also be a big tool in recruiting, Morrone said.
And while the WATTS is closely associated with football, the facility will be available for regular students and faculty, too.
“It’s really great for the whole university, not just athletics,” Morrone said.
YSU plans to hold the official groundbreaking at a later date. The school wants Tressel to attend but the Ohio State football coach is currently unavailable due to the Buckeyes’ spring practice.
Penguin Nick:
I thought the WATTS Center was going to be built across 5th Ave. from the stadium. So I guess YSU will no longer have an outdoor track?
IAA Fan:
--- Quote from: Penguin Nick on April 13, 2010, 10:30:30 AM ---I thought the WATTS Center was going to be built across 5th Ave. from the stadium. So I guess YSU will no longer have an outdoor track?
--- End quote ---
I have been trying to get an answer for that question for months now. I will let you know what I find.
ysuhoops24:
It's my understanding from what I have read and in talking to student athletes on campus is that the current track will be torn out. This will then be replaced with the WATTS center which will have an indoor track. The indoor track from my understanding is way more valuable than an outdoor do to the fact that half the season is indoor season. It is my understanding the team uses Kent States facility a few days a week to practice in their indoor facility, and also make use of the gyms inside of the stadium.
I've heard that the planse for across 5th avenue call for a softball stadium and new tennis courts. I'm not sure why new tennis courts because for the most part the teams make use of the Boardman Tennis Center for most if not all the matches and for most pracitces. So where does this leave the track program...well you got Libertys track right up 5th avenue, and Girards right up 422, I'm sure they could figure something out with one/ or both of them if they need an outdoor track. I would think it would be easier to make that trip than repeated trips to Kent for an indoor facility through the year. I just hope they don't let football use this facility because like a certain troll on thei board says..I hate the football team ::)
jjysuwin:
LOL troll you gotta come harder then that. Sticks and stones!
Anyway drove past it today, the track is still in place, some areas are coverd over by dirt. The main sod is almost all the way up. Not sure about new Tennis Courts, but a new softball, soccer field and track are proposed for the west end of 5th ave.
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