MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The past few years, the University of Memphis' mantra has been Driven By Doing, and the momentum behind it has reached and touched every area of the campus. Tigers Athletics has played a huge role in the UofM's drive, and that continues this summer with the renovation of the historic Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
The Elma Roane Fieldhouse, home of the Memphis women's basketball program, is slated to undergo an extensive $3.5 million facelift that will update the gym's appearance and add amenities for both players and fans. The construction begins immediately with the gym portion of the project completed by the start of the 2020-21 campaign.
Work on the Elma Roane Fieldhouse lobby will continue throughout the season, and details for access to women's basketball home games will be released at a later date. The renovations were designed by local design firm, Fleming Architects.
"This is an impactful and significant upgrade to the home of our women's basketball program," said Director of Athletics Laird Veatch. "Our goal is to improve the fan experience, drive attendance and impact our homecourt advantage. We are very thankful to everyone who has helped make this project a reality."
The Elma Roane Fieldhouse upgrades include:
- modify existing concrete risers to provide greater row-to-row spacing and install new arena chairback seating
- add new acoustical wall panels inside the gymnasium
- repaint all walls, risers, flooring and structure
- replace all ceiling tiles
- renovate team benches and press area
- add air conditioning and heating in the lobby and concourse restrooms
- replace all flooring, windows and paint in the lobby
- renovate men's and women's restrooms
- update concession stands
"Whenever we are able to raise the profile of Memphis women's basketball, I am elated," said head coach Melissa McFerrin, who enters her 13th year at the helm of the program in 2020-21. "These changes will dramatically improve the student-athlete experience, the in-game fan experience and the appeal of our facilities in recruiting."
The current $3.5 million project to the Elma Roane Fieldhouse is the second significant upgrade to the facility in recent years. The last renovation was a two-phase plan – which began in 2011 – that improved the "behind-the-scenes" areas of the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
The first phase gave the women's basketball program updates to its space just off the playing floor. The makeover included new locker rooms for players and coaches; a coaches' meeting room; a doctor's examination room; a meeting/video room and a student-athlete lounge area that can cater many different team functions.
The second part of the previous renovation was state-of-the-art upgrades for the athletic training and strength and conditioning areas, which are located on the first floor of the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
In that phase, racquetball courts in the Elma Roane Fieldhouse were converted into a strength and conditioning space that houses top-of-the-line equipment on which student-athletes can train. The strength and conditioning equipment came to the Tigers courtesy of a gift from the Helen and Jabie Hardin Charitable Trust.
Adjacent to the strength and conditioning area is an athletic training facility where student-athletes can receive treatment and be prepped for games. One of the training tables can also serve as a massage table. The athletic training facility also has a hydrotherapy pool to aid in treatments. Just outside the athletic training area are two cardio fitness platforms. One platform houses six treadmills, while another consists of a four-lane, indoor track to work on sprints.
The Elma Roane Fieldhouse, formerly known as Memorial Fieldhouse, was built in in the early 1950s and opened its doors for the 1951-52 men's basketball season on Dec. 6, 1951. The men's basketball program played games at the facility until 1964 and used it as a practice facility through the 1999-2000 season. It also served as the home for women's volleyball, but that program is moving its regular-season matches to the Larry O. Finch Center this fall.
The Fieldhouse is named after Elma Neal Roane, a pioneer for women's athletics at Memphis and in the Mid-South until her death in 2011. Roane, the former women's athletics director at the University, had the fieldhouse named in her honor in 1993 for her more than 45 years of service to the UofM as a student, athlete, coach, professor and administrator.
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June 27, 2020 at 12:13AM
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Elma Roane Fieldhouse renovations to start this summer - Memphis Official Athletic Site
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