Jan. 18, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - When construction was completed inside the new UCF Arena in September, work on a new project was just beginning. Since the fall, crews have been working on a 50,000-square feet renovation of the old UCF Arena.
Once completed, the old arena will house two basketball practice courts, UCF's volleyball court, coaches offices and locker rooms for several sports, an equipment room and a small weight room.
Balfour Beatty Construction, the same firm that built the new arena, is aiming for an early-spring completion date at the old facility.
The upper-level bleachers have been removed and walls have been built to partition off the two practice courts. Currently, the UCF men's and women's basketball teams practice inside the new arena.
Both practice courts will have six total baskets, scoreboards and shot clocks. Hardwood floors for the two courts will be built on location in February, according to UCF assistant athletics director for facilities Joe Simon. The wood has already been delivered and is being stored on the arena's main floor.
Crews will build the floors first, then paint and resurface.
The old arena will connect to the new facilities' north side, below the new UCF Arena student section. UCF's basketball teams will have redesigned locker rooms and lounges inside the old building.
Offices for several coaching staffs are being constructed on the second floor of the arena in the area which was once the building's main entrance.
Starting in the fall, the Knights' volleyball team will play all of its home contests in the old arena. This past season, the squad played its matches in the new UCF Arena.
The old arena originally opened in 1991.
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