Notre Dame Planning New Athletics Center
The University of Notre Dame has announced plans for a new athletics facility it says will expand the indoor space for three varsity programs. Construction on the more than 111,000-square-foot Irish Indoor Athletics Center is expected to begin soon and be complete in July 2019.
Notre Dame did not say how much money is being invested in the facility, but says it has been underwritten by gifts from a number of benefactors. The building, which will be used as an indoor practice facility for the university’s football and men’s and women’s soccer programs, will be constructed on the western-most field of the LaBar Practice Complex.
"Much as we have done with our approach to the Compton Family Ice Arena and the recent additions surrounding the football stadium, our focus when developing athletic facilities is to create uses that extend beyond varsity athletics," said Jack Swarbrick, director of athletics at Notre Dame. "In this instance, in addition to creating what we believe will be the best indoor football practice facility in the country, we are creating additional recreational, club sport and community opportunities, while also ensuring that the students on our other varsity teams are practicing at times that allow for a more typical student experience."
Notre Dame says the new facility will also provide greater access to the Loftus Sports Center, which is in heavy demand and has been used at least 18 hours per day during the winter months. The Irish Indoor Athletics Center could also be used to host campus-wide and community events, sports camps, recreational and club sports, pep rallies, game-day hospitality and other programming, according to the university.
Vice President for Student Affairs Erin Hoffman Harding says creating more use for the Loftus Sports Center will benefit the student body in general.