<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4Lzqcy_0tJVotzT00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4Lzqcy_0tJVotzT00" width="1043" height="546" >A new donation could continue to supercharge one of the biggest Vandy United projects. Vanderbilt announced Thursday that an anonymous donor will match up to $20 million in gifts from alumni to support the Commodores' men's and women's basketball operations building and practice facility, which remains under construction in the north end zone of Vanderbilt Stadium.Work on the facility has been underway for multiple years. Sources previously told 247Sports that estimations for the facility's open varied from summer 2024 through late fall 2024. Vanderbilt's press release said that the facility will open this fall. "I'm grateful for this generous gift supporting a best-in-class facility that has gone from the drawing board to groundbreaking to soon opening its doors to our student-athletes," said Vanderbilt athletic director Candice Storey Lee in a statement. "Vandy United and the Dare to Grow campaign are about what we can accomplish, together. Games and seasons end, but our bonds as Vanderbilt alumni are lifelong. Our student-athletes play for each other because they are part of a larger community where people challenge and support each other every day. By also bringing together former student-athletes and alumni through a matching gift to support Vandy United, this far-reaching pledge embodies teamwork in action."The facility will serve as the full-time home of both basketball programs once it is fully operational. One source indicated to 247Sports that the facility is expected to be the SEC's nicest upon completion.In addition, the facility will house football seating on the side of the building that faces Vanderbilt Stadium. That seating will be open for the 2024 football season with fans entering through the basketball facility.New men's basketball coach Mark Byington has already benefited from enhanced support via NIL on top of the coming practice facility. The Commodores have added 10 transfers, holding 247Sports' <a href="https://247sports.com/college/vanderbilt/season/2024-basketball/commits/">No. 27-ranked class of incoming transfers</a> as Byington has sought to revamp the roster."The operations center and practice facility made it clear to me that Vanderbilt is committed to competing at a championship level," Byington said in a statement. "From world-class academics to SEC competition to everything Nashville offers, Vanderbilt is the best of the best. This facility lives up to that standard. Thanks to this generous donor, it's going to be a big part of unlocking this program's untapped potential and building something this community can be excited to support."Meanwhile, women's basketball coach Shea Ralph enters her fourth season at the helm after having completed a key stage of the program's rebuild by leading the Commodores to the NCAA Tournament last season, including a win over Columbia in the First Four."I'm tremendously grateful for this supporter's generosity and excited to see our community rise to the challenge offered," Ralph said in a statement. "Memorial Gymnasium at full roar is an unsurpassed home-court advantage on game day, and the operations center and practice facility will provide an invaluable at-home advantage every day for our student-athletes, coaches and staff. This will be a home where our basketball family can grow and thrive for years to come."</div></body>

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Vanderbilt basketball receives $20 million donation for operations facility, to open in fall

A new donation could continue to supercharge one of the biggest Vandy United projects. Vanderbilt announced Thursday that an anonymous donor will match up to $20 million in gifts from alumni to support the Commodores' men's and women's basketball operations building and practice facility, which remains under construction in the north end zone of Vanderbilt Stadium.

Vanderbilt basketball receives $20 million donation for operations facility, to open in fall

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