CLEMSON — The Clemson Board of Trustees Finances and Facilities Committee met Thursday afternoon at the Madren Center in Clemson with a couple action items on the agenda to approve.
The committee decided on one of those action items and turned another over for discussion during the BOT’s full board meeting on Friday.
As expected, the committee unanimously approved Phase II renovations to Littlejohn Coliseum. Final approval will go to the full board on Friday.
Construction on the $40 million project will begin in December with an estimated completion date in September of 2026. Seating is not expected to be impacted by the construction.
No action was taken by the Finances and Facilities Committee on admission fees for non-Clemson Athletic events and a student athletics fee. According to sources, these items were passed off to the full board to discuss and vote on Friday afternoon.
The Clemson Insider learned the athletic department is seeking clarification for requirements when it comes to adding bond fees for non-athletic events that are using athletic facilities. Events such as the Savannah Bannas appearance at Memorial Stadium on April 26 or future NCAA or College Football Playoff events hosted by Clemson Athletics.
As for the athletic fee for students, Clemson is looking for the board to approve roughly a $150 athletic fee per semester to be charged to students. Currently, Clemson is the only public college in the state that does not require its students to pay athletic fees.
The average cost of athletic fees by other public colleges or universities in the state is $1,000. The University of South Carolina already charges its students an athletic fee roughly around $150.
TCI also learned from sources that student athletic fees have no direct correlation with the House vs. The NCAA settlement. Clemson Athletic Director Graham Neff will address the board Friday to give his quarterly update prior to the BOT’s vote on all action items on the agenda.
As for the basketball renovations, Phase I was approved last July. The project is privately funded through IPTAY and boosters Jim and Candace Brown.
The project includes renovations of more than 51,000 square feet of existing team spaces and 30,000 square feet of new construction to Littlejohn Coliseum and Swann Pavilion, benefiting both men’s and women’s basketball programs and gymnastics.
Anticipated facility improvements include further development of operations and technology in the women’s basketball team spaces, practice gym, offices and recruiting areas. Additionally, the improvements include modernization and expansion to shared strength & conditioning, nutrition, and sports medicine spaces. Some of the newly constructed spaces include men’s basketball team areas, offices, and practice gym.
Upon completion, each program will have its own designated practice gym, updated offices and team areas, as well as improved performance spaces. Externally, modified site circulation on the exterior along with a new expanded patio and plaza opportunity at the corner of the facility are included for the teams.
Littlejohn Coliseum last underwent major renovation beginning in May 2015. The $63.5 million renovation was completed prior to the 2016-17 season, which also added the Swann Pavilion and Burton Gallery. The existing building originally was constructed beginning in 1966 and opened for the first time on November 30, 1968.
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