Despite the current economic downturn, the University remains on schedule to begin construction of the new basketball arena this summer, said Charlie Fitzgerald, associate vice president and director of development.
"We are optimistic that we will be able to overcome timing issues and move on with the project schedule," Fitzgerald said.
Although many donors may be reluctant to give money during a time of economic difficulty, the University still is pushing for donations.
"We are still being aggressive in moving conversations forward with potential corporate partners," Fitzgerald said.
University officials said they expect the entire project to be completed by 2006, including the arena, road adjustments, a parking garage and a practice facility, Fitzgerald added.
Athletic Director Craig Littlepage said he does not expect the donor hesitancy to stall the project.
"It is just a matter of when donors are going to be in a position to make commitments," Littlepage said. "If the financial climate was different, we would be further along, but we have made unbelievable progress in fundraising."
Unlike colleges in many other states, such as Maryland, the University must rely entirely on private donations for the arena because Virginia does not allow its colleges to use state funding for athletic facilities, Faculty Athletics Representative Carolyn Callahan said.
The University of Maryland opened its partially state-funded Comcast Center in October, which can seat twice as many people as U-Hall, Littlepage said.
U-Hall holds about 8,500 seats, a stark contrast to the Comcast Center's 18,000-person capacity.
The Comcast Center cost about $108 million for the arena itself, with $58 million coming from the state of Maryland and $50 million from private contributors, according to Joe Hull, Maryland senior associate athletic director for external operations.
The state spent another $18 million for road and parking improvements in surrounding areas to accommodate both arena-goers during events and faculty and student commuters on a daily basis, Hull added.
Thus far, U.Va. has raised about $60 million and aims at a long-term total of $100 million, Fitzgerald said.
"We have raised more money privately than anyone has in the whole country for the same purpose," Fitzgerald said.
The planned 15,000-seat arena is designed to be a multi-use facility with the ability to accommodate most, if not all, of the undergraduate student body, Littlepage said.
"We are the last school in the ACC to engage in a major project supporting the basketball programs," Littlepage said. "Each school has built a new arena, practice facility or coach's office, so we are behind the curve from that standpoint."
Despite this setback, Littlepage said he is "pleased to be as far along as we are."
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