Pit Renovations

Three years and $60 million later, The Pit will look a little different, but not the important parts.

by BRIAN GATES

The Pit is New Mexico’s most popular building and student attendance was up 40 percent last season. So if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it right? The 41-year-old University Arena isn’t broken, just outdated.

There is an awful lot to be addressed in a 40-year-old building,” said Tim Cass, associate director of athletics for the University of New Mexico.

Photo by Brian Gates

The nickname "The Pit" adorns the building above University Arena's Northeast ticket office

History

The UNM men’s basketball team played its games in Johnson Gym until 1966 when the Pit was constructed for $1.4 million.

The Pit’s rich history includes an unforgettable NCAA championship game, national recognition for being one of the top arenas, and years of home court advantage for the Lobos.

The arena seats 18,018, a number which was reached on two occasions last season, and is known throughout college basketball for its 6th man.

Upgrades

The building’s main structure is one of the things that concern the University the most.

“Air conditioning, heating systems, lighting and IT are a lot of what will be upgraded,” Cass, who is overseeing the renovations, said.

Other upgrades will include new boxes and two new video boards at the North and South ends of the stadium. The boxes will be added in the mezzanine, but Cass said that the attendance will remain 18,018.

“One of our main priorities is for the Pit to have the same mystique,” Cass said. “We won’t be changing the court, or rearranging any of the seats.”

Cass also said that the university would address security and parking issues. No additional parking is to be added, but there is a possibility of dirt parking lots getting paved.

Schedule

Cass said the project will take close to two years to be completed and the University hopes to have the renovations done before the 2009/2010 season. Cass said construction will begin this summer, but he is not sure if any projects will be completed by the beginning of the next season.

Cost

Cass said the renovations will cost approximately $60 million, nearly 43 times the cost of the original building. Some of the money came from Bill Richardson who gave $8 million for upgrades in 2006. Other funding is coming from ticket sales, alumni, and other bonds received by the university.

Reasons

Cass said that potential basketball recruits have been notified in detail of the renovation plans and that they have responded positively. Cass didn’t think that the renovations would have a direct effect on attendance in the future, but may cause other things that will.

“I think fans will come based on the team’s performance not the arena,” Cass said.

“But we might be able to get a better schedule. People like to play in fresh arenas.”

The Pit has not held men’s NCAA tournament games since 2005 though it holds women’s tournament games nearly every year.

“The goal for UNM will always be to attract people, whether it’s the NCAA tournament or the NIT,” Cass said.

Women’s tournament games are still scheduled while the Pit is under construction.

“One of our biggest obstacles will be scheduling construction around events in the arena whether it’s high school basketball, or graduations.” Cass said.

With last year’s coaching renovation, and subsequent wins and losses renovation, lobo fans have a lot to look forward to.

Written April 15, 2008

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