MANKATO, Minn. -
In the summer time there are plenty of practice fields andgreen space on MSU's campus for athletes to hone their skills.
But when the Minnesota winter rolls around, activities needto move inside and university officials say there just isn't enough room.
MSU Director of Athletics Kevin Buisman says, "With14,000 student and 60% of those students involved in some type of interminablerecreation or club sport activity, we know that we've kind of met court spacecommunity both in true community and on our campus."
University officials believe a sports bubble on campus couldaddress that need.
But to know for sure, they have turned to Sports FacilityDevelopment & Management Group to begin a feasibility study.
Owner Mark Bigelbach says, "We take the dream and narrowit down to some reality and that means what is possible and what the costs willbe to do it."
The university can't sustain a sports bubble on their own, sothe group will evaluate the campus, community, and regional interest, and scoutout any potential private sources of support for the project.
Buisman says, "We will see what really is the demand andgive people an opportunity to put their money where their mouth is in terms ofare they really interested in renting this kind of facility."
This afternoon you could find the baseball team, members ofthe track team, and community members all in Meyers Field house at once. Itshows there is a need; the feasibility study will show exactly what that needis.
Bigelbach says, "It doesn't mean it is particularly adome or a permanent dome or whatever but we are going to gather a lot ofinformation and it is going to tell us something."
The feasibility study will be done by the end of March.
A public meeting on the project is set for tonightfrom 6:30 to 8:30 tonight in Taylor Center, Room 80.
