Renovating the Roundhouse a possibility

By Joe Kleinsasser

Levitt Arena's concourse becomes congested quickly during men’s basketball games as people jockey to get to their seats and the lower-level rest rooms and line up at concession stands. It's one of the problems that would be remedied with possible renovations.

If money were no object, perhaps Wichita State would build a new arena. But money is an issue. So too is location and history.

Levitt Arena has served WSU well for nearly 50 years, but age is taking its toll. There are numerous maintenance needs, and the entire infrastructure needs attention.

The concourse in the aging arena is crowded, rest rooms are outdated, and there’s a lack of space for concessions, locker rooms, and weight and training rooms.

Constituents have made their voices heard. Rather than build a new arena or participate in a downtown arena, most Shocker enthusiasts want to keep Levitt Arena. They also support giving the Roundhouse a major facelift.

A major renovation isn’t cheap -in the $15-20 million range- but it's only about half as expensive as a new arena.

In the next month or so Athletics Director Jim Schaus will have hard figures on renovating Levitt Arena from sports architect HOK in Kansas City, Mo., and local architectural firm McCluggage Van Sickle and Perry. He firmly believes that after years of talk and studies, something must be done.

"It's important to note that a renovated Levitt Arena would provide increased opportunities for students, faculty and staff for a variety of activities," Schaus says.

"A climate-controlled environment (air conditioning and proper amenities) would attract more campus activities and increased community activities. We already house a lot of high school and community college basketball games, the Shrine Circus and commencement, so it could be a real beacon of pride for the entire university and community to have a renovated, contemporary Levitt Arena.

"Levitt Arena is a great facility. It was on the cutting edge 45 years ago. It just needs to be upgraded and renovated."

Since becoming athletics director last summer, Schaus has sought input from athletic department staff, campus constituency groups, Shocker Athletic Scholarship Organization, faculty, student government representatives, student athletes and the community on what is important and what is needed to succeed in athletics.

Helping the men's basketball program achieve excellence and renovating Levitt Arena were the top two priorities. Schaus says the two go hand in hand.

"Facilities play a key role in recruiting," says Schaus. "Recruiting plays a key role in winning. Winning obviously fosters revenue generation and the ability for programs to be successful to gain the kind of notoriety that does the university proud and our community proud as well."

Schaus emphasizes that Levitt Arena is much more than a basketball arena. "There's tremendous equity and pride built into Levitt Arena, so we’re following the path of our constituents and the people we’ve interviewed as to how to proceed in this plan."

No commitment has been made to a fund-raising campaign just yet, although Schaus says, "We're committed to renovate the facility in some capacity in a phased plan.

"We will not move forward until we know there’s support for a project. But I can't gather myself to say we’re not going to find a way to do some things to help improve it and move forward.

"I just believe in my heart that we can do it. It's critical for our community, for our university and our athletic program to do it, and we’re going to find a way to get it done."

The potential project has three main components. The first involves the renovation of the seating bowl. That project would include building a new court, replacing current seats, and increasing the width of rows for some sections for more comfortable seating.

Another phase is the concourse. The general plan would involve moving the wall to the skin of the building's shell. The widened concourse would allow for rest rooms and concessions around the inside of the concourse.

The displaced offices could be relocated into a new adjoining facility between Levitt Arena and Cessna Stadium. The basement level could house expanded locker rooms and training facilities. The first and second floors might house administrative offices, ticket office, places for entertaining, coaches, offices, and an academic center. Parking would be only minimally affected.

Adjusting the exterior of the building also is under review. However, according to Schaus, any changes would have to maintain the intimacy and historical value of the arena.

The general plan calls for a seating capacity of at least 10,000, or something very close to the present capacity. "This is not an expansion project," says Schaus. "I don’t think our goal is to add more seats, but we want to stay at a top Division I level."

Hopes, dreams and plans aside, it's all about money.

"I think people like Levitt Arena, and they know that the facility is antiquated. It does affect recruiting.

"I think the feeling is people want to have a winner here and have our basketball program return to knocking on the door to win the league and be in the NCAA tournament. This could be the springboard that gets us there. If people understand that and see it as a strategic step to help us achieve that goal, then I believe that they’ll participate and make this dream happen."

The shape of that dream is expected to come into clearer focus later this year.