The construction of the Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena is projected to be a slam dunk when it is completed Nov. 12.
The project has added a new courtside club lounge, a TCU Athletics Hall of Fame and more locker room space for both men and women, said Harold Leeman, the planning, design and construction director for the TCU Physical Plant.
Leeman said the new amenities will offer a new viewpoint for casual and dedicated fans alike.
“I think it will greatly enhance the experience of a normal fan for a game, but I am sure that it will be a destination for many just to come and walk through the Hall of Fame,” Leeman said. “The Courtside Club will be a spectacular place for the TCU donors to come before – and during – the game for food and drink.”
Thomas Merryman, a junior film, television and digital media major, said he has not stepped foot inside the arena since his freshman orientation. He said he has never had an interest in basketball, but all the new changes have gotten him curious.
“I think the student body is going to be affected positively by it,” Merryman said. “They have the morale of their team being in some place that is grand and someplace that they can take pride in being apart of.”
Some students said they are more excited about the non-sports related opportunities the new space will offer them.
“I’m excited to be the first to graduate in there,” said George Downham, a senior accounting major.
The arena, which was previously known as the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum, has undergone a $72 million renovation, which began after the 2013-14 basketball season.