Last month, Notre Dame announced plans to build a new indoor facility for the school's football and soccer teams. The Irish have an indoor facility now, the Loftus Sports Center, but it "serves as a practice and/or competition facility for many of the University’s 26 varsity athletics programs, recreational and club sports, the marching band and other activities."
The 114,000-square foot Indoor Athletics Center is scheduled to open next summer.
“Much as we have done with our approach to the Compton Family Ice Arena and the recent additions surrounding the football stadium, our focus when developing athletic facilities is to create uses that extend beyond varsity athletics,” AD Jack Swarbrick said. “In this instance, in addition to creating what we believe will be the best indoor football practice facility in the country, we are creating additional recreational, club sport and community opportunities, while also ensuring that the students on our other varsity teams are practicing at times that allow for a more typical student experience.”
Notre Dame has released a sneak peek of its new indoor facility.
The pointed ceiling gives the facility a church-like feel, does it not? And given that -- combined with Notre Dame's Catholic affiliation -- it certainly seems like the standard windows should be replaced with the stained glass variety.