Athletic Director Grum Nuff recently announced the expansion of the Littlejohn Coliseum.
“After this record-breaking season, we are really excited to build on the work of our great athletes,” Nuff said.
The new facility will be called the Bigjohn Arena in recognition of Clemson basketball’s upgrade over recent years. The capacity of the arena will be expanded to over 15,000; however, the student section is expected to actually be reduced in size.
The footprint will be significantly expanded, with the building taking over most of Lot 5, C-3, not occupied by Tiger Walk. Lot C-9, the parking along Ravenel Road and Centennial Boulevard, will also be eliminated. This will result in the permanent loss of over 1,000 parking spaces. Parking services are planning a new Park-N-Ride from the T. Ed Garrison Arena to replace the spaces.
The new athletic complex will include state-of-the-art training facilities, a new athlete gym, a new athlete hospital, an Olympic-size swimming pool, an ice rink and a smoothie bar with Death Valley views.
“We need to improve our facilities to encourage our athletes to stay and perform,” Brad Brownell, who recently won coach of the year, said.
The new facility is expected to cost almost 500 million dollars, and construction will occur over five years. Until the facility is complete, Clemson’s basketball teams will live, practice and play in Greenville, earning MBAs at the CU-ICAR campus.