Collegiate Stadium Feasibility Study for University of Houston
Project Overview
As a school with a proud athletic history but antiquated facilities, the University of Houston is embarking upon a long term planning process to enhance its athletic facilities and improve its athletic operations. With a football stadium and basketball arena that are among the oldest and smallest in their conference and ever-increasing competition to lure lucrative television contracts and top flight talent as schools consolidate their power, it is essential that the University is dynamic and adaptive to the rapidly evolving landscape of collegiate sports. In order to best position themselves in the near term and plan for long term success, the Houston Athletic Department is undergoing an exhaustive evaluation process to explore the feasibility of renovating or replacing Robertson Stadium and Hofheinz Pavilion, while also examining everyday business practices and revenue opportunities.
Our Role
The University of Houston Athletic Department hired JMI Sports to provide consultation in regards to its facility needs and business operations. The scope of services to be provided by JMI Sports encompasses the creation of a sports venue benchmarking matrix, development of a revenue model, evaluation of alternative financing mechanisms, and management over vital predevelopment activities. As part of this analysis, our team will review the development budgets that have been created for the facility improvements in order to provide recommendations for both renovation-only and new venue options. JMI Sports will also develop a master project schedule for both the renovation-only and new venue options that evaluates all phases of development from programming, design, permitting and construction in order to overlay the University’s funding efforts and provide an assessment on financing and cashflow needs. Most importantly, our consulting effort is designed to provide the University with the information necessary to formulate a long term strategy regarding the financing and implementation of new facilities or necessary renovations to existing ones. Concurrent with the facility analysis, JMI Sports will conduct a comprehensive review of the business operations of the Athletic Department including: organization and staffing, Title IX and gender equity status, and NCAA compliance.