University of Maryland Transforming Cole Field House into $155 Million Indoor Football Facility and Academic Research Complex
Two weeks ago, the University of Maryland, College Park Board of Regents’ Finance Committee unanimously approved a proposal to turn the Cole Field House Student Activities Building into an indoor football facility and academic research complex. Next up, the proposal will be voted on by the full Board of Regents next month. The University of Maryland is the only Big Ten school without an indoor football facility. The proposed facility would include excavating the bowl seating of Cole Field House to create a 100-yard indoor football field. In addition, there would be two football practice fields west of the new facility, as well as a “state-of-the-art Center for Sports Medicine, Health, and Human Performance.”
Cole Field House’s history goes back to 1955 when it housed its first Maryland college basketball game where the Terps defeated Virginia. The arena still holds the record for being the site of the most upsets of number one-ranked men’s basketball teams with seven. Cole Field House also hosted NCAA tournament games and concerts. Maryland played its last basketball game in Cole under Hall of Fame Coach Gary Williams in March 2002 with a win over Virginia. That same year, the Maryland basketball team went undefeated at Cole Field House and went on to win the National Championship. Currently, the building is used for homecoming events, classes, and offices. It is important that the future plans to transform the arena will maintain the history and tradition that made Cole Field House such a special building.
Mr. Shure was a running back on Maryland’s football team from 1985 to 1987, and he certainly supports this planned renovation. He was a three-time member of the ACC All-Academic Team. Today, Mr. Shure implements football strategies in his legal philosophy by never cutting corners and pushing aggressively on each automobile accident and a medical malpractice claim. As a result, Mr. Shure has helped settle and negotiate millions of dollars in client recoveries every year.
With a major construction project of this nature, in the busiest part of Maryland’s campus, there is a higher risk of car and scooter accidents. If you or a family member has been injured by a driver while walking or riding a bicycle through a crosswalk, contact Portner & Shure for a free legal consultation or if you would like more information on drivers hitting pedestrians at (410) 995-1515 or visit us on our website.
