It is alumni weekend, so I went to today’s discussion by Miami’s architect and university planner Robert Bell, to find out about future construction.
He has a simulated picture of the planned basketball arena – it looks very good, and it has an attached practice building / volleyball arena. The Pulley Bell Tower would stay and would be right in front of the main entrance to the arena.
Permanent seating for the basketball arena is planned for around 6,000 give or take (likely between 5,500 to 6,500).
There is a possibility that there may be underground parking below the arena and traffic from Ohio 73 would be funneled into the garage without having to go through the nasty intersection of Ohio 73 and US-27.
The planned hotel will be at the northwest corner of Cook field directly across the street from the Farmer School of Business. Miami is in discussions with a company that builds and operates one of a kind boutique hotels. The hotel would be similar to ones at small colleges & upscale universities. The plan is for the hotel to be the best hotel in Oxford by far & it would not be part of a chain. The hotel would include a upscale restaurant & bar.
Keep in mind, all of this is still in planning, & none of it is for sure. It could all change
