In many ways, Rice Athletics is the front door for Rice University, with our athletic venues being the only part of campus seen by much of the general public and fans of visiting teams. Rice is known for an exceptional academic environment and cutting edge research, we aspire to meet those same standards for our scholar-athletes with the athletic facilities.

Current Athletic Projects
Rice Athletics is actively fundraising for two capital projects: Scholar-Athlete Development Center and Tennis Complex.

The $44.5M Scholar-Athlete Development Center will be a stand-alone facility in the South Endzone. The 80,000 square-foot building will feature a grand entrance with a Hall of Fame area, football locker room, training room, weight room, offices, meeting spaces, multi-purpose room and an auditorium with stadium-style seating. The project will also showcase a new south entrance plaza - including new ticket windows, a grass hill (replaces seating in the south end zone) and the potential for eight luxury suites / club-style seating areas.

The Tennis Complex, located at the corner of Rice Boulevard and Shepherd Drive, will include 14 lighted playing courts and a new facility with offices, locker rooms and training spaces. Beyond growing the seating capacity and adding state-of-the-art playing surfaces, the center will meet the evolving needs of the program by creating one of the premier facilities among our peers. The new complex will also allow the university to host conference championships and NCAA events. We have already received an initial $3M commitment toward the $7.5M facility.

The amazing facilities are possible only through your generous support. Funds for these projects are supported 100% by philanthropy. Please contact David Biancamano, Director of Athletics Development, at 713-348-3561 or djb3@rice.edu to learn about naming opportunities or ways to support these projects.

Previous Athletic Capital Projects
In September 2010, Rice's long-awaited Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center opened. The facility has two indoor basketball courts, four racquetball courts, two squash courts, cardio and free weight equipment, a dance studio, a 50-meter outdoor competition pool, an outdoor recreation pool and two outdoor lighted basketball courts. These improvements help Rice recruit and retain the best scholar-athletes.

In Spring 2009, the Ley Plaza was completed, serving as the center of the Rice Athletics complex with an inviting entrance to Reckling Park.

In November 2008, the $29M renovation of Tudor Fieldhouse and Youngkin Center, and state-of-the-art fieldhouse and academic center, was completed. The Tudor Fieldhouse project included renovating the existing arena, creating a new ticket office, adding the Stephen M. and Leticia F. Trauber Club Lounge, remodeling and adding restrooms, and incorporating a larger entry lobby. The Youngkin Center houses the Athletics Department offices, new training and support facilities and the Robert F. and Elizabeth W. Bixby Academic Center.

In 2008, a $3.5M renovation of Reckling Park was completed and included a padded outfield wall, new playing surface with upgraded drainage, and a new state-of-the-art outfield video scoreboard.