PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – What you have seen if you’ve been on the Pitt campus is major road traffic and a big hole next to the Petersen Events Center. Pitt Athletic Director Heather Lyke says the school’s Victory Heights project is on schedule to open in the Fall of 2025.
The 240,000 square foot structure will cost $240 million and includes the student recreation center at the site of the old O’Hara Garage. The Victory Heights Arena/Sports Performance Center and rec building will be connected by a bridge and lead to a green space which is the roof covering part of the arena.
They’ve currently raised just over $12 million, but will debt service the rest of it. That is included in the university’s financial plan over the next several years. Lyke said there are several opportunities for naming rights of the arena and facilities inside it. They have secured one deal-The Martchek Family Strength and Conditioning Center.
The Victory Heights arena will be the new playing home for the wrestling, volleyball and gymnastics teams. The seating capacity will vary based on sports- 3,400 for wrestling, 2,700 for volleyball and 2,500 for gymnastics. The strength and conditioning center along with the near 10,000 square feet of sports medicine will be used by every sport but basketball (Petersen Events Center) and football (UPMC Rooney South Side facility). There will be practice gyms for the three sports along with a space for cheerleading and dance, the first time in school history they had a permanent home.
Lyke said all Power 5 schools have invested in facilities, not just in football and basketball. When they look at their competition, they had to upgrade. Once completed, she says they will be on equal footing with who they are recruiting against.
What is different about the Panthers facility, which is tucked between dorms, the Petersen Events Center and Allequippa Street?
“The elevation factors,” Lyke said. “The fact it’s not on a flat piece of property. The fact we were able to incorporate a lot of natural light. To be able to connect to the back of the rec center via walkway will be cool. Everybody says you can’t build it here in Pittsburgh. How can you build it? You find a way and it’s going to be situated within the campus.”
There will be several levels to both enter and exit the Victory Heights building and the plan is to not only use it for Pitt student-athletes, but to increase their Pitt youth camps and host various high school and likely AAU-type events.
Lyke said the last part of the construction project is to add an indoor track and band facility in one building on the back end of the Cost Center. As for the parking in the garage below the Cost Center and the OC Lot parking, Lyke said that parking is not untouchable. Saying they will keep those lots ‘until they don’t need them’.
She speculated they could build a new parking garage on the site that is currently the Fitzgerald Field House. Lyke said once the track is completed, estimated Fall of 2026, the Field House will be vacated by the athletic department and turned over to the university to decide on its future.
It’s a major venture with multiple millions yet to raise, but is well underway.
“This project will transform Pitt athletics and our campus,” Lyke said. “It’s our demonstrated commitment to comprehensive excellence.”