Military veterans' groups and the multi-million-dollar world of college sports facilities are in disagreement over how an expansion of athletics facilities should proceed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The university is planning a $285 million upgrade of its football practice facilities adjacent to Camp Randall Stadium, part of Camp Randall Memorial Park, which before coming the home stadium for Badgers football was a Civil War training site for more than 70,000 union soldiers and detainment site for more than 1,200 Confederate prisoners of war in 1862.
The Wisconsin State Journal recently published an article expressing the concern of veterans' groups that the expansion infringes on parts of the park reserved to honor the site’s impact on the Civil War.
The news outlet reported that the school’s Board of Regents approved the plan to honor veterans, which was a provision of the state Legislature to allow for the expansion to take place at the park.
The latest planned changes would be the third such adjustment in 70 years, with the first taking place in the 1950s and the second in 1986 when the current indoor football practice facility was built.
Part of the university’s plan in building the new practice facility includes collecting feedback from veterans groups for a veterans-themed plaza. The university is also committing between $300,000-$400,000 in funding for veterans initiatives and to fund a new position in the veteran services department.
Wisconsin’s new practice facility is expected to be finished in 2026.
Dave Lubach is executive editor of the facilities market.
