"It's always a great day to be a Vandal. Today is an especially great day to be a Vandal."
That's what University of Idaho Director of Athletics
Rob Spear proclaimed Thursday, as the University and Vandal Athletics celebrated the beginning of a new partnership.
The new basketball arena on campus will be named Idaho Central Credit Union Arena, thanks to a $10 million naming rights gift from the Idaho-based financial institution. The Idaho State Board of Education approved the agreement at a special session Thursday. The $10 million commitment is the largest cash gift in University history. The arena will carry ICCU's name for 35 years after its completion.
"This is a historic day at the University of Idaho," said U of I President Dr. Chuck Staben. "Idaho Central Credit Union is a natural partner for this project. ICCU is an Idaho-born and raised organization. They are a values-driven organization. Like the University of Idaho, they have a state-wide presence and are committed to communities large and small in our great state. We share some broad commonalities in our mission, both of us helping Idahoans prosper."
The 62,000-square-foot, 4,200-seat arena will be a one-of-a-kind engineered wood structure, highlighting Idaho's wood products industry and providing a unique home for U of I's men's and women's basketball programs as well as other activities. The arena will not only be a competition site for the Vandals, but will also house a practice court, basketball offices, locker rooms, team rooms, athletic training facilities and conference spaces.
"Now we will have a teaching facility where we can teach our athletes and they will have a lab," said men's basketball head coach
Don Verlin. "All students have a lab, now we will have one. We can go in there at night and shoot and do some of those things that right now we can't do. It's very important for our basketball program and I know it will be very important for not only our players now, but the ones to come."
In addition to providing a massive boost to the basketball programs, the arena will transform the University and the Moscow community, bringing a state-of-the-art events center on campus. Concerts, lectures, clinics, youth sports and many more community events will take place at Idaho Central Credit Union Arena.
"The construction of this facility is also an opportunity to showcase a critical Idaho industry - the forest products industry." Staben said of the building's proposed mass-timber construction. "The Idaho Central Credit Union Arena could pave the way for additional sustainable building projects of this type. The project will also serve as a living laboratory for our College of Art and Architecture, College of Natural Resources and our College of Engineering. I'm excited about the opportunities for our students and our faculty for scholarship in these areas."
Spear and Staben both spoke to the natural fit for Idaho's premier research institution to partner with Idaho's leading financial institution. ICCU CEO Kent Oram said he felt the connection and was excited about the possibility of joining forces, noting the significant impact ICCU could have on this project, the University, the Moscow community and North Idaho as a whole.
"We're the kind of people who like to see things get done," Oram said. "When we heard you were somewhere near halfway there, we thought 'what if we made a significant contribution to that effort?' We're so excited to contribute these resources. The best time to do something is always now."
"Now it's up to our Vandal family," said Spear. "Let's get this thing to the finish line. Let's get this thing done."
Vandal fans can learn more about the project and pledge their support
HERE.
Watch the full press conference below:
