MTSU breaks ground on $66 million Student-Athlete Performance Center

Murfreesboro Daily News Journal

Middle Tennessee State broke ground on its highly anticipated, $66 million Student-Athlete Performance Center on Thursday.

The 85,500-square-foot building, which will be connected to the north end of Floyd Stadium, will be the new home of the Blue Raider football team (which formerly was housed in Murphy Center), as well as facilities that will house athletic training, weightlifting and nutrition areas for MTSU athletes.

“Once completed, this new facility, along with an enhanced Murphy Center, will be part of a new gateway into our campus and will stand as a visible reminder of our commitment to athletic success,” said MTSU President Sidney McPhee in a release. “Today's groundbreaking publicly reaffirms our commitment to maintaining a nationally competitive athletic program.”

The groundbreaking was held prior to Thursday's MTSU women's basketball game vs. Florida Atlantic and included McPhee, MTSU Athletic Director Chris Massaro, Board of Trustees Chair Stephen Smith, MTSU football coach Rick Stockstill and others.

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“Today marks the latest milestone in a project that countless Blue Raiders have worked on and dreamed of for many years,” said Massaro in a release. “The Student-Athlete Performance Center is transformational for our department, the University, and for our community. We will be able to better develop our players, attract top-notch recruits, and make our student-athlete experience second to none.”

Construction on the Student-Athlete Performance Center will begin later this winter.

“This new center will help Middle Tennessee Football compete at the highest level on the field,” Stockstill said. “With the upgraded facilities, so many new doors will be opened for the Blue Raiders to continue to build off of the legacy of our past players and coaches.”

Pictured is a rendering of what MTSU's $66 million Student-Athlete Performance Center will look like when completed. It will be located in the north end of Floyd Stadium and will house the Blue Raider football team.

When completed, the SAPC will feature three floors of amenities. Housed on the first floor will be a nutrition station, a strength and conditioning room and an athletic training room equipped with hydrotherapy pools. The first floor will also be the new home for the Blue Raider football team, as it will house the new football locker room and player’s lounge, in addition to the new equipment room.

The second floor will house the offices of the Blue Raider Football coaching staff, with meeting areas, including the team meeting room, position rooms and coaches meeting rooms.

The third floor will also feature a large dining venue for student-athletes. On gameday this space will be dedicated to premium opportunities for fans.

Pictured is a rendering of what the MTSU football locker room, housed in the $66 million Student-Athlete Performance Center, will look like when completed.