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CHICAGO - UIC athletics recently renovated the gymnasium inside the Physical Education Building by transforming the venue into a multipurpose training facility. A turf baseball diamond now covers the 33,000 square feet of floor space that was once hardwood. A netting system has also been install which outlines the exterior of the room.

"The indoor turf field is another addition in our commitment to upgrade facilities," said UIC athletic director Jim Schmidt. "The space will provide our student-athletes with an alternative training area especially during cold weather days."

The turf field is the latest in a long line of facility improvements made by UIC athletics in the past few years. The most notable addition is Curtis Granderson Stadium, a $10 million state-of-the-art baseball venue that officially opened on April 17, 2014. Granderson Stadium recently won the Editor's Choice award from Ballpark Digest and was named "One of the Best New Stadiums for 2014" by Stadium Magazine.

Other facility improvements include new digital scoreboards for baseball, softball and swimming and diving. UIC athletics is currently in the process of finalizing team rooms for all of the Flames' varsity programs.


What the UIC head coaches are saying about the new indoor facility…

Mike Dee, Baseball

"This facility will dramatically increase our ability to develop players on 365-day a year basis and really removes weather as a hindrance to that development," said Dee. "In addition it will also help us prepare for the first five weeks of our season when typically we were only on a field when we played. We are very lucky to have this type of a facility at our disposal. Truth is I don't know of any other space in the country that is better and owned by a University."

Michelle Venturella, Softball

"We are thrilled to have this amazing indoor practice facility," Venturella said. "To be able to scrimmage indoors and hit live in this space will help our preparation for the upcoming season. This is a step in the right direction to help the UIC Softball program continue to be champions both on and off the field."

Sean Phillips, Men's Soccer

"This is a very exciting development for our current and future student athletes," Phillips said. "One of the best times of year to train and improve our players is in the winter and spring months. Having an indoor surface of this size and quality will allow us to maximize that training environment."

Brian Rigby, Women's Soccer

"The new indoor turf field adds a professional and clean look that enhances the rest of our training areas in the building," said Rigby. "This will make a big statement when recruits are touring our athletic complex and offices. Most importantly, this space will allow our women to train year round having a surface that allows us to replicate the outdoor game during the winter and early spring period which is important for growth and development."