University of Tennessee Athletics
UT BREAKS GROUND ON PRATT PAVILION BASKETBALL PRACTICE FACILITY
October 20, 2006 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 20, 2006
Campaign for Tennessee Basketball
The formal groundbreaking for the new University of Tennessee basketball practice facility, Pratt Pavilion was today at the building site on the southeast corner of Phillip Fulmer Drive and Lake Loudon Boulevard, adjacent to Thompson-Boling Arena.
"Pratt Pavilion will be a great addition for Tennessee's basketball program. One of our goals for Tennessee athletics is to always give our student-athletes the very best in facilities, equipment and other resources needed to excel in their sport," said Mike Hamilton, men's athletics director.
Mike Hamilton and other UTAD officials have visited basketball practice facilities around the country including those at Texas, Oklahoma and Florida during the design and planning of Pratt Pavilion. The architects for the Pratt Pavilion project are from Blankenship Design and the general contractor will be Johnston and Gaylon.
Pratt Pavilion will house two full size gymnasia, one each for the men's and women's varsity basketball teams, as well as space for sports medicine, strength training, film study and recruiting.
"Lady Vols basketball has a history of tradition and success. Pratt Pavilion will help improve an already outstanding basketball program," said Joan Cronan, women's athletics director.
Pratt Pavilion has a total project cost of $16 million, funded entirely through private gifts. Lead donor Larry Pratt's commitment of $5 million this past April, coupled with leadership gifts from other campaign donors including Jim Haslam, Brenda Lawson and Robbie Nutt has enabled Tennessee to more forward with the project.
This is not Pratt's first donation. In the 1990's he honored his father Floyd by creating an endowed scholarship in his name as a member of the Nathan Dougherty Society. He was also recognized at the Tennessee vs. Georgia football game in 2003 for a $1 million donation to the STEP-UP Campaign. Pratt, an Athens, Tenn. native, currently resides in McLean, Va. He graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1972 from the college of business and serves as president and CEO of First Savings Mortgage Corporation, the largest private mortgage banker in Washington D.C.
"I have a longtime appreciation for the standard of excellence Pat Summitt has established for Tennessee and I have confidence that Bruce Pearl is the right coach to lead the men's program to the same level," said Pratt. "We've got to make sure that they have all the tools they need to recruit the best possible student-athletes and develop their skills to a championship level."
The University of Tennessee is currently in the bid process for a multi-million dollar renovations plan for Thompson-Boling Arena. This is the first major improvement to the arena since it was built in 1987. A formal announcement of the renovations is anticipated for mid-November.
The University of Tennessee athletics department is one of less than 10 departments in the country that receives no funds from state subsidies or taxes.
