MEMORANDUM

To: Jason Verdugo, Athletic Director

From: Elizabeth Hughes and Grace Nichols

Date: October 18, 2015

Subject: Feasibility Proposal

Purpose
This proposal recommends that we be allowed to research the feasibility of building a
domed multi-sport facility on the Hamline campus. We will be conducting research to
determine whether this facility is a feasible option for the greater Hamline community.
Upon completion of this report, we will submit a paper with our findings to Athletic
Director, Jason Verdugo no later than November 29, 2015.

Summary
We hypothesize that post-collegiate success is determined by a persons ability to
overcome obstacles, maintain focus, and balance various commitments. While there are
various paths to success, it has been proven that extracurricular involvement is one of
the most important predictors of college student success and persistence to graduation
(Astin, 1984, p.9). These extracurricular activities can include groups like choir, student
congress, or collegiate sports. Of these, a varsity level sport is the biggest group.
Research studies have shown that involvement in sport activities lead to lifelong skills
such as time management, organization, and teamwork (Corack, 2014, p.1), all
characteristics related to post-collegiate success.

As student athletes ourselves, we reap these benefits daily. Additionally, we theorize that
having more winterized facilities can intensify these benefits for athletes in the future.
Further, that it may in fact promote more success within the athletic department. In order
to learn more we propose to research:
1. the various individual benefits of participating in collegiate sports
2. the community and individual benefits of having a domed sports facility
3. the potential costs, limitations, and profits involved in a campus having a domed
sports facility
4. the athletic department's growth in recruitment, retention, and records of colleges
that have domed sports facilities
Due to our involvement in athletics, previous academic successes, and availability of
academic resources, we are confident in our ability to fulfill these research points. We
will have submitted our finalized research and recommendations no later than: November
29, 2015.

Introduction
Currently, Hamline University has the following athletic amenities: indoor basketball
court and multi-purpose field house, outdoor soccer/softball field, turf football field,
tennis courts, off-campus baseball field, gymnastics complex, weight room, indoor 165
meter track, off-campus hockey rink, and an outdoor 400 meter track. Because of the 20
varsity sports offered at Hamline, there is a lot of competition for both the indoor and
outdoor practice spaces. Being in metro Minnesota, annual weather averages Hamline
endures are 54 of snow and 20F for the months November-March (U.S. Climate Data,
2015). These 6-month extremes put extra emphasis on the need for indoor space to house
all training athletes. Additionally, the spaces used to train, are open to the community,
club teams, and intramural sports, making scheduling increasingly more difficult.

Our purpose is to organize a document outlining the feasibility of our proposal. To

complete this proposal we will: discuss completed research, plan and conduct future
research, calculate potential costs and profits, and quantify the current need for this
facility. Furthermore, we will include an itinerary for the successful completion of said
proposal.

One way that this facility can be beneficial for the University is considering the greater
good. Despite the costs there is a lot of potential revenues associated with having a
domed sports facility. A generalized cost estimate for building a domed athletic facility as
stated by Schneider and Messenger (2012) is $9.9-$12.2 million. The estimation is as
stated, over a 20 year bond issue the estimated cost would be up to $15.4 million
(Schneider & Messenger, 2012, p. 805), however, the opportunities for revenue expand
when considering indoor seating. The usage options broaden outside the Hamline sports
realm to also allow events such as high school graduations, concerts, and local club and
high school sports practices.

The following hypothetical scenario will analyze an example for the revenue potential
bolstered by the domed sports facility. The current seating capacity of Klas Center is
2,000 people. With a six-hour allotment, Hamline could host a concert for the Ying Yang
Twins for only $10,000 (Crockett, 2014, para. 15). With the addition of stage and lighting
equipment rentals, estimating $2,000 for a 16 x 14 stage with accessories (Crown
Rental, 2015), and using the Augsburg Air Structure hourly rate of $365 (Augsburg
College, 2015) multiplied by a 4-hour period of time approximates opportunity costs at
$1,460, the overall cost for said concert would be: $13,460. Being able to sell tickets to
students (1,500) for $15 and community members (500) for $20, a sold out concert would
bring in a revenue of roughly $32,500. Profits that would go straight to the university
then total a staggering $19, 040. Opportunities such as this would offset initial building
costs and work towards having sustainable profits faster.

Providing a domed sports facility would increase overall satisfaction of Hamline athletes
and non-athletes alike as supported by the following quotation, sport activities on the
collegiate varsity and intramural levels, provide participants valuable skills including
time management, organization, problem solving, leadership, teamwork, discipline,
resilience, perseverance, rule adherence, social interaction, and increased personal
identity (Corack, 2014, p. 1). Building a new facility to house athletes decreases
congestion of current indoor facilities to increase their use by non-athletes. This facility
will allow more students to reap the benefits associated with sports and physical activity
as previously stated.

Ultimately, a domed sport facility encapsulates many benefits including an opportunity

for long-term revenues, more student-athlete satisfaction, success, and retention, which
will result in more freed space for non-athletes and increase their overall happiness as
well. These benefits aside there is still much research to be done on the matter. We
propose again, to organize a document concluding the feasibility of our proposal.

Proposed Procedure
1) Completed Research: To date we have gathered the following information that is
relevant to our proposal.
a) Acquired personal statements of Hamline athletic coaches and faculty, stating
their opinions on the matter of constructing a domed multi-sport facility
b) Began initial search for credible sources relating to topics on indoor sports
facilities and student health
c) Obtained articles regarding the correlation between physical activity, personal
health, and improved academic performance amongst college students
d) Examined the relationship between student-athletes, social interaction and overall
institutional satisfaction and collegiate retention rate
1) Expected Research: By November 29th, 2015 we will have completed the following
research topics and compiled it into our feasibility report.
a) Develop a questionnaire to distribute to the English 1800
students that focuses on their primary opinions surrounding our
proposal topic
b) Research the method by which constructing a domed, multi-sport
facility is made possible
c) Identify potential costs as well as revenue generated by the
addition of this facility
d) Create a realistic model and timeframe for completion
e) Identify the alternatives for the remaining sports needs
unresolved by the domed facility
f) Investigate St. Paul zoning law and building regulations and
restrictions
Criteria
Upon completing the previously mentioned research we will make a recommendation
based on the following criteria:

Does the greater Hamline community have a vested interest in this addition?

Do the current St. Paul laws allow the construction of this facility?

Is there the necessary funding to cover all initial costs?

Would there be enough long-term revenue to offset the expected costs?

Qualifications
We are both student-athletes at Hamline University. In addition to balancing a full course
load with athletic practices, events, and volunteer opportunities, we both maintain Deans
list status as well as are members of the MIAC All-Conference Academic Team.
Elizabeth is a decorated Honors student, senior with a 3.6 GPA, and balancing
International Business and Spanish Languages majors. Elizabeth has also taken 5000
level research courses. Further, Grace is a committed student, also balancing two majors,
International Business and Marketing and a minor in Chinese. While doing this, Grace
maintains a 3.6 GPA and stays active in her athletic-community outreach positions. She is
a member of SAAC, the first female sports broadcaster in the athletic department, a
member of Sigma Beta Delta, and completed a marketing internship with JonnyPops that
required her to complete some market and environmental research. Together we are more
than qualified to pursue this project and maintain vested interests in both perspectives of
the proposal.

Schedule

Assignment

Deadline

Team Report #1

October 11, 2015

Feasibility Proposal

October 18, 2015

Feasibility Survey

October 25, 2015

Team Report #2

November 1, 2015

Feasibility Graphics

November 1, 2015

Progress Report

November 8, 2015

Team Report #3

November 8, 2015

Rough Draft

November 15, 2015

Feasibility PowerPoint

November 29, 2015

Feasibility Report

November 29, 2015

References

Astin, A. W. (1984). Student involvement: A developmental theory for higher education.

Journal of College Student Personnel, 25, 297-308.

Augsburg College. (2015). Rental Information. Retrieved from

http://athletics.augsburg.edu/sports/2009/11/4/dome_rental_info.aspx?id=130

Corack, G. J. (2014). The relationship of collegiate athletic and recreational sports

involvement
to student success and persistence (Order No. 3617902). Available from ProQuest
Dissertations & Theses Global. (1528550775). Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/1528550775?accountid=28109

Crockett, Z. (2014). How much does it cost to book your favorite band? Priceonomics,
retrieved
from http://priceonomics.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-book-your-favoriteband/

Crown Rental. (2015). Staging/Flooring Rentals. Retrieved from

http://www.crownrent.com/equipment.asp?action=category&category=73

Schneider, R. & Messenger, S. (2012, December). The impact of athletic facilities on the
recruitment of potential student-athletes. College Student Journal, pp. 805

U.S. Climate Data. (2015). U.S. Climate Data. Retrieved from

http://www.usclimatedata.com/climate/minneapolis/minnesota/united-states/usmn0503