The Greensboro Coliseum Complex, home of the Greensboro Aquatic Center, is proposing a new expansion project to meet rising demand for use of the facility.
The proposal, estimated to cost less than $5 million, would add a 50-meter pool with 5 lanes on the east side. That side of the structure as it stands is currently a parking lot. The project would also entail the construction of an outdoor plaza and multi-purpose room.
The GAC opened in 2011 as a 78,323-square-foot indoor state-of-the-art aquatic facility. It currently houses an 8-lane, 50m competition pool that can also accommodate 16-22 lanes for short course. The facility also was built with a therapeutic pool, and 25-yard diving well with 6 swimming lanes and 8 diving apparatus.
Coliseum officials said the GAC is in such high demand since it opened in 2011, evidenced by the facility having already hosted the 2012 U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championships, the 2015 NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships, and most recently the 2016 ACC Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships.
Officials want to ride the wave of continued growth by investing in the expansion. Matt Brown, the Coliseum Complex Director, approached Greensboro City Council Friday regarding funding for the project. He asked the City Council to ‘consider approving hotel and motel tax revenues to fund the project because of the number of hotel bookings over the last four years.’
If they’re going to build 5 lanes, why not get a little more money and build 8 lanes so that, in theory, assuming the additional pool is ‘competition quality,’ they could host large long course meets that require 2 competition pools?
I saw a news broadcast on this where the Complex wanted the new pool to be for use by the public, opening up the main pool for competition. Any word on if this proposal is for an outdoor pool or another indoor pool? I have attended many meets at GAC, and most of the time some lanes had to be kept open for public use no matter how crowded the meet was. This can put a strain on meet hosts and athletes. I think they are making a smart decision about how to handle this if this new pool would be open all year.
AWESOME!!! Looks like it’s time for UNCG to get a swim team….