UB Athletics announces plans for new sports performance center

Mark Alnutt, vice president and director of athletics, announced Wednesday plans for a new state-of-the-art sports performance center at UB. Thanks to a transformational gift from the Tunney Murchie family, the new center will be one of the finest facilities in the nation and will revolutionize the way UB student-athletes train.

Connected to the west end of the Murchie Family Fieldhouse on the North Campus, the 12,000-square-foot, multi-level facility will double the size of the current Morris Sports Performance Center, which will be repurposed.

The facility will feature 18 free weight training racks, a 42-foot, 17-degree turn training incline, a 1,000-square-foot cardio mezzanine, three offices and a conference room, as well as a supplemental nutrition area.

“I am so thankful to the Murchie family for their generosity through the years and supporting our vision for UB Athletics to be one of the top Group of Five programs in the nation,” Alnutt said. “This facility is another game changer for our department. Strength and conditioning, along with nutrition, are vital components in preparing our student-athletes for championship success in their respective field of play. This facility is a tremendous upgrade over our existing facility, and with the connection to the Murchie Family Fieldhouse, it allows our student-athletes the flexibility of working under one roof,” he said.

“We look forward to showcasing this facility to prospective student-athletes so they can realize that all their needs in this critical area can be attained here at UB.”       

Groundbreaking for the facility is scheduled to begin in spring 2023, with completion expected in spring 2024.

The gift for the sports performance center from the Murchie family is the latest in a long line of transformational gifts made by the family to UB Athletics over the years.