Overview
As a part of the State System’s capital project process, ÐßÐßÊÓÆµ received a capital appropriation of $48 million to replace its outdated gymnasium,ÌýCope Hall, which was
²ú³Ü¾±±ô³ÙÌýover 60 years ago. The original capital request predated the current Administration. The current Administration has worked diligently with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of General Services to repurpose the capital funds to create aÌý³¾³Ü±ô³Ù¾±³Ü²õ±ðÌýsports complex on Cheyney’s campus. With student input on design elements and the involvement of other members of the Cheyney community, the new sports complex is poised toÌýprovide Cheyney students with more options in terms of athletic, recreational, and intramural activities, as well as additional concurrent use opportunities,Ìýthan Cope Hall currently provides.Ìý
ÌýThe revised capital project, already underway, will consist of twoÌýnewly-²ú³Ü¾±±ô³ÙÌýindoor facilities—one will feature ten basketball courts and a competitive showÌýhardwoodÌýcourtÌýandÌýthe otherÌýwill house a full-sizeÌýartificialÌýturf playing field—along with new locker, gym,ÌýandÌýconcessions facilities.ÌýTheÌýsprawling complex will alsoÌýincludeÌýaÌýnewÌýoutdoorÌýgrass football field surrounded by an eight-lane track.ÌýThis will enable Cheyney to hostÌýtrack tournaments, which it is currently unable to do with itsÌýcurrentÌýdilapidatedÌýfield andÌýsix-track lane.ÌýThere will alsoÌýpotentiallyÌýbeÌýtwo or threeÌýother outdoor turf/grassÌýfieldsÌý(contingentÌýon funding), asÌýwellÌýasÌýnewly updatedÌýoutdoor tennis and basketball courts.ÌýÌý
This will be a multi-sports facility whereÌýCheyneyÌýstudents will learn facilities management, sports training, food service, and hospitality and have a first-class development for their use.ÌýThe UniversityÌýalsoÌýwillÌýbe able toÌýgenerate revenues from the facilitiesÌýandÌýfieldsÌýwhen not in use by Cheyney students (e.g.,ÌýhostingÌýsummer basketball camps).Ìý
MemorializingÌýCope Hall
You cannotÌýmentionÌýÐßÐßÊÓÆµâ€™sÌýmost prized, history–making achievements in sportsÌýwithoutÌýincludingÌýCopeÌýHall.ÌýTo ensureÌýweÌýalways rememberÌýits significance, we plan toÌýcelebrate andÌýhonorÌýthis legendary hallÌýin various ways,Ìýone ofÌýwhichÌýincludes incorporating physical elements ofÌýCopeÌýinto the newÌýsports complex,Ìýamong otherÌýplans.Ìý
Without a doubt,ÌýCope Hall is an integral piece of Cheyney historyÌýandÌýcanÌýneverÌýbe erased fromÌýourÌýlegacy.Ìý

