Miami University said the venue is expected to be ready for the start of the athletic season in fall 2028 and is intended to address space limitations and building-system operations and maintenance challenges at Millett Hall, the current arena. | Photo Credit: Miami University
What You Need to Know听
- Miami University鈥檚 Board of Trustees approved a resolution authorizing听the construction听of a new multipurpose arena at Cook Field.听听
- The university estimates arena construction at about听$242 million, with up to听$281 million听authorized for the arena and related ancillary costs.
- The arena is expected to be ready for the start of the athletic season in听fall 2028, addressing space and building-system challenges at the existing Millett Hall.
- Miami University also outlined intramural and recreation upgrades at the Millett Hall site and at Chestnut Fields, with construction expected to run May鈥揝eptember 2026.
Learn More听
OXFORD,听Ohio听鈥斕齅iami University鈥檚 Board of Trustees has approved plans to build a new multipurpose arena at Cook Field, a project the university says will expand event capacity, modernize athletic听operations听and support a broader campus events district.听
University officials estimated arena construction at approximately $242 million, with trustees authorizing up to $281 million for the arena and related ancillary costs. 听
In a statement, the university said the venue is expected to be ready for the start of the athletic season in fall 2028 and is intended to address space limitations and building-system operations and maintenance challenges at Millett Hall, the current arena.听Millett Hall opened in 1968 and initially housed men鈥檚 basketball, with volleyball and women鈥檚 basketball added in 1974. Miami said renovating Millett Hall to add practice courts and a dedicated volleyball court would听require听at least $175 million and would take the facility offline for multiple years.听听
Miami University leaders also framed the new facility as a campuswide event venue, saying it would support concurrent student activities and other major events such as commencements, concerts, creative arts performances and career fairs. 听
鈥淲e are in a unique and dynamic time for Miami University Athletics. It is time to innovate, invest, and inspire. A new arena benefits all of Miami and will serve as a gateway and beacon for the university,鈥� according to an article from Miami University.听听
President Gregory Crawford tied the project to student experience and local economic goals. 鈥淭his is a student-centered project that will create a vibrant new space intended to bring people together and support and engage our students. A new arena will provide the foundation for an events district in the heart of campus to benefit students, reinvigorate the community, and strengthen our local economy,鈥� he said in an article published by the University.听
Beyond the arena, Miami said the project will also advance recreation upgrades elsewhere on campus. Planned work includes intramural soccer and flag football fields at the Millett Hall site, along with a walking path and exercise stations. At Chestnut Fields, the university described a multipurpose complex supporting full-size soccer fields, softball fields, flag football fields, a rugby field, a lacrosse field and intramural soccer fields. 听
Construction of new recreation facilities at Millett and Chestnut Fields is expected to begin in May 2026 and be completed in September 2026, allowing Cook Field to go offline in September 2026 to begin arena construction, according to the university.听听
This article is based on reporting originally published by听Miami University听on听Feb. 27, 2026.听