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Friday, February 20, 2026

Schools Spending Hundreds of Millions on Facilities

  • Iowa State is the latest school to level up with a game-changing construction project.
  • The school has unveiled plans to build a $200 million entertainment and retail development.
Iowa State University

Iowa State is the latest school to level up with a game-changing construction project.

The school has unveiled plans to build a $200 million entertainment and retail development between its football stadium and basketball arena. 

“Our goal has been to develop something unique to Ames while helping our community support, attract, and retain students, businesses, visitors, and new residents,” said athletic director Jamie Pollard.

  • The development will be called CYTown and located on a 3-acre site.
  • It will have an amphitheater, luxury suites, a public plaza, retail, and office space.
  • The project is pending approval from the Iowa Board of Regents.
  • It will be funded mostly from “land monetization opportunities,” per Iowa State. 

CYTown, which has a target completion date of August 2025, will be part of a development project at Iowa State that included $60 million in upgrades to the Stark Athletic Performance Center. 

The 130,000-square-foot facility is the main academic and training resource hub for Iowa State athletes.

The school has also spent $50 million to build the Sukup End Zone Club at Jack Trice Stadium and $30 million for the facility’s Albaugh Family Plaza and Concourse, among other upgrades. 

Not Alone

Florida officially opened its new $85 million football headquarters in August. The 142,000-square-foot facility has a state-of-the-art locker room and training center.

Boise State also announced more than $300 million in future renovations to the Athletics Master Village — the school’s main football complex. As part of the upgrades, the complex will receive a new weight room, dining hall, and “premium” seating.

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