Clemson board approves athletic projects

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson’s board of trustees approved a $63.5 million renovation of basketball’s Littlejohn Coliseum and a $62 million football operations complex on Friday.

Construction on the arena is expected to start once Clemson’s men’s and women’s teams are finished with their seasons. Those teams plan to play next season about 30 miles away at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville with a re-opening planned for 2016-17 season.

The football operations building will include locker rooms, a dining facility, meeting areas and offices for Clemson’s coaches. The new facility will be next to Clemson’s indoor practice building. Construction is expected to be finished in 2017.

University vice president for finance and operations Brett Dalton said both projects would be financed by the athletic department and booster group IPTAY.