Ande and other Longhorn swimmers. Question..

Replace? No Renovate & maintain yes Build a new outdoor: yes but not sure when TSC closes each Aug for renovations Though it stayed opened in 2011 & was closed for 2 months in 2010

Replace? No Renovate & maintain yes Build a new outdoor: yes but not sure when Honestly it has been maintained better than any facility, swim or otherwise, that I can think of. Especially considering the battle with humidity. An outdoor pool in Austin near campus would just be so awesome. Build it in 2016, put temporary outdoor seats, and host trials.

I agree lefty, but I think we are tied into the current model for a while. You get to control weather AND put a lot more butts in seats. Madew for TV too with the built in cat walks and platforms.

I was recruited to Texas in 1990 with the promise of an outdoor pool. I didn't decide to go there based on that promise, but it was surprising that it never materialized. The pool is one of the best in the country. No need for renovations!I walked into that pool first in 83 or 84 when I was in HS and it was gorgeous; loved training there 85 - 89 and never missed having an outdoor pool -- that's what Barton Springs is for. The weather in Texas is pretty crummy year round to race outdoors except a little bit in the fall and spring: too cold in the winter, too hot and humid in the summer. There's a reason that new nice pool near Houston and the on College Station are indoors. As far as upkeep, I've been to places like Indy and other older, but great (in their day) pools: the fine staff in Austin have kept up the pool better than any other. IMHO, what's needed is another INDOOR 50M pool attached to TSC with another 25Y x 25M warmup pool so you could run a BIG LCM meet there like Masters Worlds. It's a crime that the Carddinal has more cool pool toys than the Longhorns :)

I was recruited to Texas in 1990 with the promise of an outdoor pool. I didn't decide to go there based on that promise, but it was surprising that it never materialized. The pool is one of the best in the country. No need for renovations!

I've been aware of discussions to add an outdoor pool since the mid 90s, when I saw business plans for it and Josh Davis was used to pitch the case to the powers at Belmont (the Texas AD). I think the challenge we've run into is that there's always something else that get's "front-burner" importance. That's usually football, but has been other things as well. I can hardly blame the focus on football, as it's been the revenue engine for the most profitable athletic department in the country. But nonetheless, I'm frustrated by the lack of an outdoor pool, which I think would help with recruiting, training space, and hosting events. If I were to peer into my crystal ball, I'd guess that something gets done when Eddie retires and a hot new coach demands facilities expansion (ie, a flavor of the build it and the coach and then the program will come strategy).

I love to compete at the Swim Center, but I believe that some renovations are badly in order. Admitedly, my perpective is somewhat skewed by the fact that my wife has a disability, but the fact is that there is not one elevator in the entire facility. When she came to watch the competition in 2008 we would use the main entry which would put us on the third level. This was fine, but in order to get to the deck level (where the Gold Medal area was set up out back) we had to go out the main entry and entirely around the block and down a big hill which took us about 20 minutes each way. There was no way at all to get to the second level at all which was the vendor level (although that probably saved me some money!). Anyway, it was extremely disappointing to me that this facility is not fully handicapped accessible. When I inquired I was told they only needed to make these changes if the facility underwent a major renovation. Well, it is overdue.

Rich, Good point. It would be helpful for TSC to have an elevator. It might be a nightmare to retrofit the building for one. The swim center knocked out several rows of stadium seating to provide more handicapped access. I think a good location for an elevator at TSC might be outside the building on the southeast side. Giving folks easier access to all levels. it might have been shorter to go: out the top level to the corner of MLK & Red river then west on the side walk on the north side of MLK then right on the south side entrance of the swim center (deck level) across the right side of swim deck out and the back door on the right side. Ande, on someone's suggestion, we tried the shorter route once, but the doors were locked. When you live with someone with mobility issues you become very sensitized to these obstacles.

I love to compete at the Swim Center, but I believe that some renovations are badly in order. Admitedly, my perpective is somewhat skewed by the fact that my wife has a disability, but the fact is that there is not one elevator in the entire facility. When she came to watch the competition in 2008 we would use the main entry which would put us on the third level. This was fine, but in order to get to the deck level (where the Gold Medal area was set up out back) we had to go out the main entry and entirely around the block and down a big hill which took us about 20 minutes each way. There was no way at all to get to the second level at all which was the vendor level (although that probably saved me some money!). Anyway, it was extremely disappointing to me that this facility is not fully handicapped accessible. When I inquired I was told they only needed to make these changes if the facility underwent a major renovation. Well, it is overdue. Rich, Good point. It would be helpful for TSC to have an elevator. It might be a nightmare to retrofit the building for one. The swim center knocked out several rows of stadium seating to provide more handicapped access. I think a good location for an elevator at TSC might be outside the building on the southeast side. Giving folks easier access to all levels. it might have been shorter to go: out the top level to the corner of MLK & Red river then west on the side walk on the north side of MLK then right on the south side entrance of the swim center (deck level) across the right side of swim deck out and the back door on the right side.

My $0.02 - It is one of the best facilities in the country, and renovation is fine. Admittedly I have not been to many of the newer facilities, but I would rank TSC as one of the top 3 pools in which I've swam... And I much prefer it to the sterile Indy pool. Plus, as the results from the last two women's and men's NCAA champs show, a great facility is not a prerequisite for getting recruits or producing great results. The single Cal 50m pool was built in 1983, and is shared by men's and women's swimming, water polo and diving, plus student rec swimmers. It has no diving tower, and is frequently ensconced in fog and rain. In its first few years of existence, it was heated by the system from the old pool, a 33 1/3y classic from the 1920s. That pool produced the 1979/1980 NCAA championship teams of Graham Smith, Par Arvidsson, Peter Rocca, etc. GO BEARS!