Media Advisory: UB to hold groundbreaking Friday for new sports performance center

BUFFALO, N.Y. – University at Buffalo officials will hold a ceremonial groundbreaking at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 30, for a new sports performance center that will be built on the university’s North Campus.

The event will be held in the north end of UB Stadium (see map).

The Brittany Murchie Mulla Sports Performance Center — a 12,000-square-foot, multilevel facility — will serve all student-athletes on UB’s 14 varsity teams. Scheduled to open in 2024, it will double the training space for UB’s student-athletes, creating a state-of-the art environment that enables them to compete at their peak.

Plans for the new facility were announced in December by Mark Alnutt, UB vice president and director of athletics.

Alnutt and Mulla will give remarks at the groundbreaking, along with UB President Satish K. Tripathi. Paul Peck, the “Voice of the Bulls,” will serve as master of ceremonies.

Features of the new sports performance center will include:

• 18 free-weight training racks.
• 42-foot, 17-degree turf training incline.
• 1,000-square-foot cardio mezzanine.
• Supplemental nutrition area.
• Three offices and a conference room.
• Direct connection to the Murchie Family Fieldhouse.

“I am so thankful to the Murchie family for their generosity through the years and supporting our vision for UB Athletics to be one of the top Group of Five programs in the nation,” Alnutt said.

“This facility is another game changer for our department. Strength and conditioning along with nutrition are vital components in preparing our student-athletes for championship success in their respective field of play. This facility is a tremendous upgrade over our existing facility and with the connection to the Murchie Family Fieldhouse it allows our student-athletes the flexibility of working under one roof. We look forward to showcasing this facility to prospective student-athletes so they can realize that all their needs in this critical area can be attained here at UB.”

Mulla is the daughter of UB alumni Tunney and Deanna Murchie. Tunney received his degree in management in 1975 and his MBA a year later, and Deanna is a 1974 graduate.

The Murchies have been longstanding, steadfast supporters of UB’s student-athletes, the athletics program and the entire university community. The Murchie family donated $3 million to the fieldhouse that bears their name, one of the signature achievements of the university’s billion dollar Boldly Buffalo comprehensive campaign. The Murchies have made several other donations to athletic facilities and programs over the years.

An avid athlete and fitness enthusiast and competitor, Mulla has pursued personal and professional interests that promote the value of lifelong health and wellness. Her extensive professional experience in the fitness industry includes certification as a personal trainer focusing on Pilates and rehabilitative exercise.