Another year means another round of construction projects for the school. The Maverick Pavilion (MavPav) underwent renovation last Spring and is tentatively scheduled to be completed near the start of 2023.
The reasoning for this project is understandable: despite its recent renovation in 2015, the MavPav was largely under-utilized and could be improved. Sports teams have had to operate on a tight practice and game schedule, especially during their summer camps, when thousands of campers stay on campus and fill up the existing courts.
The current renovation will add a sky-bridge which will connect to the Maverick Center (MavCenter) and also add another indoor track loop. Additionally, the project will add a rubber floor court and four wooden courts, along with another kinesiology athletic training lab and classroom.
It is obvious to see the benefits this will bring to Colorado Mesa University (CMU) Athletics.
At the same time, however, it is hard to overlook what this project does not address. Anyone who regularly exercises at the Hamilton Recreation Center can attest to how busy the gym can get once the students return in the fall.
There is typically only one of each type of machine, which means that if someone else is using a machine that you want, you will have to wait until it opens up. This can sometimes be a dismal probability, considering the amount of other students who are also eying the same machine.
There are some machines and free weight sections that include multiple of the same machine, but it is simply not enough.
For example, there are three bench press stations in the building, which are supposed to accommodate a student body of almost 11,000 students, in addition to the general public. According to Statista, fitness centers in the United States only average about 1,500 members. The MavCenter serves many more than that, and so its supply of machines should reflect this.
Don’t get me wrong, the Maverick Center is a beautiful building that serves hundreds of students everyday. There is also usually a good amount of cardio machines open even during peak gym times, but these issues need to be addressed.
Here is the problem: CMU’s student population, which will only grow in the coming years, already overwhelms some of the Mav Center’s current capabilities.
The current renovation project will alleviate some of the recreational basketball court demands and add another indoor track loop, but it does not address the lacking quantity of other strength equipment.
It may sound trivial to complain about a recreational center that was also recently renovated along with the MavPav in 2015. However, this problem is unavoidable and will only get worse over the next few years unless something is done to amend it.
I support the current renovation, but I would also suggest transforming one of the lesser-used areas of cardio machines or general workout rooms to include another set of squat racks, bench presses, leg press machines or any other high-demand equipment.
This would reduce the amount of traffic in the workout areas by expanding and spreading out where Mavericks can find their desired equipment, which will improve the student experience. This will cost money obviously, but student fees already go towards supporting the Maverick Center, and I am optimistic the school has the budgetary means to make it happen.
