PULLMAN, Wash. — Homecoming at Washington State University is about remembering and celebrating the past, but WSU Athletics is looking into the future with the opening of its brand-new Taylor Sports Complex.
Opening day for the sports complex has been 22 years in the making. The indoor practice facility, also known as the bubble, was built as a temporary facility for student-athletes with the goal of one day having a permanent building like the Taylor Sports Complex.
The 90,000-square-foot sports complex will primarily house practice spaces for baseball, track-and-field, football and soccer.
"We can now show recruits a reality to look forward to upon joining the Coug family," said Eva Louder, a WSU sophomore pole vaulter.
Louder says she didn't expect the vision for the sports complex to come to fruition in her time at WSU.
"Thank you for investing in me, for investing in all of us athletes, for investing in the future of Washington State athletics," said Louder.
The Taylor Sports Complex's construction was completely funded through donations with more than 470 donors.
"It was 20 years later that we realized the connecting force that is cougar athletics," said Lisa Taylor, a WSU alumni whose family gift initially lifted the project off the ground.
"We decided to invest in this program's future with this sports complex," said Taylor. "We know the world of college athletics is changing and changing rapidly, and we need to keep up in order to not be left behind."
WSU Athletics Director Anne McCoy says she gets emotional when she thinks of the new facility and how it's a sign of growth for the university, especially after the uncertainty with the Pac-12 and the future for WSU athletics.
"This building has been the symbol of everything we have been going through," said McCoy. "With everything now, rebuilding and exciting and going forward with the Pac-12, it's like they have come together in a perfect culmination of just building and the idea of rebuilding if you will."
Staff with the athletic facility say that they are still finishing up some projects inside but student-athletes are now able to use the indoor, temperature-controlled space as winter rolls in.