April 26, 2024

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Today’s Forecast

59º | 68% chance of rain | Sunrise 5:57 a.m. | Sunset 7:53 p.m.

🏈 The new game plan

A schematic of the new football practice facility that sits next to Camp Randall Stadium.png

The new football practice facility has a $285 million price tag. | Rendering via Joint Campus Area Committee

The UW-Madison football team’s new practice facility is getting closer to the goal line. Yesterday, plans for the project were discussed at a Joint Campus Area Committee meeting.

What?

The school will replace the Camp Randall Sports Center, known colloquially as “The Shell,” and the McClain Center with a new 450,000-sqft facility.

Features of the new complex are threefold:

Indoor practice field: Replacing the existing Shell, the facility will include coaches offices that overlook the regulation field. There will also be a 300-meter indoor track for the Badgers track and field teams to utilize.
Training facility: The facility will include locker rooms, weight rooms, meeting spaces, and a dining hall to replace the existing McClain Center.
A triangle: The space will include an outdoor plaza honoring Wisconsin veterans and a large indoor space (function TBD).

At $285 million, it is the most expensive construction project ever undertaken by the Wisconsin athletic department.

Why?

The project was conceived to rectify shortcomings of the current aging buildings, including the fact that the existing facility’s field is 20 yards shorter than regulation and the ceiling height limits kicking drills.

A rendering of the new football training facility at UW-Madison.png — The entire project will be done in phases with a completion date of September 2027. | Rendering via Joint Campus Area Committee

When?

Wisconsin officials plan to carry out construction in phases:

Aug.-Nov. 2024: The Shell is demolished
Nov. 2024-Mar. 2026: Construction of the indoor practice field
Dec. 2025-Dec. 2026: Construction of the triangle
Feb.-May 2026: The McClain Center is demolished
Mar. 2026: Indoor practice space fully functional
May 2026-Sep. 2027: Construction of the new training facility
Sept. 2027: All phases of the project fully functional

By the Badgers’ 2027-28 season, they’ll have a gleaming new facility to utilize.

Asked

The first Badgers football team took the field in what year?

A. 1908
B. 1875
C. 1889
D. 1901

Touchdown

Events

Friday, April 26

National Pretzel Day | Friday, April 26 | 4-9 p.m. | Giant Jones Brewing, 931 E. Main St., Madison | Cost of purchase | Celebrate pretzel day (a Wisconsin staple if ever there was one) by pairing one with some tasty craft beer.
Madison Roller Derby Invitational Tournament | Friday, April 26-Sunday, April 28 | Times vary | Hartmeyer Ice Arena, 1834 Commercial Ave., Madison | $10-$50 | Bruising crews from throughout the Midwest will descend on the 608 for a battle royale on the track.

Saturday, April 27

Spring Pow Wow | Saturday, April 27 | Times vary | Madison College, Redsten Gym, 1701 Wright St., Madison | Free | Watch a powerful pow wow with the Hay Street Singers as the host drummers.
“The Addams Family Musical” | Saturday, April 27-Sunday, April 28 | Times vary | Margaret Williams Theatre - Madison East, 2222 E. Washington Ave., Madison | $5-$15 | The horror if you don’t attend this whimsical take on “The Addams Family” by the East Side Players.

Sunday, April 28

Bluegrass Brunch | Sunday, April 28 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Garver Feed Mill, 3241 Garver Green, Madison | $10-$25 | Enjoy some eggs or a mimosa while listening to boisterous bluegrass music from local band Soggy Prairie.
Madison Bird and Nature Festival | Sunday, April 28 | 12-4 p.m. | Warner Park Community Recreation Center, 1625 Northport Dr., Madison | Free | This event is for the birds and bird lovers, featuring family activities, animal encounters, food carts, music, and more.

Monday, April 29

Motown Monday | Monday, April 29 | 6-9 p.m. | Lola’s, 617 N. Sherman Ave., Madison | Cost of purchase | Imbibe a beverage while listening to Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, and more, spun by DJ Fuzzy Duck.

Events calendar here

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News Notes

Biz

Offering alcohol at the Kohl Center and LaBahn Arena proved successful in its debut year, with sales totaling $1.3 million during Wisconsin basketball and hockey home games. (Wisconsin State Journal)

Pets

Totally paw-some. Cottage Grove is getting its first dog park. Dubbed Bark Park, and designed in collaboration with UW-Madison students, the project — which is still in the design phase — will be located at the intersection of East Cottage Grove Road and North Main Street. (Wisconsin State Journal)

Drink

Madison-based BUBBL’R products are expanding into Target stores nationwide. Founded in 2017, BUBBL’R makes 12 different varieties of sparkling water and is owned by Wis-Pak, a Pepsi-Cola bottler. (Badger Herald)

Eat

The Hilldale Farmers Market season begins Saturday, May 4 and will run through Saturday, Oct. 26 every Wednesday and Saturday. Located behind L.L. Bean (434 N. Midvale Blvd.) off Segoe Road, the market has several new vendors — see the full list. (WMTV)

Sports

The Greater Madison Senior Softball League is seeking new players. For people age 55+, the league offers 25 teams composed of over 300 players. The season opens on Wednesday, May 1 with games played on Wednesday and Thursday mornings through August.

Cause

Wisconsin’s first free book bus will launch on Saturday, May 18 at the Kohl Center. The bus, run by Madison Reading Project, will provide books to kids at no cost and meet them where they are throughout Dane County. (WMTV)

Outdoors

The 2024-25 general inland fishing season will begin on Saturday, May 4. The Wisconsin DNR reminds anglers that all Wisconsin residents and nonresidents over the age of 16 must purchase a fishing license. There are also new regulations to keep in mind.

Home

Did you know you could finance your fixer-upper with home equity? You could get up to $50K with a HELOC — calculate your payment.*

Watch

For the first time ever, Hulu Live TV is offering a three day free trial. Get 33 of the top 35 cable channels, Hulu on demand, Disney+, and ESPN+.*

Business

📖 Are you read-y?

The interior of a bookstore filled with shoppers.jpeg

Lake City Books is one of several local bookstores participating in Independent Bookstore Day. | Photo via Lake City Books

It’s time to book it on over to your favorite bookshop. Tomorrow is National Independent Bookstore Day, and several shops in the 608 are participating.

A Room of One’s Own, 2717 Atwood Ave.
The progressive bookstore will be giving 15% of their sales all weekend directly to Gazans needing aid.

Book Deal, 3822 Mineral Point Rd.
Customers will have a chance to spin the prize wheel where they can win up to 15% off their purchase or free swag.

Lake City Books, 107 N. Hamilton St.
The shop will have exclusive indie bookstore swag, gift card raffles, free gifts with purchase (including rubber ducks), and more.

Mystery to Me, 1863 Monroe St.
Offering wrapped mystery books for $1, gift card raffles, and local art by Keith Huie, the shop will be abuzz.

Keep an eye out for books by local authors if you want to go on to the next chapter of reading bliss.

The Buy

A women’s pastel, oversized button-down — because you can’t go wrong in it for spring. Bonus: This one’s 100% cotton.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Jonathan

From the editor

I love books. I have books...everywhere. There’s not a flat surface in my house that doesn’t have some tome upon it. When I’m not reading them, I discover book podcasts, like this local one from our friends at Lake City Books.

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