Miami University forms committee for new sports arena, hotel

And a new arena site recommendation from a just-announced project committee is now scheduled to be forwarded to Miami’s president in early 2025, said school officials.

“Ideally a new arena would be centrally located on campus, within walking distance for students and to Uptown Oxford, able to hold multiple events concurrently, and could better host university and city events, such as lectures, convocation, concerts, career fairs, and graduations,” according to a statement from officials.

“The university has recently appointed a committee to review potential arena locations, working closely with the Department of Planning, Architecture, and Engineering, which has identified numerous sites on campus for consideration.”

In October, school officials first announced they were preparing to explore replacing Millet Hall - with its 10,000-seat capacity - due to facing renovation costs of $80 million to maintain and upgrade the 56-year-old sports venue and athletic department complex.

And officials also went public that month with their intention to build a large, on-campus hotel and at that point had already issued requests for proposals from private developers for such a project.

Miami officials have stressed any site discussions for either the arena or hotel project are preliminary but said a portion of the student recreation and intermural sports grounds at Cook Field eastern portion of central campus may be considered.

Any final plans would require review and approval by Miami’s Board of Trustees.

The newly formed committee “will consider the feasibility of each site and evaluate the potential enhancement and impact of each location on the student experience, campus, and the greater Oxford community.”

The university said “as Miami considers this and other potential projects through the strategic planning lens, it will prioritize those projects that benefit students and the community and strengthen the local economy of its campuses. Miami looks forward to sharing updates on this and other projects as they develop.”