EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) - Northwestern says it's planning a $110 million renovation of Welsh-Ryan Arena that will modernize the 63-year-old arena.
Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips announced Monday a "complete overhaul" of the arena is expected to begin in March and be finished by the fall of 2018.
The arena will get new seating, including chair-back seats in place of the existing wooden bleachers. The arena's lighting and audio and video systems also will be updated. And Northwestern will widen concourses and add premium seating.
The men's and women's basketball teams and volleyball team also will get new locker rooms.
Welsh-Ryan's construction was completed in 1953 and it seats about 8,100. The school says the new seating configuration has not yet been worked out.
Donations will pay for the project.