Oklahoma State University Athletics
Gallagher-Iba Arena Locker Rooms, Meeting Areas Near Completion
September 08, 1999 | General
Sept. 8, 1999
By Fred Minnick
Athletic Department Intern
The men and women's locker-room, meeting and lounge areas of Gallagher-Iba Arena are near completion.
Kyle Keller, the Cowboys' assistant basketball coach, said he is excited about the new setup and believes it will serve as an advantage during the season.
The areas will be ready in time for the 1999-2000 basketball season, said Al Byers, vice president of Gary Sparks Companies.
Roughly costing $240,000, the men and women's locker facilities are 4,000 square feet, said Gary Sparks, owner of Gary Sparks Companies.
"The first week of October is the finishing goal for construction, and by mid-October, the areas will be completely furnished," said Gary Sparks.
Byers said the only thing lacking is a coat of paint on the walls, carpet, shower partitions in the women's locker room, ceiling panels, floor tile and a few doors.
The men's locker-room showers will have "Cowboys" engraved in the ceramic tile of the shower wall.
"In addition to the showers, the locker rooms will have really nice maple lockers," said Jill Sparks, interior designer for Gary Sparks Cos. "There will be trophy-display cases in the locker area with new carpet."
The men's locker room will have 17 maple lockers, carpet and a larger restroom facility. The women's locker room will sport a different setup than the men's.
Gary Sparks said the locker rooms are basically the same in quality, but the contractor had to assess different needs for the women. The women's locker facilities will not have the Cowboy logo in the shower room, partitions will separate individual showers, and the lockers will look more like a vanity area, Byers said.
"The women's locker room is equal in quality to the men, but it is a little different," Gary Sparks said. "We upgraded the individual lockers with mirrors, lights and electrical outlets."
"Instead of having a Cowboy logo on the wall of the shower area, we have Pistol Pete designs on the shower curtains of the shower cubicles," Gary Sparks said. "Logos will also be silk-screened on the chairs and stools in front of the players' lockers."
With sofas and a big-screen television adjacent to the locker rooms, the lounge and meeting area will be a place where players can take a load off and relax, said Jill Sparks. "I think for the guys, it will allow them to have a relaxed atmosphere," said Keller.
"It will be a nice, comfortable environment where they can watch TV and play games," Jill Sparks.
Keller said the area will be unique, and it is something he and the players will take a lot of pride in.
"It is a tremendous showpiece for us as far as recruiting," Keller said. "After working hard, it will make the players feel better about where they are."
Keller said the area is not just for fun and games but for teaching as well.
"Other than the court, the meeting area will be our number one teaching tool," Keller said. "We will be able to show our scouting reports to the players in a more comfortable environment, break down film and use the chalkboard. It will be great for teaching."
