Racer Arena’s construction disrupts the Murray State volleyball team and relocates the community warming center.
The construction project involves upgrades to the HVAC and electrical systems in the building, which will result in Racer Arena having cooling capabilities, as well as heating, once complete. There should be minimal impact to most activities within Racer Arena, with exceptions for short-term shutdowns of utility transitions and demolition, according to the Murray State Office of Branding, Marketing and Communication and Facilities Management.
“The project will benefit students and users. … Once the upgrades are complete, this will open up Racer Arena to other possible future events,” a spokesperson for the Office of Branding, Marketing and Communication said.
David Schwepker, the coach for the women’s volleyball team said that while the construction has forced the team to move practices to another gym this semester, he looks forward to what the project’s completion will mean for the 2025 season.
“Having AC in Racer will be a first, and is certainly going to make pre-season and the first half of the fall season much more comfortable to play and practice in,” Schwepker said. “It will also be great for the fans, as the players [got] used to the heat, but it was not a great experience for the fans.”
According to Facilities Management, the estimated time frame is for the project to be completed in Fall 2025, in time for the volleyball season.
In addition to being the home of the volleyball team, Racer Arena has typically been used as a warming center for members of the community. The construction has caused the site to be moved to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post of Murray.
Josh Kerr, director of the Calloway County Office of Emergency Management, worked with the VFW to organize the relocation.
“The local VFW post has graciously agreed to operate a warming center this year for our community. I am especially grateful for them taking on this project,”Kerr said. “They have done an excellent job thus far, and I hope this partnership will continue into future years as well.”
Kerr said when there is an apparent need for the center to be open, it is open to all members of the community.
“Warming centers are vital during cold weather, especially for people without proper heating in their homes,” a spokesperson for the Office of Branding, Marketing and Communication said. “They provide a safe, heated space where individuals can avoid the dangers of hypothermia or frostbite.”
Lexie Johnston, senior agriculture science technology major who lives in an apartment off-campus, said the warming centers give her peace of mind in the event that she were to lose power during a winter storm.
“It is comforting knowing that there is somewhere if I needed it,” Johnston said.
Days and hours the center is open to the public vary depending on weather conditions. To keep the public up to date on specific hours of operation, the VFW makes posts to their Facebook page, Vfw Post Murray, and Kerr said he is sharing those updates from the Calloway County Office of Emergency Management page.
When in use, the center is typically open to the public overnight, then closes during the day.
The VFW Post can be found next to the Murray Peddler’s Mall at 926 S. 12th St.
