New Cuban Center to benefit Media School students, NSJC
The Mark Cuban Center for Sports Media and Technology, announced June 5 by IU President Michael McRobbie, will offer Media School students the chance to work with 3-D imaging, virtual reality and other technology new to college athletics, McRobbie and Cuban said during a news conference at Henke Hall in Memorial Stadium.
Thanks to Cuban’s $5 million gift to IU Athletics, IU will be one of the first universities in the country to use such advanced technology to enhance the varsity sports experience for players, coaches, fans and students, McRobbie said. Cuban, who graduated from IU with a business degree in 1981, already has introduced the technology to his Dallas Mavericks basketball team.
The sports media and technology center will be incorporated into the west side of Assembly Hall, which is undergoing renovation. Students from across campus who produce work connected to IU sports will have 24-hour access to the technology.
Athletics director Fred Glass said about 150 students already work for IU Athletics, helping create game videos, live-event coverage and in-venue fan entertainment, among other productions. Glass said he expects the number of students involved to increase exponentially.
The new center will complement IU’s National Sports Journalism Center, which is part of The Media School, dean James Shanahan said.
“The Media School is delighted to be part of this initiative, and we are especially looking forward to the many exciting opportunities for students to gain exposure to and experience with cutting-edge technologies,” Shanahan said. “Especially in concert with activities of the National Sports Journalism Center, this gift will help Indiana attract and train the best talent in sports communication.”