PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new indoor practice facility, the Taylor Sports Complex, Saturday, Oct. 19.

The celebration occurred prior to the Cougars' 42-10 Homecoming win against Hawai'i at Gesa Field.

Project donors Scott and Lisa Taylor, the namesakes of the facility, and Gary and Nancy Long, were joined by WSU President Kirk Schulz, WSU Board of Regents Chair Lisa Keohokalole Schauer, Director of Athletics Anne McCoy, track and field student-athlete Eva Lowder and Vice President for Advancement and CEO of the WSU Foundation, Mike Connell, for the ribbon cutting.

"This is why we decided to invest in Cougar Athletics: Great coaches. Talented and committed students-athletes," Lisa Taylor said in her remarks during the program prior to the ribbon cutting. "They've provided us with such a sense of community and Cougar pride. We want to keep that spirit alive for future generations and to do that we must remain competitive.

"Scott and I believe WSU is a very special place and a big part of what makes it so unique is our athletic programs," Taylor added. "Together, we decided to invest in this program's future with this sports complex."

"It's incredible to think that the building we are looking at right now is going to harbor tremendous athletic development and achievement over the next few decades," Lowder said during the ceremony. "Having a good indoor training facility is absolutely critical, especially up here in the Pacific Northwest. 

"The Taylor Sports Complex is more than just a building," Lowder continued. "I see it as a symbol for what WAZZU stands for. I remember coming here on my recruitment trip two years ago and being told of this dream to have a new indoor facility within the next few years, but at the time I only thought of it as an idea. For this facility to become a reality this soon I believe shows the dedication of our administration and our donors to the betterment of success of our student-athletes."

The permanent structure includes a full 120-yard field, dedicated sprint lanes and jump pits for track and field, improved lighting, and enhanced cameras, which will be able to capture multiple angles of practice.

The cost of the facility is covered entirely by philanthropic support, with $27.2M raised in private donor funds. The WSU Board of Regents gave the go-ahead to the capital project during its meeting, Sept. 15, 2023.

Saturday's ribbon cutting occurred 13 months after the groundbreaking ceremony that was held inside the previous indoor practice facility, known as "the bubble" because of its air-supported roof. A time-lapse video of construction can be viewed at the Washington State University website.

To watch the ceremony in its entirety, visit the WSU Athletics YouTube channel HERE.