B&D was instrumental in defining a project for one of the first public university sports facilities financed primarily through revenue bonds secured by its own revenues. We were initially retained by the University of Rhode Island in 1998 to develop a feasibility study for a basketball arena and ice hockey facility. Our ultimate recommendation was to develop a separate 8,000-seat basketball arena and 2,500-seat, two-sheet ice facility to maximize the revenue potential from each and obtain the best ROI for the university’s objectives for the $64.3 million project. After the state approved funding for the project, we were engaged, in partnership with Gilbane Building Company, to provide program management services, including: selection of an architect through a competitive bid process; negotiation of the A/E contract; development of architectural program requirements; management of design and value engineering; bidding multiple construction packages; bidding and managing a design-build contract for the ice facility; developing a detailed business plan for the arena and ice facilities; hiring a facility management company through a competitive bid process; managing construction; and overseeing budget, schedule, and quality. The arena would be an innovative revenue-generating facility for a variety of events and athletics. Centrally located among athletic resources, its premium suites would overlook both the basketball court and football field. The 7,657-seat, $54 million Thomas M. Ryan Center opened in June 2002, and the 2,500-seat, $12 million Bradford R. Boss Arena opened three months later.