A Board of Regents committee said Thursday the University of Minnesota should break ground on the $166 million Athletes Village next month, despite fundraising struggles.
The U has raised $76.5 million for the football and basketball practice facility, which includes academic and nutrition spaces. President Eric Kaler recommended borrowing the remaining $89.5 million.
The U typically secures 80 percent of a project's funding before breaking ground, but Kaler said fundraising for Athletes Village is outpacing that for TCF Bank Stadium, which opened in 2009.
"I'm confident we have momentum, and this will grow," he said.
Regents voted unanimously to approve the final schematic design for Athletes Village and added the project to their construction budget.