The University of Minnesota is expected to give final approval Friday to a $166 million Athletes Village that officials say is essential for the Golden Gophers to compete successfully in the Big Ten.
The project, which includes state-of-the-art practice and training facilities for football and basketball, passed a Board of Regents committee without dissent on Thursday, and is scheduled for a final vote Friday morning.
So far, the U has raised less than half the cost — about $76.5 million — from donors. Its original goal was to have 80 percent of the money in hand before breaking ground.