How can you not be, really?

Uh, no do- uh, and there's just no doubt.

I mean, and I think when you have an opportunity to experience...

I mean, everybody from afar watches The Wave and understands, uh, not, not the symbolism of it, but understands that there's a real relationship there and, and the battles that, uh, those young kids and their families fight.

Um, but I think just the, you know, how moved people are when they have an opportunity to see the great work, uh, that our healthcare, uh, workers are doing and, and, you know, our doctors and our nurses over there and then meet some of those, uh, those, uh, just remarkably courageous, uh, young girls and boys.

Um, it, it has a real impact on them and I think we heard that from them.

And, and certainly Pat McAfee stepping up and, and making that contribusi- contribution is really, really meaningful.

Uh, what role, uh, does philanthropy play in helping Iowa continue to compete at the highest level in all sports? It's so important.

What can you tell us about that process? What type of improvements are in the works? What's kind of the timeline for that project? And what can folks expect when all is said and done, Beth?

Yeah, you know, we did a feasibility study a couple years ago that sort of helped us outline what was possible.

And, you know, there's a couple key components to that project.

And one is, you know, that facility is now 43 years old, going on 44.

And And there's some items that just need to be addressed in terms of age.

And so that'll be a big piece of that puzzle.

The other piece is modernizing in terms of making sure that it's a building that serves today's fans.

Uh, speaking kind of in general terms that we already talked about, uh, name, image, and likeness, uh, uh, in terms of the university of Iowa, but it's been one year since the house settlement's been enacted, uh, lots of new procedures and processes with that, I guess, from your perspective, how has that transition gone? Um, you know, just in the last year, are things simpler? Are things more complicated from your perspective at all?

What can you tell us about that process? What type of improvements are in the works? What's kind of the timeline for that project? And what can folks expect when all is said and done, Beth?

Yeah, you know, we did a feasibility study a couple years ago that sort of helped us outline what was possible.

And, you know, there's a couple key components to that project.

And one is, you know, that facility is now 43 years old, going on 44.

And And there's some items that just need to be addressed in terms of age.

And so that'll be a big piece of that puzzle.

The other piece is modernizing in terms of making sure that it's a building that serves today's fans.

I guess from your perspective, how has that transition gone just in the last year? Are things simpler? Are things more complicated from your perspective at all?

When can fans start to expect maybe some changes? Sure.

Yeah, you know, as you mentioned, I think, well, when something's 44 years old, it certainly is a long time coming.

And so, you know, I think these discussions started in earnest probably right when I got hired, when I came, you know, with Gary back in 2022.

We started a feasibility, we worked through a feasibility study just to say, hey, so what does it need? What could it look like? And then, you know, then the other changes to college athletics took place.

And so you're trying to navigate how all those things might fit together with the house settlement and then the financial needs there.

But, you know, it's such an incredibly important facility to us for many reasons, serves, you know, multiple, multiple teams.

It's, you know, needed for graduation and obviously other opportunities from rentals.

And how have you guys... handled that, I guess, or address that?