The Rike Center has been a hallmark of Otterbein for the past half century. The athletic facility has become home to Cardinal athletics since its opening in 1974. While the building is beloved by the Otterbein community, the Rike is one of the most outdated athletic facilities in the OAC.
The Rike was a state-of-the-art facility during its construction in the early ‘70s. The grand opening of the building drew in crowds from the Westerville community, providing a space for attendees to enjoy a diverse array of athletic competitions and events hosted by Otterbein.
The Rike’s domed structural design was envisioned as a multipurpose athletic facility to house every Otterbein sport for competition. However, the building has struggled with following this premise since its debut.
Many uncertainties exist concerning future renovations for the Rike due to the building’s abnormal structural layout.
"Fire codes have always been an issue for older buildings with the way they were constructed," said athletic director Greg Lott. "These codes would limit what could be done with the entryway, enhancing the difficulty for structural alterations to the Rike."
Major overhauls have been lacking within the last couple decades due to these structural difficulties, however, this hasn’t prohibited the completion of smaller renovation projects within the Rike.
A recent addition to the Rike saw the installation of a polished main court last summer. The renovation came after complaints from athletes and recruits regarding the court’s safety for athletes. The need was addressed comparatively against other athletic facilities, becoming an immediate priority for the university for renovating.
"There was a lip on the floor by the north end bleachers which went down to the base floor with a few feet exposed before reaching the bleachers. This created a hazard for athletes, who could potentially roll an ankle stepping off the court, which was something we needed to address," Lott said.
Lott further explained how the court surface becomes unsafe with the top layer exposed and how sanding is needed to increase friction on the courts. Athletes tend to start noticing bodily aches and pains caused by the surface eroding down too far over time, often leading to overuse injuries. According to Lott, the floor was worn down to the extent where it couldn’t be refinished anymore and needed replaced.
Concerns regarding not only athletes' safety, but attendees' safety too, are being addressed. According to longtime athletic facilities adviser Skip Ford, the small amount of spacing within the lobby doesn’t comply with the need to fit 50% of the attending visitors.
The building has also shown various issues with spacing over the years with the sheer number of sports hosted inside the Rike’s tightly packed dome-shaped layout. For instance, curtains are used to delegate separate spaces for basketball and track practices.
The golf team particularly struggled in the past with having the opportunity to practice on the offseason because of the lack of practice space within the Rike.
"It’s difficult in our climate to get good quality practice in the offseason," said head golf coach Briane Booher. "Competitively speaking, most universities have had indoor facilities, and we want to make sure we offer what other universities have access to."
One of the recent, more modern updates within the Rike has been the installation of the golf simulation last winter, which Booher said has been a game changer for athletes.
"These facilities have enhanced convenience and increased practice opportunity for the athletes. This will provide value for them within their often-tight schedule rather than having to travel to the Westerville Recreation Center," Booher said.
Providing better opportunities for student athletes has been a key theme with renovations to the Rike. The implementation of these projects, however, depends on garnering support and funding from members of the Otterbein community.
According to Lott, fundraising is well underway for some renovation plans, like the replacement of the old wooden bleachers with automatic bleachers that meet the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
On the contrary, many plans for the Rike are often uncertain because of the difficulty of garnering enough funding. According to Lott, athletic facility renovations have skyrocketed in costs over the years.
"When we do update the facilities, we want to ensure that the university can cover a majority of the costs and doesn’t take on any debt. ..." Lott said. "We have to be careful about engaging in renovations which we can handle and don't take away opportunities for growth within other sectors among the university."
Lott doesn’t want to be extremely vocal about plans until the university has generated enough support.
"There is always the risk of creating expectations or people assuming you’re promising something which cannot be fulfilled," Lott said. "If we cannot make the funding work, we’re leaving room for disappointment."
Despite the numerous structural issues surrounding the Rike, meeting code standards for competition are not an issue. Even when looking at participating sports in the recreation center, Otterbein has an appropriate competition-size track and space for setting up field events, according to Lott.
Preserving the feel of the Rike from generations past while maintaining the physical characteristics is imperative for the university.
"The Rike is looked upon as an iconic, unique structure at Otterbein. It’s a really different facility which you don’t see a lot of with college athletic facilities anymore," Lott said. "Preserving the character and feel of the facility through the renovation projects is a necessity."
A party celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Rike in May will be held in the fall. According to Lott, the university plans on inviting community members who have been a part of the Rike's history, including athletes, coaches, professors and administrators.
Lott emphasized that community support for the Rike is necessary for both keeping the history of the facility alive and impacting the experience future students will have.
"We’re getting to the point now where we’ve got to start thinking ahead to the next 50 years for the Rike and how the facility will serve future generations of students to come," Lott said.
