UAA sports facilities re-open as quake-related repairs continue

Update, noon Wednesday: The UAA men’s basketball team will resume practicing on-campus Wednesday at the Wells Fargo Sports Center.

The two sports facilities at UAA are open again, although the university’s athletes continue to practice off-campus and a Saturday gymnastics meet has been canceled.

The annual Green & Gold intrasquad gymnastics meet is the only event so far affected by Friday’s 7.0 magnitude earthquake, the UAA athletic department said in a statement Wednesday that summarized the status of the Alaska Airlines Center and the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.

“Both buildings are slated to reopen for employee occupancy and limited team and/or public usage on Wednesday,” the school said.

Repairs at both facilities are ongoing.

The greatest concern is the main gym floor at the 4-year-old Alaska Airlines Center. The hardwood floor was flooded, and although standing water was cleaned up within a few hours, the long-term effect “will not be known until the floor has ample time to dry through this weekend,” the school said.

Elsewhere at the facilities, according to the school:

— At the Wells Fargo Sports Complex, a water pipe broke near the ice rink. The pipe has been repaired and there was no long-term damage.

— The swimming pool at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex remains fully operational.

— Both the auxiliary gym and the gymnastics studio at the Alaska Airlines Center sustained limited ceiling and sheetrock damage. Repairs have begun and are expected to be completed within the next several days.

The UAA hockey team left for an extended road trip Wednesday after practicing Monday and Tuesday at Sullivan Arena. The basketball teams continue to practice at off-campus gyms, the gymnastics team is practicing at the Anchorage Gymnastics Association and the track team is practicing at The Dome.