With a Christmas tree and an American flag waving on its top, the arena is ready for winter construction.

After nine long days of work from Nov. 19 to Nov. 28, the digging of the bowl, the lower level complex where basketball games will be played, finally was finished.

“It is a monumental step because that is the start of the interior work,” said Mick Norwood, associate director of facilities of the arena.

The bowl will be 10 feet below grade level, 184 feet east to west and 122 feet north to south. Workers started digging on the northeast side and continued toward the west and south.

The bowl now is being prepped for concrete to be poured, but Norwood said electrical and plumbing work need to be done first. They are hoping to pour the concrete early next year.

During the break, the pre-cast for the building will be put up.

“By the time students come back, the building will be enclosed,” arena director John Gordon said. “Not a lot will be happening outside the building until the end of March.”

Workers are putting up the concrete blocks in the north and south lobbies, and plumbing, electrical and mechanical work are ongoing, Gordon said.

Preparations have been made in the construction schedule to prepare for bad weather.

“We could lose a day or two [in case of bad weather],” Gordon said. “The big goal is to get the building enclosed.”

New roads leading to the arena — one off West Stadium Drive and the other near Stevenson Towers — are being constructed. The roads have not yet been named.

Although the original schedule set construction to begin fall 1999 and end in Jan. 2000, the revised schedule remains on track. Construction began in Oct. 2000, and now is scheduled for completion in fall 2002.

“So far, we’re good,” Norwood said. “The weather has helped out quite a bit.”

The Board of Trustees approved the $35.8 million project Jan. 14, 1999. In June 2000, the arena price was published as $38 million, up more than $2 million from the original budget. Part of the funding for the arena comes from money earned on the interest of sold bonds, the rest comes out of student fees.