Auxiliary Gym Structure
The most visible portion of the Diddle project is the 35,000 square foot auxiliary gymnasium extension currently being erected along University Boulevard. This facility will house two full-length basketball courts, a state-of-the-art training room, and a 5,000 square foot weight room for WKU student-athletes. The total floor space in the auxiliary gyms will exceed that of the Sloan Convention Center, enabling WKU to host various trade shows and events in the auxiliary gym that may have outgrown the Convention Center.

Brand new men's and women's basketball offices and locker rooms will also showcase this facility, as these will be constructed immediately adjacent to the arena itself, connecting the arena to the auxiliary gym structure.

Lower Level
Beginning in November, 2002, there will be only four entrances to Diddle Arena - all at ground level. These entrances - one at each "corner" of the facility - will be complete with stairwells and elevator towers that will let patrons off at all three concourses. Ticket windows will also be built adjacent to the entrances for easier access to will call windows and point of sale purchases on game days.

On the southwest side of the arena, facing L.T. Smith Stadium, a new Athletic Ticket Office will be housed on the first floor, complete with a drive-through window where Hilltopper fans can purchase tickets, or drop off their Hilltopper Athletic Foundation membership, without having to worry about finding a parking space in the Diddle Lot. New HAF offices will also be located on the first floor, along with those of Sports Information and the Marketing and Promotions department. Athletic Administration offices will be housed on the southeast side of the building.

The southeast side of the arena will also become the home of the new Hall of Champions - a testament to the tradition and excellence of WKU Athletics over the years. This museum will become the centerpiece of the lower level arena reconstruction, and can be viewed through the massive glass windows that will be installed along the wall of the arena, facing Big Red Way. The lower level will also include new and expanded restroom facilities and concession stands.

Second Level
The second level of Diddle Arena will also include new and expanded restroom facilities and concession stands. Furthermore, the Stansbury Concourse will be transformed into a massive food court/gathering area for Hilltopper fans before & after games and during halftime, complete with stand-up tables and closed circuit television viewing. Over 100 televisions will be stationed throughout the entire arena, along with audio feeds throughout, so fans won't miss a minute of the action while they're away from their seat. The Big Red Radio Network feed will also be broadcast into all restroom facilities and concession areas throughout the building. No matter where you go, you'll never be far from the action!

Also on the Second Level, a new W-Club room will allow former WKU student-athletes to congregate before games and during halftime, while a new VIP room for Hilltopper Athletic Foundation members will also be available.

Third Level
The third level of the arena will be encompassed by sixteen new luxury suites - eight along each sideline. The suites are elevated four feet off of the floor and provide excellent sightlines of the playing floor. Each suite comes fully equipped with closed-circuit television, kitchen facilities, bar, closet, and sixteen cushioned seats in the front of the structure to allow premium viewing of all of the action on the floor. Suite holders will have full access to their respective suite for all Diddle Arena events. In the event suite patrons wish to get away from the hustle and bustle inside the suites to engage in private conversation or simply walk around a little, individuals will be able to gather in one of four courtyard-like areas stationed at each of the four corners of the third level (adjacent to the suites).

The most notable change on the third level, aside from the luxury suites, will be the erecting of two massive, state-of-the-art videoboards to replace the existing corner scoreboards. These structures, each of which is named, "Pepsi Vision," will be 48 feet long, and each will contain a video screen that measures 12' 8" by 16'2". Each videoboard will come complete with pertinent team and individual statistics as previously seen on the old hustle boards (jersey numbers, points, fouls). The boards will also feature large Cornerstone Partner signage.

New sound systems and lighting will also be installed throughout the facility. The large scoreboard hanging from the center ceiling has been removed and will be replaced with new and restructured speaker systems and acoustics. The white acoustic panels hanging from the ceiling have also been removed.

Lighting will be installed atop the arena (where the stained glass currently resides) and panels replaced along the upper interior and exterior ring of the arena so a soft, white glow is emitted and visible from outside the building whenever the building is being utilized for an event.

Summer 2003
During the summer of 2003, the historic Diddle Arena playing floor will be taken apart and removed, paving the way for a new surface in time for the 2003-'04 season. All original seating will also be taken out, as close to 8,000 new chairback seats will be installed, complete with wider seats and more legroom. Widened aisles and expanded handicapped seating areas will also be implemented.

L.T. Smith Stadium
The gridiron home of the Toppers will also get a makeover, as a state-of-the-art field is currently being installed and is set for completion in mid-August. The new surface, called AstroPlay, is a synthetic structure with the look and feel of real grass, but with a state-of-the-art drainage system and durability that will allow Jimmy Feix Field to host numerous events throughout the year.

In addition to the Diddle Arena renovation project, baseball and softball improvements have been visible on the west campus. The recent completion of the Nick Denes Field press box gives the Hilltopper baseball program one of the finest facilities in the country. Complete with a video tower, two luxury suites, and widespread media accommodations, the new structure also houses new and expanded ticket windows, concession stands, and souvenir counters.

The new indoor hitting facility, located beside Nick Denes Field along University Boulevard, provides the baseball and softball programs with the finest in practice facilities, while also serving as a place for the squads to effectively conduct practices in the event of inclement weather.

The WKU Softball Complex, in its second year of existence, includes one of the finest on-campus stadiums in the country, complete with all chairback seating, a two story press box, and plenty of ample parking.