Michigan State Nears Opening of 50-Meter Pool
The new pool at Michigan State University is in its final stages pending state approval, while swim and dive programs remain eliminated.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Swimming
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Michigan State University is nearly finished with its new 50-meter pool, a 10-lane facility with two removable bulkheads and a pair of separate video boards. The pool is awaiting final state approval after a state health inspector's visit and is expected to open within the next month.
Why it matters
The pool is part of a 293,000-square-foot recreation facility approved for $200 million, even as the university's swim and dive programs remain eliminated. New Athletic Director Dan Bartholomae said he does not expect those programs to return in the next 18 to 24 months.
The pool measures 50 meters by 25 yards with 10 lanes and two removable bulkheads, inside a 293,000-square-foot facility. Final state approval is still pending, and the timing of the opening beyond the expected month is unconfirmed.
The players
Michigan State University
A public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, which is building the new pool as part of its recreation center and eliminated its swim and dive programs in 2020.
Dan Bartholomae
Michigan State's newly named Athletic Director, who has said the swim and dive programs will not be reinstated in the near term.
Battle for Spartan Swim and Dive
An advocacy group that raised $5 million in 2023 in an effort to restore the university's swim and dive programs.
The details
The 293,000-square-foot recreation facility also includes several gymnasiums, an indoor turf field, an indoor track and a 47-foot climbing wall. The fitness center portion opened April 15, and the pool is in its final stages following a visit by a state health inspector.
Timeline
June 2023: Michigan State Board of Trustees approved the $200 million recreation center.
October 2020: Michigan State announced elimination of its swim and dive programs.
April 15: The fitness center portion of the recreation center opened.
Within the next month: The pool is expected to open, pending final state approval.
Next 18 to 24 months: Bartholomae does not expect the swim and dive programs to be reinstated.
Season Trajectory
The university's 2020 decision to eliminate its swim and dive programs set the context for the new pool, which is opening without a team to use it for now. Bartholomae's projection of no reinstatement for 18 to 24 months means the facility's near-term use depends on other programs and recreation rather than varsity swimming.
Swimmers and fans hoping to compete at Michigan State will not have a varsity program to join in the near term, since Bartholomae does not expect the swim and dive programs to return within 18 to 24 months. The pool's opening will mainly give access to recreational and facility users rather than restore team competition.
The takeaway
A new pool does not guarantee a team, and at Michigan State the facility is arriving ahead of any reinstated swim and dive program. Readers following the story should watch for the state approval and opening date rather than expecting varsity competition to resume soon.
What happens next
The pool is expected to open within the next month, pending final state approval.
Further reading
For more on the program's history and current status, see Swimming coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SwimSwam.
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