Magic Johnson statue outside Breslin Center moved
EAST LANSING - Construction crews at Michigan State University's Breslin Center moved a statue of Earvin "Magic" Johnson Wednesday afternoon as part of an ongoing $50 million renovation project.
Johnson's statue was lifted via crane from its current location near the ticket office to a temporary staging area about 100 feet east. The statue, which weighs approximately 93 tons including the concrete footing, will sit about 150 feet south of its former home when the project is completed, said Jason Van Zee, a construction project manager at MSU.
The statue is being moved to make way for the new Hall of History, a 26,000 square foot addition to the Breslin commemorating MSU's college basketball legacy.
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"We're creating a plaza around the entryway with additional seating and lighting," said Jeff Bonk, a project manager with MSU's department of Infrastructure Planning and Facilities.
The statue of Johnson, who led Lansing's Everett High School to a state championship before arriving at MSU, was dedicated in 2003. Vandals spray painted the statue with University of Michigan colors and the words "beat state" last fall during the football season.
Following the vandalism, MSU Men's Basketball Head Coach Tom Izzo said his players would sleep around the statue if necessary to keep it safe next season. Security upgrades around the statue are not in the renovation plans, Bonk said.
Magic Johnson statue vandalized
The $50 million project is being done in two phases, with the first $30 million going toward the expansion of the concourse and maintenance-related upgrades funded through fees students began paying when the Breslin Center was built more than two decades ago. The second phase, which includes the Hall of History, will cost approximately $20 million and is being funded via donations to the MSU Athletic Department.
Officials expect all renovations to be completed by June 2018. The Breslin Center is continuing to host events during the renovation process.
Contact RJ Wolcott at (517) 377-1026 or rwolcott@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @wolcottr.