The first piece of a Crisler Arena makeover will begin in 2011.

The University of Michigan Board of Regents approved the $20 million first phase of the project today. It will include mostly infrastructure improvements.

The next phase will cost $30 million to $40 million and focus on the fan experience, said Timothy Slottow, U-M's executive vice president and chief financial officer. But those details are yet to be settled, Slottow said.

"There are so many problems we need to take care of with the concourse and with fan amenities," he said.

Slottow said he doesn't know how many phases the project will take to complete.

The plans approved today follow the approval of a $23.2 million, 57,000-square Crisler addition - a player development center - adjacent to Crisler that will contain practice and locker room facilities for men's and women's basketball. Those plans also moved forward today with the regents authorizing the bid process to begin.

The University of Michigan Board of Regents approved the first phase of a Crisler Arena overhaul Thursday.

Crisler seats 13,751, a number that will likely be lowered during renovations - though officials don't know yet by how much.

Plans for the first phase of the Crisler renovation include:

• Overhauls of electrical and mechanical systems, along with a cosmetic facelift of the venue's exterior.
• The replacement of seats in the lower bowl, along with aligning aisles with entryways.
• The addition of handrails and disability seating to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The renovation of Crisler is the last piece of a complete facilities overhaul the university has conducted in recent years, including an upgrade of Michigan Stadium.

In the past 12 years, U-M has upgraded several aspects of Crisler, including the playing court, the locker rooms and training facility, as well as adding a production studio. In 1998, Crisler added a video replay system and the large overhead scoreboard sitting above midcourt.