Facilities: Comcast Corp. has exercised an option in its naming-rights agreement for a new arena at the University of Maryland, College Park, to include naming rights for the playing floor. By exercising the option, Comcast's naming rights gift has increased from $20 million to $25 million, making it the largest known corporate naming gift in the United States for a collegiate athletics facility. In January, officials from Comcast and Maryland announced the gift as part of a business partnership that also includes providing cable television services to university residence halls. "This generous addition to Comcast's already large gift to the University of Maryland is greatly appreciated," said Maryland President C.D. Mote Jr. "It signifies the enormous value that Comcast places on a partnership with us." Deborah A. Yow, Maryland director of athletics, said, "We are extremely pleased that Comcast has elected to include the floor as part of its naming-rights agreement. It is fitting that Comcast will have naming rights inside and outside the Comcast Center." The university plans to raise another $20 million for its share of construction costs through additional major gifts and through a campaign that will make available 1,600 of the Comcast Center's 17,000 seats to major gift donors. SFX Sports Group helped structure the original partnership between the university and Comcast. The Comcast Center will be constructed on the north side of the campus under the auspices of the Maryland Stadium Authority ... A University of Mississippi alumnus and his wife have donated $1 million to the school for the construction of a golf center for the university's athletics program. The donation from John and Marianne Whitten of $1 million is the first major contribution to a campaign designed to attract private support for athletics programs. The John Whitten and Marianne Thaxton Whitten Golf Center will be constructed near the practice greens of the University Golf Course. The facility is being designed with team meeting rooms, dressing rooms, coaches' offices, and space for golf equipment repair and storage. Coaches of the men's and women's teams say the Whittens' gift gives their programs the boost needed to compete with top schools in recruiting. "State-of-the-art facilities are impressive to anyone, but particularly to student athletes," said men's golf coach Woody Cowart.

Sports sponsorship: Seton Hall University has suspended the operation of its men's tennis program for the years 2000 through 2003. Seton Hall athletics director Jeff Fogelson said the suspension is because the program has faced a decreasing squad size over the past few years, along with inadequate facilities and turnover in the head coaching position. The status of the program will be reevaluated after the three-year period.