John Knutson, senior vice-president of Midland National Bank, became MAC president in 1974. In February he appointed a committee of three—Lloyd Engelsma, Bob Price and Mike Wright—to produce a workable and affordable plan for the new athletic facility to be built on the rear property. The committee resolved the parking and easement questions and called for a plainer and simpler building plan. The Board of Directors approved, and a groundbreaking was held August 5, 1974. The grand opening of the new athletic facilities took place April 4, 1975, adding four handball and racquetball courts, a new gymnasium, 250 new lockers and an exercise room to the club.

In September 1974 General Manager Serio Rossi resigned. The Board of Directors named Athletic Director Jerry Grebin as interim general manager. At his first meeting with the directors, Grebin offered a “state of the club” message together with a look at the future and some long-range plans. Although most of his experience had been in athletics and athletics management, Grebin excelled in his interim position, and he was named general manager of the club later that year. Hal Raether succeeded Grebin as athletic director.

The presidency of Ford “Bill” Crouch of Strong, Strong, Tully and Couch Ltd., saw a change in the bylaws to provide women full and equal membership rights. Crouch also presided over the March 1976 Bicentennial Open House, the biggest event of the year, attended by 800 members. In 1976 Ernie Williamson, bowling lanes manager for 18 years, retired. The main lobby was remodeled for better entry to the athletic addition, which had opened in 1975.

A. F. “Monty” Eichhorn of Broeker-Hendrickson, CPAs, Mike Wright of the Dorsey & Whitney law firm (later chairman of Super Valu Stores), then Kenneth Person, vice-president of the Minnesota Gas Company, succeeded Crouch as president. Five-time national handball champion Steve Subak was saluted at a banquet in his honor on April 4, 1978. In May of that year, Alan Rice, a former Olympic wrestler, brought top Greco-Roman wrestlers to the club to compete in the MAC-sponsored National Wrestling Championships.