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If that is an exact quote from Alex, then I don't want him to be part of the university as a whole. His grammar is worse than LeBron's It's even more unforgivable than selling 5lbs of pot!

I think it is entertaining and fun to read all of the ideas posted here. And I understand that many of us may take some suggestions with a grain of salt and perhaps others more seriously. At the end of the day IMHO, I see The University of Akron making sound decisions on the size and nature of a new arena. I suspect it will be multi-purpose on some level (I'd be happy with basketball, concerts and limited convention use) using only university funds whether they come directly from within or raised by the department of development through donations from alumni and other friends of UA. If you look at the campus one would have to admit that most if not nearly all UA facilities are multi-purpose to some degree or another. Being multi-purpose is certainly not a new concept for The University of Akron. The football stadium is still being considered for concerts albeit a slow if not annoying process. E.J. Thomas is about as multi-purpose as you can get when it wants to be. The Student Union hosts a plethora of different events. Jackson Field is certainly multi-purpose. And, the list goes on and on...but the bottom line: ALL UA on - campus facilities are superb at being community friendly to the greater Akron area and region. I consider the campus to be the most centralized location in the Akron and Summit County area. GO ZIPS!

I hear and and I concur. Dambrot does not want a hockey arena. I have no problem with that. That said, the price tag UA was looking at was still around $80 million in 2009. They aren't going to build the mistake Bowling Green built (Stroh Center). Also, Dambrot and TW behind closed doors will tell you where they want the arena located.

UA was looking at an $80 million price tag back in 2009. If they wait any longer, what they want will come closer to $100 million.

A private developer is building student apartments and retail on that site. It should bed about 450 students if I'm not mistaken and Penn Station will return once it is completed in August of 2014. It will be called, "University Edge". I think it will be a handsome and welcome addition to the neighborhood, even though it is not actually part of the UA campus.

One cannot help liking the way you think, Spin! As I have said, I think Curtis and Dambrot and TW for that matter are more integrated (integrity) into the university as a whole rather than being hung up on their specific disciplines. I see UA as having one paradigm and not a collage of paradigms. It is one body with many working and INTEGRATED parts. That is what integrity is about. I've seen example after example of that quality at UA and much of it started with the hiring of Luis Proenza. He has very little tolerance for the fragmented way the university was run a few decades ago. TW doesn't make big decisions on his own (anymore at least) and certainly not in a vacuum and nether do the rest of UA leaders. The idea of the JAR serving as a practice arena came from Curtis and Dambrot and actually, I don't recall ever hearing TW mention the idea once.

yes every one of them except George Carlin are still alive and that is not the point. You claim that promoters have ruled out UA for concerts and nothing can be further from the truth. I would recommend to you that you take a more positive view of the world in which you live and that circumstances do change in general and at the university of akron. GO ZIPS! Please consider being more positive about our university. It will make a difference. You strike me as someone who sees himself losing the argument in which you create changing the subject or point of your own argument. If you are going to argue, then stay on topic of your own argument. And for your convenience I have added the years in which these promoter sponsored artists have appeared at The University of Akron. I am sure that you will find fault with that as well as your agenda seems to be to kick everything positive and progressive in the head. Enjoy yourself!

Well, I know that the rec center has multiple areas for basketball, but I also know that is not enough. From what I hear, Curtis and Dambrot see the current JAR as a practice gym for the ZIPS and an adjunct for intramurals since the Rec Center cannot fulfill the total demand. There are also additional uses for the JAR once a new arena is built which includes volley ball, pysical education classes and more. UA plans to have 40,000 students by 2020 and the JAR will come in real handy for that purpose

and I think the JAR can be used for many athletic and other purposes once the new arena is built.

Some Live Nation events on the University of Akron campus recently and in the past: Nora Jones 2011 Paul Simon 2012 Trans Siberian Orchestra 2012 One Republic 2008 Colbet Callegh 2008 Seether 2008 Bob Dylan 2013 The Moody Blues 2012 Jethro Tull 1999 The J. Geils Band 1974, 1977 Michael Stanley 1975 Cheech&Chong 1973, 2009 George Carlin 1976 Brian Auger 1975 Mike Quatro 1975 Manfred Man's Earth Band 1975 Funkadelics 1973 James Brown 2000 Maria Mauldere 1975 Heart 1976 Al Stewart 1977 Angel 1977 Manheim Steamroller2002 2010 Fleetwood MAc 2002 The Moody Blues 2013 YES 2000 Alice Cooper 2001 Deep Purple 2001 Hawkwind 1975 The Eagles 1974 Stevie Wonder 1970 The Dave Mason Band 1975 Joe Walsh 1975 Black Keys 2009 and many many more I really don't want to hear the lie that promoters don't want to bring concerts to the University of Akron

GP1 Thanks for your input...very interesting. BTW Live Nation (formerly Belkin Productions) is the biggest concert promoter in the nation if not the world and they have not ruled out concerts at The University of Akron. They are in E.J. Thomas quite a bit and have been historically. They have also place concerts in Memorial Hall and the JAR and worked with UA in putting Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane and more in the university's rubber bowl and that was while we had the coliseum and Blossom to compete with. I know people at Live Nation and they enjoy bringing acts to the university.

I saw that in the paper where Ted Curtis suggested raising both buildings which surprised me for the same reasons you point out. I do know that the inside of the Martin Center is a train wreck and then some. Both buildings are going to need a lot of work and $$$ if they are to be restored. I think the thrust of the article is that the offices of the alumni and development need better digs and need to be together as they are the front door for big donors to the University. I always wondered why UA had such a terrible location for Development. When you want to lure and impress donors, you don't want to do it in a building that looks like crap. The move of the two departments into one location at the football stadium is a good one. Raising The Martin Center and The Alumni Center...not so much.

Now that you mention it, I too recall seeing the practice field used by both soccer teams as well as the band. Good point. The footprint of the baseball field was also mentioned to me as an option for an arena. At that time, it was suggested that a new baseball field would be built south of Exchange in the area of Buchtel Field House.

Well, I think Mr Curtis has more integrity than you give him credit for as does Keith Dambrot. Curtis did not advocate for building a practice facility. He suggested using the JAR as one. What do you propose we do with the JAR then once we get a new arena? I guess my point was that more than the AD want a practice court. I realize that you seem to see TW as having a "pie-in-the-sky" or self-serving agenda and now that has been extended to Ted Curtis and Keith Dambrot. I was looking at the future with more than basketball being presented in a new arena. The campus has big plans for the future that include an academic main street for the campus, 40,000 students (which includes on-line students) and the potential for a consolidated athletic district near the Info which would include a multi-purpose arena No one has ruled out concerts and other gatherings taking place in a new arena or the Info for that matter. UA has concerts at its performing arts hall all the time and had some at the JAR and many at Memorial Hall. So I really don't see the campus as "not having lots of concerts" In a new arena, concerts can be presented on a larger scale than a 2,955 seat performing arts hall. And, to my knowledge, there are still intramurals at UA that could be played in the JAR. BTW, the football team has and continues to use an outdoor practice field in addition to the field house and the Info. What are your thoughts on that? I have wondered if UA should scuttle the outdoor practice field but many seem to want it to stay.

Why would a basketball team not need a practice facility? I've heard Ted Curtis and Keith Dambrot advocate for a practice facility for basketball. Other schools have them... why not Akron? Also, your idea of a new arena being complimented by a parking deck is a good idea as well.

http://www.ohio.com/sports/zips/zips-baske...ptions-1.383372 Looks like we are getting closer to a decision. I see a new arena that will be complimented by a renovated JAR for a practice facility and more.

I know Johnny J's in the valley is the official watch party but I'd rather go to "Pints" right across from the campus football stadium. It's my kind of watering hole and has a definite college atmosphere.

Very awesome indeed! Thanks.

I was told that the entire campus was underlain with bubble gum and cotton candy LOL. I don't recall hearing any dynamite detonations when the Info was built.

I believe UA will excavate as need be. I recall Ted Curtis's (UA VP of planning and capital improvement) statement..."If you are going to do it, you have to do it right the first time." I don't see UA skimping on a new arena. They learned a painful lesson by skimping on the JAR. That sting is still fresh on their minds if not their buttocks. That is why they took great efforts and planning on building the dialer correctly and state-of-the-art. Mediocrity is no longer an option for UA. And thank God for that, finally! That said, I believe they will do the right thing and build on campus and not downtown.

My reservations about bleachers are #1. they are uncomfortable, ugly and make an arena look more like a gym. Bleachers are not my idea of so-called "state-of-the-art" #2. and bigger than this is that designating bleachers for the students is somewhat of an insult to the UA student body. It treats them like second class citizens while the rest of the crowd are treated with respect. Forcing students to stand at a game, concert or any other event in any venue sends a very negative message to the community and university. I realize that "the good" seats help to bring in revenue, but let's not lose sight of the fact that the university is here for the students first, especially when one considers that they are already being forced to pay to build and operate an arena through fees and tuition (the general fund is made up of tuition $$ and is used for operating costs for UA facilities). Students do not get their tickets for free. They pay in advance and pay well. They need to feel welcomed into their own house and not manipulated to stand by administrators. I have season seats down in the bowl and my seats do not discourage me from standing nor do others on the east and west side allow their seats to discourage them from standing. The general Akron and surrounding communities need to see that The University of Akron treats its students and athletes as number one. Doing so sets a whole new and improved tone for UA's image and marketing potential. BTW, thanks for the link. I like the intimidation factor behind both baskets. Wish we could mimic it on some level

If we are going to build a new arena, then I would think it would be worth it to increase its capacity by more than just 500 seats (the JAR seats 5,500). Also, no bleacher at all please. It should contain 100% seats and wider than we currently have at the JAR. I also like the look of a two tier arena with no corners. Seating should encompass the entire circumference of the arena with a 360 degree ribbon board.

The University of Akron is not all that opposed to near campus private development for student housing because they don't have to carry the debt. On the other hand UA knows that students graduate and graduate sooner when they live on campus. Close to campus does not count. If the university so chooses, they may enforce the already existing policy that all freshmen and sophomores must live on campus and that will not include the near campus private development. However, UA wants to work with these private developers and with families, with limited resources who have students living at home and close to campus. Once these private developers cannot fill some gaps, they will jump at the chance to fill them with section 8 vouchers and that is not what UA wants. UA would rather work with the private developers in this regard than fight with them. If push comes to shove, UA can always take the private dorms by eminent domain. I am sure UA will try its best to avoid that option, but they have the huevoes to do it if need be. Also UA is offering Harry Jackson of "The Odd Corner" a price. They cannot take him by ED for the next 12 years but they are trying to give him a sweet heart deal. You can bet that A hole will bilk what he can out of UA. I hear he wants 2.5 million.

I suspect the idea of suites are already in the picture by UA planners as well as naming rights (goes w/o saying) and no bleachers of any kind whatsoever. The JAR looked pretty full this evening. Many students appeared to be there and many more Joe Akrons as well. It was great to see so many people from all over Akron and more support our ZIPS especially given the circumstances of Thursday's shocker. I remain optimistic about the future of Akron Athletics both physically and performance wise.

I'm looking forward to a competitive game this evening. Go ZIPS...the crowd will be pumped and the flashes will have their heads handed to them.