New Arena Rumor

[Z.I.P.]

Read some other threads.They are starting on replacing the pitch and lighting and some of the embankments this year. After next season they will do the grandstands. So they are helping soccer. And if you paid attention you would know that the soccer facilities have been renovated several times since the 80's. Is it what they deserve? No, but they have been pumping money into that pitch.

NOT ENOUGH. Not when you turn away fans, make fans (and students) pay money to sit on the frozen ground or stand for 2 1/2 hours.With a halfway decent facility, soccer could be another revenue generating sport, benefitting ALL programs. When's the last time the basketball team brought in nationally ranked teams in the non-con, and sold the place out?The soccer program hosts HOSTS conference tournaments and early rounds of the NCAA tournament and that sorry excuse for a high school soccer stadium is inadequate.We need to sell tickets right up to game time, and give those people a place to sit. We need to have lighting that will allow games to be on TV. You have a chance of building something BIG in northeast Ohio, and this crap of slapping more lipstick on the pig, while catering to the traditional revenue sports is going to bite the U in the ass.

As good as we are and have been at Soccer, it is NOT a sport with a national following. It adds little to the prestige of the school.Football and BBall are THE college sports. AND, the BBall team has been going to the post season, so there is hope for a national program.I say put the money into basketball. Last year they were on national TV a few times, and do add to our prestige.

I guess it depends on which nation you're in! (What, no shoulder shrug emoticon?) I've gotten several comments from friends and colleagues about Akron playing for a national championship last weekend. I got only one remark -- from my friend who was visiting Portland at Big Dance time last year, about the first round NCAA game. In my book, Caleb deserves as much, if not more $$ than my classmate Keith. When BB makes a Final Four, we can reassess.

[zip37]

Where I have my morning coffee, the customers & staff have been telking about Zips Soccer, I have never heard any of them talk about Zips basketball.KD has stated publicly that the new arena can wait 'til the Pitch is done.As mentioned before-- Jermiah Dicky is accepting donations, large and small, for Pitch improvements. I SHALL CONTINUE TO REMIND ALL OF THAT FACT 'TIL SOME OF YOU TALKERS PONY UP! TALK'S CHEAP

[Zip_ME87]

Read some other threads.They are starting on replacing the pitch and lighting and some of the embankments this year. After next season they will do the grandstands. So they are helping soccer. And if you paid attention you would know that the soccer facilities have been renovated several times since the 80's. Is it what they deserve? No, but they have been pumping money into that pitch.

NOT ENOUGH. Not when you turn away fans, make fans (and students) pay money to sit on the frozen ground or stand for 2 1/2 hours.With a halfway decent facility, soccer could be another revenue generating sport, benefitting ALL programs. When's the last time the basketball team brought in nationally ranked teams in the non-con, and sold the place out?The soccer program hosts HOSTS conference tournaments and early rounds of the NCAA tournament and that sorry excuse for a high school soccer stadium is inadequate.We need to sell tickets right up to game time, and give those people a place to sit. We need to have lighting that will allow games to be on TV. You have a chance of building something BIG in northeast Ohio, and this crap of slapping more lipstick on the pig, while catering to the traditional revenue sports is going to bite the U in the ass.

As good as we are and have been at Soccer, it is NOT a sport with a national following. It adds little to the prestige of the school.Football and BBall are THE college sports. AND, the BBall team has been going to the post season, so there is hope for a national program.I say put the money into basketball. Last year they were on national TV a few times, and do add to our prestige.

I guess it depends on which nation you're in! (What, no shoulder shrug emoticon?) I've gotten several comments from friends and colleagues about Akron playing for a national championship last weekend. I got only one remark -- from my friend who was visiting Portland at Big Dance time last year, about the first round NCAA game. In my book, Caleb deserves as much, if not more $$ than my classmate Keith. When BB makes a Final Four, we can reassess.

+1 I've heard from numerous colleagues at work about the Zips Men's Soccer team before and after the College Cup. There are many more soccer fans in Northeast Ohio than the football/basketball crowd are willing to admit. There are a lot of kids playing soccer here, and consequently, it is easy to get them and their parents interested in our Zips. A colleague of mine (not a UA alum) took his kids to a regular season game on my advice; he and his family enjoyed it so much, they returned for 4 more regular season games and the 3rd Tourney game (Tulsa). His 12-yr old son became so hooked that he couldn't sleep after the Championship game. IMHO, we haven't yet seen the crowds that our soccer Zips can draw and the merchandise they could sell. Northeast Ohio media really only jumped on the bandwagon after the Zips made the College Cup.I love KD and our basketball team (fortunate enough to be a season ticket holder there, too). But, as KD said, the new arena can wait for the new soccer pitch.

[xu9697]

While waiting around for the new arena ("The House that LBJ and Zeke built"), Akron should schedule 1 game over the next 3 years at the Q against a high profile team. It will help grow interest & could help garner some additional funds.

[Dave in Green]

Basketball is my favorite sport, and I really don't care that much about soccer. But soccer is the biggest sport internationally, and growing bigger in the U.S. every year. UA already has a national championship caliber coach and players, and is only lacking a first class facility. While I'd love to see the basketball team playing in a first class arena, the truth is that the soccer program has already earned one and deserves to be first in line. I hope the basketball program can continue to grow and become recognized as a perennial national power as well. But right now it is the soccer program that earns UA the most respect in sports.

[bUAkronG]

Basketball is my favorite sport, and I really don't care that much about soccer. But soccer is the biggest sport internationally, and growing bigger in the U.S. every year. UA already has a national championship caliber coach and players, and is only lacking a first class facility. While I'd love to see the basketball team playing in a first class arena, the truth is that the soccer program has already earned one and deserves to be first in line. I hope the basketball program can continue to grow and become recognized as a perennial national power as well. But right now it is the soccer program that earns UA the most respect in sports.

+1 you need to post more often.Our soccer team is making a name for themselves and our school. We have something to be proud of and should be able to properly support the team the way they deserve.

[akronzips71]

Basketball is my favorite sport, and I really don't care that much about soccer. But soccer is the biggest sport internationally, and growing bigger in the U.S. every year. UA already has a national championship caliber coach and players, and is only lacking a first class facility. While I'd love to see the basketball team playing in a first class arena, the truth is that the soccer program has already earned one and deserves to be first in line. I hope the basketball program can continue to grow and become recognized as a perennial national power as well. But right now it is the soccer program that earns UA the most respect in sports.

I feel your pain, but here is the thing:I live in New York. We have FOUR daily newspapers, and the Soccer Cup did not get even ONE line of print. The ONLY reference was the scores in the little box in the sports section, buried between Scottish soccer results and women's field hockey.The BB team, on the other hand, got a FULL PAGE ARTICLE in the NY Times the year that the Joyce/Travis team was snubbed in the NIT.I know there is pride in the first class soccer team in NE Ohio, but guys, if you want to build an athletics reputation nationally, the money sports are FOOTBALL and BASKETBALL. I don't know if UA can ever get there in Football, probably not. But we already have something of a national program in basketball, having been to the NIT and NCAA recently. There have been several nationally televised games in recent years (and don't count the Soccer Cup, that was the National Championship, what other times could I even watch Akron Soccer on TV in New York). But I did get to see two NIT games and one NCAA game, and possibly the MAC championship as well.So you see, the issue is not who likes Soccer. Soccer is an international sport, but not much of an American sport. Every attempt at Pro Soccer in the US has ended in dismal failure. In general, the only people who care much about soccer in the country are people who play or have kids who play. That's just the way it is. OK, so in the Akron area you get comments and discussions about Akron being in the National Championship. SO WHAT. The point of building athletic programs is NATIONAL EXPOSURE. RECRUITING. Attracting higher caliber students. The path to that is thru Football and Basketball.When I was a kid in NY I learned the Notre Dame fight song in about the third grade. NOT the Akron fight song. What is that? Because of "win one for the gipper". Football is traditionally the BIG College sport, but with the emergence of March Madness, BBall is right up there now. And we do have an opportunity, especially with Zeke. So this is the time to strike while the iron is hot.I apologize to all those who don't share my opinion, but for well over 30 years I could never even get an Akron score. They were not on the radar at all. I remember when they went to the NCAA in 1986, it was pre-Internet days, and the first I heard of it was seeing the losing score - and then only because it was a NCAA score.So now BB is on the radar, lets keep it that way gentlemen.

[ZachTheZip]

The soccer stadium can be afforded becasue the football stadium came in under budget. It's part of the group of funds approved a few years ago.An arena would require a whole new fundraiser. That is why the soccer stadium is getting built first.

[GoZips]

While waiting around for the new arena ("The House that LBJ and Zeke built"), Akron should schedule 1 game over the next 3 years at the Q against a high profile team. It will help grow interest & could help garner some additional funds.

Now there's a plan. Unfortunately, it is one that the basketball staff and Danny Ferry of the Cavaliershave tried to set up at least a half dozen times. Plus, it would be far more advantageous to bush whacka BCS opponent in the friendly confines of the JAR. Playing at the Q neutralizes.I think you can stop by the basketball offices and voice your opinions most any afternoon. Call aheadfirst and make sure the coaches are available as practice, workouts, scouting and recruiting sometimescause some or all of them to out of the office. This is for real. They will happy to meet you.

[Captain Kangaroo]

While waiting around for the new arena ("The House that LBJ and Zeke built"), Akron should schedule 1 game over the next 3 years at the Q against a high profile team. It will help grow interest & could help garner some additional funds.

Now there's a plan. Unfortunately, it is one that the basketball staff and Danny Ferry of the Cavaliershave tried to set up at least a half dozen times. Plus, it would be far more advantageous to bush whacka BCS opponent in the friendly confines of the JAR. Playing at the Q neutralizes.I think you can stop by the basketball offices and voice your opinions most any afternoon. Call aheadfirst and make sure the coaches are available as practice, workouts, scouting and recruiting sometimescause some or all of them to out of the office. This is for real. They will happy to meet you.

No "high profile" team will come to the JAR.The "semi-high" profile teams that have played at the JAR recently have all beaten the Zips (Nevada, VCU, Dayton, etc.)The Zips shouldn't play and neutral/home games against high profile competition unless we're poised to beat them. The Zips have not set the table to have a successful run at a high-major program yet. If we played a high-major at The Q, it would not draw well. Everyone knows we'd get beat.Our mindset is to play the Malone's, Walsh's and bottom-rung D1's at home, then play the home MAC schedule.I don't like it. But if I stop at KD's office, it won't help. We can only hope to have a stellar record against our weak competition and hope for a Bracket-buster home game against a decent "semi-high" major.

[Spin]

I agree...the basketball team in the ncaa tournament got ten times the exposure the soccer team got in the national championship. It's too bad but it's just the truth, Basketball and Football are important and we need to continue to focus on them first and foremost. Now soccer can be a solid #3 and i think that's what the U is planning on doing.

We're not talking about the rest of the nation. We're talking about Summit County, Northeast Ohio. The site of the ONLY profitable indoor soccer franchise. The area has TRIED to support this team, and got turned away.Soccer fans, who are collectively in a demographic with more disposable income, are asked to sit on the frozen ground to watch. While there is much excess capacity at basketball games played against Malone, Rhode Island, and St. Francis. What the U considers a "Team Shop" for soccer games, like the concession stand is more like a sideshow. These people WANT to attach to the team, WANT to feel good about it, but it's worse than going to a youth game. That's a public relations nightmare, and a huge loss of revenue. Maybe the national (AND LOCAL) perception of the basketball team would improve IF they played a Division I schedule. Then maybe the JAR would be inadequate, and need replaced.Now, wouldn't the basketball team benefit from the soccer team becoming a revenue generating program? I haven't heard any soccer haters answer that one yet. Look at the whole picture.

[GP1]

Now, wouldn't the basketball team benefit from the soccer team becoming a revenue generating program? I haven't heard any soccer haters answer that one yet. Look at the whole picture.

The entire athletic department would. Can they actually do that with a 4,000 seat stadium? I'd like to see the proof in the form of numbers.

[MaxZIP]

Now, wouldn't the basketball team benefit from the soccer team becoming a revenue generating program? I haven't heard any soccer haters answer that one yet. Look at the whole picture.

The entire athletic department would. Can they actually do that with a 4,000 seat stadium? I'd like to see the proof in the form of numbers.

I would be amazed if they were to break even. They need tv money for that to happen and it is not there for soccer right now.

[Dave in Green]

How many college soccer programs in the country are generating enough revenue from ticket sales to cover all of their team costs? Is there even one? I don't think it's necessary to turn a profit or even break even for a college soccer program to be considered economically successful at the present level of soccer interest in the U.S. Simply reducing the deficit takes at least some financial burden off of the sports programs such as football and basketball that do generate profit.So expanding the Zips soccer facility to allow for more paying customers could be a wise investment, as long as there is a longterm commitment to doing what's necessary to keep the UA soccer program successful enough to draw large numbers of paying spectators. Same with the basketball and football programs. Building new facilities is not such a wise investment if not enough spectators are willing to pay to see the team play.

[Spin]

How many other soccer programs are sitting in the middle of a strong soccer fan-base?How many other soccer programs were ranked #1 all year and gave up seven goals in 25 games?I've never said 4,000 seats would be enough. We sellout 4000 now. I've been at the Coliseum with 19,000 SRO crowds, and at the packed Canton Civic Center, for a gimmick knock-off of soccer. I was there when the Cleveland Caps broke the USL attendance records. I've felt the passion people in this area have. No I don't have numbers for you. Because when you sell out a Saturday evening soccer game on TUESDAY MORNING, how can you predict how many fans would have been there?You want numbers, how many games has the basketball team sold out this season? Last season? How much revenue has the basketball team generated the past two seasons? How much did the football team generate this year.Don't get me wrong, I want to see the basketball program continue to grow as badly as anyone else here. Sweet 16. Final four. Take it ALL. I'm at the JAR and I'm at the Info, supporting those teams with everything I have. And the baseball team too. And I see the empty seats.You can't sit there and tell me we sell those places out more than once, maybe twice a year.As a supporter of this University (through thousands and thousands of dollars for tuition and books for me and my son (not to mention my alumna wife), I just think we're doing a huge disservice to students and fans when the game is five days away and they can't buy tickets. Yes, the students buy their tickets to the tournament games, until they're sold out.

[akronzips71]

How many other soccer programs are sitting in the middle of a strong soccer fan-base?How many other soccer programs were ranked #1 all year and gave up seven goals in 25 games?I've never said 4,000 seats would be enough. We sellout 4000 now. I've been at the Coliseum with 19,000 SRO crowds, and at the packed Canton Civic Center, for a gimmick knock-off of soccer. I was there when the Cleveland Caps broke the USL attendance records. I've felt the passion people in this area have. No I don't have numbers for you. Because when you sell out a Saturday evening soccer game on TUESDAY MORNING, how can you predict how many fans would have been there?You want numbers, how many games has the basketball team sold out this season? Last season? How much revenue has the basketball team generated the past two seasons? How much did the football team generate this year.Don't get me wrong, I want to see the basketball program continue to grow as badly as anyone else here. Sweet 16. Final four. Take it ALL. I'm at the JAR and I'm at the Info, supporting those teams with everything I have. And the baseball team too. And I see the empty seats.You can't sit there and tell me we sell those places out more than once, maybe twice a year.As a supporter of this University (through thousands and thousands of dollars for tuition and books for me and my son (not to mention my alumna wife), I just think we're doing a huge disservice to students and fans when the game is five days away and they can't buy tickets. Yes, the students buy their tickets to the tournament games, until they're sold out.

BBall doesn't play a Div I schedule??Don't tell that to Texas A&M, Niagara, Dayton, Rhode Island.Maybe you mean we should play only top 25 teams??We are trying. That's mostly who goes to the NCAA

[g-mann17]

How many other soccer programs are sitting in the middle of a strong soccer fan-base?How many other soccer programs were ranked #1 all year and gave up seven goals in 25 games?I've never said 4,000 seats would be enough. We sellout 4000 now. I've been at the Coliseum with 19,000 SRO crowds, and at the packed Canton Civic Center, for a gimmick knock-off of soccer. I was there when the Cleveland Caps broke the USL attendance records. I've felt the passion people in this area have. No I don't have numbers for you. Because when you sell out a Saturday evening soccer game on TUESDAY MORNING, how can you predict how many fans would have been there?You want numbers, how many games has the basketball team sold out this season? Last season? How much revenue has the basketball team generated the past two seasons? How much did the football team generate this year.Don't get me wrong, I want to see the basketball program continue to grow as badly as anyone else here. Sweet 16. Final four. Take it ALL. I'm at the JAR and I'm at the Info, supporting those teams with everything I have. And the baseball team too. And I see the empty seats.You can't sit there and tell me we sell those places out more than once, maybe twice a year.As a supporter of this University (through thousands and thousands of dollars for tuition and books for me and my son (not to mention my alumna wife), I just think we're doing a huge disservice to students and fans when the game is five days away and they can't buy tickets. Yes, the students buy their tickets to the tournament games, until they're sold out.

Two quick questions?Why the animosity toward other sports? That is just silliness.Are you a supporter through tuition only? I know several people on here who have given hundreds and thousands of dollars to the University in the form of charitable (not required like tuition or season tickets) contributions. I only ask this because it's kind of insulting to donors to say you are a "supporter of the University" when all you do is pay tuition.

[Spin]

BBall doesn't play a Div I schedule?? Don't tell that to Texas A&M, Niagara, Dayton, Rhode Island. Maybe you mean we should play only top 25 teams??

Considering our record against powerhouses Austin Peay and NC State, maybe not just yet. Which goes back to my point, should a new arena be top priority in the athletics department? And no, that's not animosity. That's just realization of where this program is right now. Not where it will be. I see much improvement already this season. I hope we DO sell out against Valpo and the entire MAC schedule, and we need a 20,000 seat arena. At this date and time, we have more pressing needs.

We are trying. That's mostly who goes to the NCAA

That's not what I'm hearing from those outside the program...

Why the animosity toward other sports? That is just silliness.

But there IS no animosity toward the other sports. I just said that I follow football, basketball, and baseball with all I have. I'm at the games. I never said anything against the other sports. All I said was, they have facilities that suit them right now. If you take offense to that, I have nothing else to tell you.

Are you a supporter through tuition only? I know several people on here who have given hundreds and thousands of dollars to the University in the form of charitable (not required like tuition or season tickets) contributions. I only ask this because it's kind of insulting to donors to say you are a "supporter of the University" when all you do is pay tuition.

You're going to give me crap over that? As if you don't know there are different levels of support?Holy crap some of you guys are paranoid.

[Dave in Green]

..... Are you a supporter through tuition only? I know several people on here who have given hundreds and thousands of dollars to the University in the form of charitable (not required like tuition or season tickets) contributions. I only ask this because it's kind of insulting to donors to say you are a "supporter of the University" when all you do is pay tuition.

Do you really mean to imply that only the wealthy can qualify as true supporters of the university, and those who do not have hundreds of thousands of dollars to give don't count?

[g-mann17]

..... Are you a supporter through tuition only? I know several people on here who have given hundreds and thousands of dollars to the University in the form of charitable (not required like tuition or season tickets) contributions. I only ask this because it's kind of insulting to donors to say you are a "supporter of the University" when all you do is pay tuition.

Do you really mean to imply that only the wealthy can qualify as true supporters of the university, and those who do not have hundreds of thousands of dollars to give don't count?

Wow, people really overgeneralize statements.The basic statement is "you called yourself a supporter, are you a donor?" and yes a "donor" has a bit more signifigance than just general "non-contributing" alumni. Alumni opinions matter immensely, the University has to answer those question and pay attention because Alumni help drive future enrollment and are the watermark of performance for the University. But a donor is the reason change get's to happen, the reason new facilities exist. (and yes I know some of those buildings are part of student fees etc. my tuition went to half those buildings and I never got see the benefit as a student)I was trying to get Spin to qualify his use of "supporter" I wasn't trying to imply his opinion didn't matter if he wasn't a "donor" I was trying to find what background the statement came from.

[Spin]

I'm a my third year at Akron U full time, just finishing the first semester of the College of Nursing. My son is in his first year in the Information Techologies program. We do support the programs through tuition and attendance. And buying merchandise, etc. Not what we will as donors one day, but we play a small part.My wife received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Akron. She's the alumna I spoke of.

[Dave in Green]

..... I was trying to get Spin to qualify his use of "supporter" I wasn't trying to imply his opinion didn't matter if he wasn't a "donor" I was trying to find what background the statement came from.

Thanks for the clarification of your intent. One of the hazards of language is that the intent of words can be interpreted many different ways. I hope you can understand how easy it would be to misinterpret your original wording in a negative way.In an area where civil, friendly discussion is the norm, people generally assume the best about a statement that could be taken either positively or negatively. Where there is much hostility in discussion, people generally assume the worst.In a mixed environment such as ZN, where civil, friendly discussion is mixed with hostile challenges and blunt rudeness, asking for clarification can often be the best way to avoid misunderstandings.

[ziptrumpet87]

FWIW, The Don showed up near the end of the game Sunday.

[xu9697]

Anyone ever been? http://www.lexingtoncenter.com/shops/I was there in the late 1990's. This is the type of thing I think about when I see the plans that have been posted before.http://www.osportsarch.com/Portfolio.aspxAnywho, I am all about urban development and keeping things "on the street" vs. too much containment. However, I think if this is done the right way, with a hotel (space for visiting teams from Akron), with the right shops, right restaurants, etc. I think it can definitely work. Downtown malls are dying in general, but tying in a hotel, possible apartments and meeting/smaller rec area for students, the arena (and the events that come with it), the university and attractions like the Aeros...I do think this is a plan that can work and work for all.NOT trying to restart "downtown" vs. "campus" and which is better. I can see both sides. More focused on the fact that IF this type of facility is built, I think there is enough of a combination of office workers, visitors, arena and activity attendees and students to make it work.

[jupitertoo]

Anyone ever been? http://www.lexingtoncenter.com/shops/I was there in the late 1990's. This is the type of thing I think about when I see the plans that have been posted before.http://www.osportsarch.com/Portfolio.aspxAnywho, I am all about urban development and keeping things "on the street" vs. too much containment. However, I think if this is done the right way, with a hotel (space for visiting teams from Akron), with the right shops, right restaurants, etc. I think it can definitely work. Downtown malls are dying in general, but tying in a hotel, possible apartments and meeting/smaller rec area for students, the arena (and the events that come with it), the university and attractions like the Aeros...I do think this is a plan that can work and work for all.NOT trying to restart "downtown" vs. "campus" and which is better. I can see both sides. More focused on the fact that IF this type of facility is built, I think there is enough of a combination of office workers, visitors, arena and activity attendees and students to make it work.

We only have one downtown hotel today and it has less than 50% occupancy. Not sure how Akron can support another one. Space for visiting teams -- that's 10-12 rooms max. for basketball. Visiting Football teams stay at cheapest decent hotel, often 5-10 miles outside of town. OU always stays at Falls Sheraton.Also important to note that Zips only had 2,400 for possibly the premier non-conference home game of the year. Not a compelling reason to build an arena in today's economic environment.