News: Updating Lounge & Weight Room

[lance99]

About time this happened?

Or even better question: is this the "Upgraded JAR" everyone wanted?

[g-mann17]

About time this happened?

Or even better question: is this the "Upgraded JAR" everyone wanted?

Seen it a while ago, maybe even mentioned it on here. This is just the official announcement.

This is a step forward, but truthfully we need a new arena. This doesn't help the fan experience at all.

And many people here thought or gave the impression that they thought, a new arena meant "bye-bye" JAR. No the truth is top programs have top notch facilities to play in and top notch facilities to practice in.

If an arena is ever built, the JAR will be a practice facility and offices for the b-ball, volleyball, and Athletics department.

This will be a very impressive player lounge for both squads.

[taxpayer]

It's a step in the right direction and one that will impact today's Zips and assist the staff with bringing in the future Zips. I'll be anxious to see the weight training room, it will be a huge improvement over the current arrangement and will allow the players to improve an underrated component in today's college bball.

The next step is to increase the Rowdies numbers x 10 for a true home court advantage.

Loved the band this year and their director BTW.

[Blue & Gold]

This is good news, indeed. But in the overall scheme of things (if we sincerely aim to be an elite mid-major), this is only a band-aid.

[g-mann17]

If anyone wanted to see more detail.

Team Lounge

[skip-zip]

Great for the athletes and for recruiting. Not much for enhancing the fan experience.

I know it had been rumored that the North side of the arena was potentially the location where they could eliminate the track ,and have seating going straight up. But, knowing the location of that lounge area, I'd say that eliminates that possibility.

I still think that we are a decade away from a new arena. The JAR is still relatively young (and I love to keep saying that because I was still a student when it was being built). We saw what it took to invest in a new football stadium. I just don't see it happening anytime soon with an arena that is only 25 yrs. old, and still in good condition. The mistake was the way we built it in the first place.

[ZachTheZip]

This is good news. No, it doesn't change the fan experience, but it does improve the athlete experience. It makes hosting top national prospects in tournaments at the JAR less embarrassing.

I think this is only the first part of something bigger planned for the JAR. I have nothing to back this up, but it seems like a "phase I" of a renovation.

[72 Roo]

Great for the athletes and for recruiting. Not much for enhancing the fan experience.

I know it had been rumored that the North side of the arena was potentially the location where they could eliminate the track ,and have seating going straight up. But, knowing the location of that lounge area, I'd say that eliminates that possibility.

I still think that we are a decade away from a new arena. The JAR is still relatively young (and I love to keep saying that because I was still a student when it was being built). We saw what it took to invest in a new football stadium. I just don't see it happening anytime soon with an arena that is only 25 yrs. old, and still in good condition. The mistake was the way we built it in the first place.

I agree that we are a decade away from a new or significantly renovated facility. The problem is that a renovation will cost somewhere near $30 million. So do we renovate or build a new facility that will cost at least as much as the Info. The problem is further compounded by the fact that we do not fill the JAR.

You are absolutely dead on with your statement that the JAR was a bad design from the day it was conceived. Dr. Guzetta hired an architect who had never designed or built an arena. He did a horrible job. Shame on the board of trustees for accepting the design. I was a wrier on the Buchelite at the time it was built. Our editor got wind of the design. Several of us reviewed it and the consensus was that it would not meet our needs. I met with Guzetta and told him so. But who listens to students.

There is a lot of ignorant talk on this board about a new facility. The facts are that we need to start filling what we now have and the university will not go into deeper debt to float bonds to build a new one now. Our best bet is to renovate the JAR piecemeal and hope to build a huge following that will pay for a new facility. Without new donors it will not get built in the near future. I get a big kick out of how many posters on this board want a new facility, but no one has a real-world plan to finance it. If the money was there we would have it being built now.

[yazan07]

Maybe nicer team lounge -> better recruits -> better team -> more hype -> higher attendance -> renovations to accommodate numbers/new arena

[Dr Z]

Yeah, I got something else I requested...sort of.

[Hilltopper]

Yeah, I got something else I requested...sort of.

I don't get any audio on the videos from the Zips network. Any ideas why?

[zip37]

SNAFU maybe?

[GP1]

Maybe nicer team lounge -> better recruits -> better team -> more hype -> higher attendance -> renovations to accommodate numbers/new arena

Nicer football stadium -> better recruits -> better team -> more hype -> higher attendance, etc.

This logic didn't work for football.

In terms of basketball, we are already getting better recruits and have a much more talented team than in the past. In order to generate better hype, they need to do a better job of winning more ooc games and against some major programs. Everything can't be about a yearly "building process" leading to the MAC Tournament. The team needs to be ready to play on day one. Like I always say, there are games to be won and tickets to be sold in December just like there are in March. If they can't do this, then they won't fill the JAR and don't deserve anything other than the JAR.

[MaxZIP]

Maybe nicer team lounge -> better recruits -> better team -> more hype -> higher attendance -> renovations to accommodate numbers/new arena

Nicer football stadium -> better recruits -> better team -> more hype -> higher attendance, etc.

This logic didn't work for football.

In terms of basketball, we are already getting better recruits and have a much more talented team than in the past. In order to generate better hype, they need to do a better job of winning more ooc games and against some major programs. Everything can't be about a yearly "building process" leading to the MAC Tournament. The team needs to be ready to play on day one. Like I always say, there are games to be won and tickets to be sold in December just like there are in March. If they can't do this, then they won't fill the JAR and don't deserve anything other than the JAR.

Renovating the Rubber bowl would have cost 20 million. Sponsorship and premium seat sales have brought in 20-30 million more. I doubt a renovated Rubber Bowl would have generated that type of revenue, lasted as long as the brand new Info, and sure wouldn’t have been the on campus stadium most fans desired. Bottom line is that short term struggles are not enough to declare the new stadium investment a loss. Also, funding for a new arena could be raised if there were enough support. I understand the basketball team is winning (and I love the team) but the football team was on the upswing when planning began for the football stadium. It will be just another case of if you build it they will come and attendance at bball games has not been great. The Basketball vs. football struggle for resources will never end. Why didn’t the football team get a new stadium 25 years ago when the JAR was built? I agree something needs to be done to the JAR to eliminate the track and add more chair back seating. I only missed 2 home games last year and my back is killing me from those damn high school bleachers. I am sure the AD and Buchtel Hall have done some market research and are considering what a new arena would bring vs renovating the JAR. The new landscape for learning has been a success thus far and I trust them to make the right decision when the time is right.

[Quickzips]

The comparison between hoops and the gridiron at Akron isn't a very good one IMO. Hoops has a lot more going for it than football right now, and IMO in the long term. In football we've been no better than about a .500 team for as long as pretty much anyone can remember. There is pretty much zero opportunity for us to ever play for a national championship. On top of that the Columbus shadow is much larger in terms of football than it is for basketball (attracting quality local recruits, garnering media and fan attention, etc.). Basketball has been a 20 win team for the majority of the last decade (debate the quality of opponent all you want, but it does show success and stability), there is a proven opportunity for mid-majors to compete for a national title in hoops and the Columbus shadow isn't nearly as prominent for basketball. I personally feel that given the right conditions Akron basketball can become a national contender with full arenas that catches the eye of top talent. I don't know as Akron football will ever be able to say that.

As far as the whole arena debate, I know for a fact that the City, County and University have all put out feelers as to what it will take to get an arena done in downtown Akron. Officials from all parties toured the new arena in Toledo over a year ago, and possible locations downtown have been discussed. That said, the current economic climate is going to be the biggest thing holding this project back from ever getting off the ground. With the constant threat of layoffs at the City and County level, investing millions of dollars in a downtown arena would be a tough sell right now. I wouldn't be holding my breath waiting for a press release. I think the 10 year time period before this gets started discussed earlier in this thread is probably a pretty reasonable guess.

[jjackson123]

I heard a rumor that a local company offered to give the gym floor a brand new floor for free, like a sand down, refinish and new artwork and stuff... but apparently they are sticking with the piss yellow ugly floor they have now because they are under contract with another company

Think about how much better a new looking floor would look on tv

[zipinnc]

SNAFU maybe?

What is this nonsense about a "SNAFU" happening from Youtube Tom's staff? I thought they were the masters of Youtube.

[Zip_ME87]

Maybe nicer team lounge -> better recruits -> better team -> more hype -> higher attendance -> renovations to accommodate numbers/new arena

Nicer football stadium -> better recruits -> better team -> more hype -> higher attendance, etc.

This logic didn't work for football.

better coach was somehow left out of the equation

[Captain Kangaroo]

Maybe nicer team lounge -> better recruits -> better team -> more hype -> higher attendance -> renovations to accommodate numbers/new arena

Nicer football stadium -> better recruits -> better team -> more hype -> higher attendance, etc.

This logic didn't work for football.

better coach was somehow left out of the equation

Very true.

Say, as an example, at the opening day game at InfoCision, there was a giant inflatable Zippy in the middle of the field. But instead of air, it was filled with diarrhea and vomit. And as the giant Zippy got bigger and bigger, the crowd cheered and cheered...until the kangaroo exploded and covered everyone with it's contents.

The crowd leaves, covered with all this crap, angry and vowing never to return.

By the prevailing logic in this thread it was a lousy idea to build the stadium, because people don't want to watch Zips football. Everyone ignores the exploding kangaroo.

The kangaroo exploded. I saw it. I was covered. For whatever reason, I go back. But I can't blame the other 25,000 people who don't.

[Dave in Green]

I understand you completely, CK. I have the same feeling about ZN.O whenever an inflated forum member makes an explosive post that showers everyone with nasty stuff. Unpleasant as that is, for whatever reason I keep coming back here.

[taxpayer]

jjackson123 - do you know what company would have a contract for the playing surface?

[ZachTheZip]

jjackson123 - do you know what company would have a contract for the playing surface?

Guessing somebody who wants their logo there in place of FirstEnergy.

[skip-zip]

We have to remember something when deciding what basketball and football deserve, based on success....

Just 5 years ago, basketball was changing coaches and had yet to win a MAC title, or go to the dance in about 20 years.

Football was winning a MAC title, and going to a bowl game.

Things change. We can't use current success as a determining factor in facility improvements.

[Dave in Green]

If we can't use current success as one of the determining factors in facility improvements, what do we use?

It seems to me that current success is one of a number of determining factors. It may not be the only factor, but I don't think you just totally ignore it.

Anytime you're at a really low point, it's easy to say that you overplanned your facility improvements, and anytime you're at a really high point, it's easy to say that you underplanned your facility improvements.

In other words, no matter what you do, it's practically guaranteed there will be times that your future planning looks smart and times when it looks dumb.

[Doug Snyder]

What was the determining factor in making the upgrades for the soccer team??