A New Arena

[pat]

A student sitting in a section with folding seats has something to bang open to make huge amounts of noise at opportune times during a game.

I think UA should put in chair backs for its student section and add extremely pointed and sharp spikes on the seats. This will serve the purpose of punishing them for even trying to sit down and the spikes can be funded by adding an extra $50.00 to student fees.

[Spin]

You are forgetting that it costs more to construct a building capable of hosting such events. All things are not equal. Those other events would need to at least earn enough to cover those additional costs. I'm not sure they can.

Then how do these other arenas in cities the same size or smaller get built and stay open? Without D1 college basketball? Since nobody else apparently has the skills to use Google, here are some arenas in similar size markets with similar seating capacities. Explain to me why this type of calendar wouldn't help us pay for a great, modern place to watch the Zips and make other schools jealous.

http://www.erieevents.com/about/tullio_arena.htm

http://www.covellicentre.com/

http://www.huntingtoncentertoledo.com/

http://wesbancoarena.com/

http://www.haracomplex.com/

http://www.bluecrossarena.com/

http://www.charlestonwvciviccenter.com/

[Spin]

And you need a 7-8K seat structure for this?

Utilization. It isn't sitting empty 325 nights a year.

It helps sell U of A campus life to touring students.

It make the whole building an easier sell to the university, contributors, and the state.

Using it for rec and fitness puts part of the cost on the students through facility fees.

[Spin]

It's funny, but even though Jake's screen name no longer shows up in these arena discussions, if you read between the lines you can almost sense his presence.

Hmmm, which one of you is Jake? He's against building a real arena too.

[Zipmeister]

I think UA should put in chair backs for its student section and add extremely pointed and sharp spikes on the seats. This will serve the purpose of punishing them for even trying to sit down and the spikes can be funded by adding an extra $50.00 to student fees.

Finally, a voice of reason.

[scottditzen]

It's funny, but even though Jake's screen name no longer shows up in these arena discussions, if you read between the lines you can almost sense his presence.

I think the arena should go downtown.

I SAID DOWNTOWN!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone?

[Blue & Gold]

I think the arena should go downtown.

I SAID DOWNTOWN!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone?

The hook is baited.

[zippyman23]

Then how do these other arenas in cities the same size or smaller get built and stay open? Without D1 college basketball? Since nobody else apparently has the skills to use Google, here are some arenas in similar size markets with similar seating capacities. Explain to me why this type of calendar wouldn't help us pay for a great, modern place to watch the Zips and make other schools jealous.

http://www.erieevents.com/about/tullio_arena.htm

http://www.covellicentre.com/

http://www.huntingtoncentertoledo.com/

http://wesbancoarena.com/

http://www.haracomplex.com/

http://www.bluecrossarena.com/

http://www.charlestonwvciviccenter.com/

Most of those were built 30+ years ago, paid off, and need regular tenants to pay operating costs. Toledo is a product of government funding. None of those are comparable situations to the decisions to be made by UA. UA doesn't need to build an arena with such capabilities to pay for it or keep it open. That decision is a seperate, even though you are unable it to view it as such.

Utilization. It isn't sitting empty 325 nights a year.

It helps sell U of A campus life to touring students.

It make the whole building an easier sell to the university, contributors, and the state.

Using it for rec and fitness puts part of the cost on the students through facility fees.

Never going to happen even if it is built with such capabilities. It's really not economical to power a structure like this for such a purpose. It would be more efficient to build a seperate for such a purpose that could actually be used regularly by students. And if it is not worth building a separate structure, it probably isn't as valuable as you make it out to be.

[Spin]

.

[zippy5]

Most of those were built 30+ years ago, paid off, and need regular tenants to pay operating costs. Toledo is a product of government funding. None of those are comparable situations to the decisions to be made by UA. UA doesn't need to build an arena with such capabilities to pay for it or keep it open. That decision is a seperate, even though you are unable it to view it as such.

Never going to happen even if it is built with such capabilities. It's really not economical to power a structure like this for such a purpose. It would be more efficient to build a seperate for such a purpose that could actually be used regularly by students. And if it is not worth building a separate structure, it probably isn't as valuable as you make it out to be.

Paid off.. So they have less expenses (ie no mortgage/bonds) and need more revenue to stay open. Interesting theory.

[Zipmeister]

I think the arena should go downtown.

I SAID DOWNTOWN!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone?

Richfield might be a better location.

[zippyman23]

Paid off.. So they have less expenses (ie no mortgage/bonds) and need more revenue to stay open. Interesting theory.

That's not what I wrote. They need regular tenants, which means a regular revenue stream not more revenue to cover their everyday costs. Those facilities are already built, paid for, and do not need to incur additional costs in order to make them capable of hosting such events. Again, that is not the same situation UA is facing when they make their decision on a new arena.

[tbozeglav]

.

post of the year, right here!

[Spin]

Most of those were built 30+ years ago, paid off, and need regular tenants to pay operating costs. Toledo is a product of government funding. None of those are comparable situations to the decisions to be made by UA. UA doesn't need to build an arena with such capabilities to pay for it or keep it open.

I'm glad to hear that the athletic department has plenty of cash on hand to build a new gym. They don't have to justify it to the university, or try to find donors or state money. Or justify it to lenders in a bad economy and worry about being able to pay it all back with a couple dozen dates a year. The cash is sitting right there in Wistrcill's safe!!! I feel much better now.

That decision is a seperate, even though you are unable it to view it as such.

You seem to think the university has only one choice. That their decision MUST fit into this preconceived notion that they only need this building for one purpose. And that we must find some way to finance it. or else not build anything at all.

That falls in line with the notion that the same size building with the same number of seats is going to cost 50 times as much if it has more floor space.

Never going to happen even if it is built with such capabilities. It's really not economical to power a structure like this for such a purpose. It would be more efficient to build a seperate for such a purpose that could actually be used regularly by students. And if it is not worth building a separate structure, it probably isn't as valuable as you make it out to be.

SO, the lights and heat are turned off at the JAR 325 days a year. Interesting.

I'm tired of talking about it. Nobody wants to talk about the possibilities, Or come up with real reasons why not. In the end, either way I would have a nice new modern place to watch my Akron Zips to play basketball. No more bleacher seats and clogged stairs and inaccessible restrooms and concessions. And wherever the Oilers and the Zips hockey teams play, I'll go.

Either way, I win. I just thought it would be fun to talk about different ideas. Not allowed. Back to the bigger better gym chatter.

[zippyman23]

I'm glad to hear that the athletic department has plenty of cash on hand to build a new gym. They don't have to justify it to the university, or try to find donors or state money. Or justify it to lenders in a bad economy and worry about being able to pay it all back with a couple dozen dates a year. The cash is sitting right there in Wistrcill's safe!!! I feel much better now.

If we are at the point of discussing whether or not this facility should be capable of hosting these other events, I think we’ve already moved a little further past those preliminary questions. Not that the conversation is there in reality, but that’s the way it is being presented in this thread.

You seem to think the university has only one choice. That their decision MUST fit into this preconceived notion that they only need this building for one purpose. And that we must find some way to finance it. or else not build anything at all.

That falls in line with the notion that the same size building with the same number of seats is going to cost 50 times as much if it has more floor space.

No, I’m addressing the only argument presented for building a facility with additional capabilities, which has been to raise additional revenue to help pay for it. That would be a separate and distinct financing decision, which I have addressed. That doesn't mean I don't think that this facility could be used for what ever additional needs the university might have, but then again it comes down to if this facility is the best way to address those additional needs.

[Blue & Gold]

Here is a link to The University of Columbus' Value City Arena calendar of events.

Though I know our situations are (unfortunately) far from similar, I thought it would add to the discussion d/t the fact that OSU chose to build an all-purpose arena to replace a multi-purpose arena (St. John's Arena - basketball-optimized).

I must confess that I've heard more than one Columbus fan say they don't like watching Buckeyes basketball in Value City Arena as much as they did in St. John's Arena - but maybe they're just old fogies.

OSU uses VCA for men's & women's basketball, men's & women's (?!?!) hockey, as well as concerts, monster truck shows ( ) and the circus.

Also interesting is that the city of Columbus didn't need another all-purpose arena, as they already had Nationwide Arena (Columbus BlueJackets). OSU decided to go with an all-purpose arena anyway.

[Zipmeister]

Here is a link to The University of Columbus' Value City Arena calendar of events.

Though I know our situations are (unfortunately) far from similar, I thought it would add to the discussion d/t the fact that OSU chose to build an all-purpose arena to replace a multi-purpose arena (St. John's Arena - basketball-optimized).

I must confess that I've heard more than one Columbus fan say they don't like watching Buckeyes basketball in Value City Arena as much as they did in St. John's Arena - but maybe they're just old fogies.

OSU uses VCA for men's & women's basketball, men's & women's (?!?!) hockey, as well as concerts, monster truck shows ( ) and the circus.

Also interesting is that the city of Columbus didn't need another all-purpose arena, as they already had Nationwide Arena (Columbus BlueJackets). OSU decided to go with an all-purpose arena anyway.

Hate em or simply dislike em; the clowns in Cowtown don't think small.

[lance99]

I kind of like the arena that was used in the WNCAA today

[LZIp]

I must confess that I've heard more than one Columbus fan say they don't like watching Buckeyes basketball in Value City Arena as much as they did in St. John's Arena - but maybe they're just old fogies.

Its a legitimate complaint. They say it feels too "big time" and doesnt have as good as an atmosphere as St. Johns.

[ZachTheZip]

No, I’m addressing the only argument presented for building a facility with additional capabilities, which has been to raise additional revenue to help pay for it.

That's ridiculous.

The argument is to be able to host as many events as posible. The benefits of that include bringing people onto campus that normally don't go there (including estranged alumni), and providing more services to students. Students complain that the university doesn't do nearly enough to keep them engaged outside of the classroom, and they're right. Engaging students greatly increases the chance for them to turn into alumni that support the university long after graduation. It's an investment.

[pat]

That's ridiculous.

The argument is to be able to host as many events as posible. The benefits of that include bringing people onto campus that normally don't go there (including estranged alumni), and providing more services to students. Students complain that the university doesn't do nearly enough to keep them engaged outside of the classroom, and they're right. Engaging students greatly increases the chance for them to turn into alumni that support the university long after graduation. It's an investment.

well said, Zach!

[Blue & Gold]

I kind of like the arena that was used in the WNCAA today

What arena was that?

[Blue & Gold]

Its a legitimate complaint. They say it feels too "big time" and doesnt have as good as an atmosphere as St. Johns.

That's what I've heard too. The atmosphere isn't what it used to be. It's big & open & I've heard that it's actually kinda quiet in there during games. That is what KD wants to avoid.

However, VCA seats, what, 19,000-ish? We'd only be looking @ 10,000 tops.

Still, the floor plan would be very similar.

[lance99]

What arena was that?

Webster Bank Arena

[ZachTheZip]

Webster Bank Arena

A hockey arena with the fans right on top of the basketball court? But I thought that's impossible! And you could even put student sections behind the baskets if you wanted to.