A New Arena

[ZachTheZip]

where are people going to park, or go to before and/or after the game?

It's like 5 times the size of the current JAR footprint. Plenty of space to add parking.

As far as going places, it's very easy to get to the bars downtown or by Luigi's. Easier to get to places compared to the JAR.

[Spin]

As to whether expanding the arena for more than basketball is justifiable, you can't answer that without seeing the numbers. Probably somewhere in this long thread someone has mentioned what the cost difference to build the arena might be. Has anyone quantified the benefit?

Nope, we're still waiting on one of the naysayers to prove their claims.

I'll help you out. The structure wouldn't change much, if at all. The design of the permanent seats would change. So what you're basically looking at cost-wise is temporary seating (that you need anyhow for ALL of the concerts that will come to a new gym), dasherboards, turf, and (if you want minor league and club hockey, Disney on Ice, and student skates) ice equipment.

What's this outrageous cost difference that has everyone crapping their pants over? We're not exactly comparing the cost of the JAR to Cowboys Stadium.

If the benefits don't eclipse the cost, it's not justified. If the benefits are greater than the cost, then make the case. "I like hockey" isn't enough to justify a huge capital expense.

How many case studies do you need?

[Blue & Gold]

I want whatever KD wants. I trust him on this.

Having said that, I'm open minded to anything - multi-purpose/all-purpose, next to InfoCision Stadium/next to Canal Park.

In looking @ mapquest, it doesn't look like the lot across from Canal Park is any further a walk that the JAR is from the new dorms going up on Grant Street.

Though KD probably wants the arena next to InfoCision (and again, I'm for whatever KD thinks is best), I still like the idea of the arena being downtown & being able to walk from the restaurants to the arena. It just seems like it'd make it a great night out. The JAR is so inconveniently located.

[GP1]

I want whatever KD wants. I trust him on this.

What is his history of success in picking basketball arena locations?

[ZachTheZip]

I want whatever KD wants. I trust him on this.

I trust him to coach basketball players.

[LZIp]

What is his history of success in picking basketball arena locations?

Yeah, Im alright with KD having some input, but the decision shouldnt be made based on his opinion. The new arena will be around a lot long than KD.

[Zipmeister]

Unbelievable!!!

UofA announces plans to build 12,500 seat multiple-use facility....YES

Link

April Fools

[taxpayer]

I'll begin by saying I love hockey, with that said, the cost to have a refrigerated ice surface is huge. So are the costs to keep the ice acceptable to skate on. Unless UA decides to take the plunge and bring hockey (mens & womens) on board at the D1 level which will cost the athletic department a minimum of 18 full scholarships (guessing) x $30,000 (swag) which equals over $500,000 just for the players. Is there any minor league hockey teams worth trying to lure with a new arena that will pay for the capital costs listed above not to mention the zamboni, driver & the man power to switch from hockey to hoops to concert to hockey to hoops, etc

In other words until a comittment to hockey is made it's way too expensive to consider. If the day ever comes a pre-engineered steel building could be built similar to the indoor track/football facility. Quite frankly, that approach could be considered if the Zips keep the basketball arena at 8,000 or lower. As stated previously, excavate down forty or fifty feet and put up an engineered building with a wall height of 30' t0 40'. The exterior could be to look expensive by following the brick veneer & glass styling of Infocision and a few of the new campus buildings.

I don't have much experience in such matters but it's obvious the JAR is a liability to future plans to "Think Bigger" so I thought I'd throw this on the wall.

[Spin]

Everyone wants to key on one minute example of what it could be used for, ignoring all the others. What's the point in trying to have a meaningful conversation here?

"Hey, we should build a Student Union."

"That's a waste of money, building a new building for four pool tables. There aren't that many people who want to watch pool."

"These kids these days want EVERYTHING. Now they want pool tables!!! Spoiled brats."

"Dayton had pool tables, but took them out. It detracted too much from the darts."

"Does anybody know how much it would cost to add pool tables to your typical Student Union??? We wouldn't have to make the building any bigger, but by god it would quadruple the price of the whole complex I tell ya!!!"

"I don't like billiards. Keep it out of there!!!"

"What we need to do is build the Student Union now, and then later build another building for three pool tables."

"Whatever the bowling instructor wants I want. If he doesn't want pool tables in there with the bowling lanes, neither do I."

[Spin]

...and I still like the Kelly Ave. site.

Although, putting it across Derby Downs Rd from the Rubber Bowl would be cool, so we can have double headers with the Akron Fire. Plenty of parking, and we could have Big Foot driving around the BMX track. Lots of "green space" to tie the dogs out too, during the dog show.

[akzipper]

What is his history of success in picking basketball arena locations?

Any location around campus is going to result in the same amount of fans. Yes, even an arena by Canal Park. Might be tough to hear but that location is the same distance from a majority of students as the JAR. People need to stop acting like Canal Park is next to Akron Fulton Airport. Yes, if I had to pick I would like it next to InfoCision. Having all of our athletic facilities centralized in one location would be great. An awesome view of Infocision and brand new arena sitting side by side would be impressive. But it's not up to us. Either way fans are going to show up to watch the team. Whatever gets the arena built fastest and with the most money is the best option. It needs to get done, and fast. If they wait too long KD will have no choice but to move on and basketball will fall back into mediocrity.

[GP1]

...and I still like the Kelly Ave. site.

Although, putting it across Derby Downs Rd from the Rubber Bowl would be cool, so we can have double headers with the Akron Fire. Plenty of parking, and we could have Big Foot driving around the BMX track. Lots of "green space" to tie the dogs out too, during the dog show.

As the guy who came up with the Transformer idea for the new arena, I'd just like to say this isn't a bad idea. Having a dorm that transformed into a walking basketball arena wouldn't work here, but they could save money on the dorm part of the arena and just make it so it could walk. Before each game, it could walk to campus and pick up students, then walk back to Kelly Avenue with enough time for the team to drop in via hot air balloon through the retractable dome.

[tbozeglav]

This thread is out of control. Seriously. Between pat and Spin, Im surprised this hasnt gotten locked by the moderators.

If you honestly believe the University would build a basketball arena more than a 5 minute walk outside of campus, you may want to check yourself in to a mental health clinic. Seriously. Why would we build a football stadium on campus after playing 15 minutes (driving) away from campus, then go from having an on-campus basketball facility to one thats just as far away? All things are possible at this point but wow. Even that one just screams stupid.

Until the University releases actual plans for a new home for our Zips, all this is speculation and a pipedream. We can talk about it all we want but our voice counts very little to what the University will actually do.

At this point, nearly anything modern, designed in the 21st centry will be a vast improvement over what we already have.

[GP1]

This thread is out of control. Seriously. Between pat and Spin, Im surprised this hasnt gotten locked by the moderators.

If you honestly believe the University would build a basketball arena more than a 5 minute walk outside of campus, you may want to check yourself in to a mental health clinic.

What if when the arena transformed itself into a walking arena and could travel the distance between campus and the arena in five minutes? Would a five minute walk seem so crazy at that point? Throw in the team arriving in a hot air balloon through the retractable dome and the cheerleaders arriving via chariots drawn by the dogs that competed in the dog show at the arena earlier in the day delivered to campus by the trucks that competed in the monster truck event the night before driven by the ice show dancers from the show prior to the monster truck show, how could a fan not have a great time in this taxpayer funded arena like that?

[UAZip0510]

Chauncey offered the following on Twitter this morning:

"It's gotta be easier to get up for games at the high major level. Try playing in the JAR on winter break."

[GP1]

Chauncey offered the following on Twitter this morning:

"It's gotta be easier to get up for games at the high major level. Try playing in the JAR on winter break."

I bet he wouldn't say that if he knew he was going to be air lifted via hot air balloon into an arena through an retractable roof.

[LZIp]

I bet he wouldn't say that if he knew he was going to be air lifted via hot air balloon into an arena through an retractable roof.

Just stop.

[GP1]

Just stop.

I'm just trying to be part of the building process. After all, weren't we told to "Think Bigger"?

[akzipper]

If you honestly believe the University would build a basketball arena more than a 5 minute walk outside of campus, you may want to check yourself in to a mental health clinic. Seriously. Why would we build a football stadium on campus after playing 15 minutes (driving) away from campus, then go from having an on-campus basketball facility to one thats just as far away? All things are possible at this point but wow. Even that one just screams stupid.

So Canal Park is just as far away as the Rubber Bowl? You just said that a 5 minute walk and 15 minute drive are the same thing. If people can't cross a street to watch a game, they're better off staying home. Unless maybe the walk to their living room is too far...

[tbozeglav]

I'm just trying to be part of the building process. After all, weren't we told to "Think Bigger"?

just. no....

[pat]

Ok, keep this in mind. The location of a new University of Akron Arena is not about how close it is to other campus locations or how far it is from Grant Street Residence Halls and on and on and on.

The location of a UA arena has more to do with attitude and an appropriate sense of campus and place. While a downtown arena may be close to campus, such is not the point. It will not be on campus and more importantly, it will not look on campus... proximity to campus is immaterial. A downtown arena will not look like it is part of a university campus and therefore will not be on-campus. The mayor and county executive already know this and that is what they are banking on.

They purposefully want to obfuscate the identity and image of a UA arena in order to trick people into thinking that it is a municipal city of Akron Arena.

[Spin]

Not only that, but you want to bring alumni and others ONTO campus. There are so many reasons for this (and I know someone will find one they can micro-pick apart so I won't list them).

Otherwise they might as well have built the Info in Kenmore.

[GP1]

just. no....

How can you be anti-Transformer and anti-hot air balloon? Seems un-American to me.

[akzipper]

So campuses are not allowed to expand? UA once took up only few blocks around Buchtel Hall. How is expanding to the east any different than expanding to the south? I guess unless it is built right next to Buchtel Hall it's not considered part of campus.

[tbozeglav]

I think we should scrap the idea of building a new arena and just work a deal out with Quicken Loans Arena to be our full-time home. Think about how central it is to NE Ohio, the major media outlets, and all the downtown activities. Plus, itd help expand UAs footprint on the area. There are so many reasons to do it, I wonder why we havent done it yet!