Bowden Says JAR Needs Replaced

[legendofzippy]

If a new arena could be built, using these sources of money, at a cost lower than putting lipstick on the JAR pig, what the hell's the problem?

Those are all great fantasies. Now welcome to reality. As of today there are no corporate sponsors or wealthy benefactors looking to build a new basketball arena for the Zips. And overall attendance for our sports teams isn't strong enough to justify the investment. Also, it's a University - academics should come first.

Now instead of waiting for someone else to step-up, try the strange idea of stepping up yourself and get to more games. Quit griping about the competition (which one of those schools offered you a scholarship?) and quit griping about the arena (it seemed good enough for Zeke and others big name recruits) and get to more games.

And not just men's basketball, all sports. Good lord you can get a basketball ticket for $10.

[jupitertoo]

Those are all great fantasies. Now welcome to reality. As of today there are no corporate sponsors or wealthy benefactors looking to build a new basketball arena for the Zips. And overall attendance for our sports teams isn't strong enough to justify the investment. Also, it's a University - academics should come first.

Now instead of waiting for someone else to step-up, try the strange idea of stepping up yourself and get to more games. Quit griping about the competition (which one of those schools offered you a scholarship?) and quit griping about the arena (it seemed good enough for Zeke and others big name recruits) and get to more games.

And not just men's basketball, all sports. Good lord you can get a basketball ticket for $10.

Excellent post. In a sense, this is exactly what KD has been saying for the past few years.

[GP1]

Do you want to be Division I or not?

I don't, but not for the reasons people may believe. I want to be in a division where we have a realistic shot at winning each game. That is somewhere between BCS and I-AA. I don't care what people call the division as long as it gets done.

[MDZip]

The football team would still be playing Western Reserve University and Kenyon in a field in Hudson.

Hey, there are a lot of nice fields in Hudson.

[LZIp]

I don't, but not for the reasons people may believe. I want to be in a division where we have a realistic shot at winning each game. That is somewhere between BCS and I-AA. I don't care what people call the division as long as it gets done.

Oh jesus. We have a realistic shot at winning games with our current schedule. We want a realistic shot to win each game? Dont schedule the likes of Michigan, OSU, etc. Mid-major is what you describe "somewhere between BCS and 1-AA"

[Spin]

GP1, you'll like this slideshow of Division 1 football.

http://www.goducks.com/PhotoAlbum.dbml?SPS...p;PALBID=970348

Go hard or go home.

[Z.I.P.]

Hey, there are a lot of nice fields in Hudson.

Terribly sorry to inform all you Hudsonians of this, but prior to the Rubber Bowl, the university played its games at "old Forge Field". Everyone know where that is? Next time you're driving North on Route 8, turn to your right and look down as your cross the bridge.

[Zipmeister]

Terribly sorry to inform all you Hudsonians of this, but prior to the Rubber Bowl, the university played its games at "old Forge Field". Everyone know where that is? Next time you're driving North on Route 8, turn to your right and look down as your cross the bridge.

Please, PLEASE, note that ZIP meant turn your HEAD to the right, not your CAR!

If you turn your car to the right while on the bridge old Forge Field will be immediately below you and approaching fast.

[Spin]

Terribly sorry to inform all you Hudsonians of this, but prior to the Rubber Bowl, the university played its games at "old Forge Field". Everyone know where that is? Next time you're driving North on Route 8, turn to your right and look down as your cross the bridge.

I never knew where it was. I found where the Akron Pro's stadium was. But not Forge Field. Was it where the ball diamond is now?

The first Zip game was played in Hudson. No stadium yet. Nobody thought college football would be what it is today.

[akronad]

Back in 1969 they played a game at Barberton HS and I believe they played another in Cuyahoga Falls.

[GP1]

GP1, you'll like this slideshow of Division 1 football.

http://www.goducks.com/PhotoAlbum.dbml?SPS...p;PALBID=970348

Go hard or go home.

I have no problem with such vulgar displays. All they need to do to support that building process is raise student fees so kids who can't afford to go to college have to borrow more money to pay the student fees to support the building process. I see no problem there....

If that's what we have to do to compete in D-1A, someone please get the paperwork for us to move to a lower division.

[LZIp]

I have no problem with such vulgar displays. All they need to do to support that building process is raise student fees so kids who can't afford to go to college have to borrow more money to pay the student fees to support the building process. I see no problem there....

If that's what we have to do to compete in D-1A, someone please get the paperwork for us to move to a lower division.

You're forgetting some guy strongly affiliated with the program by the name of "Phil Knight"

[GP1]

You're forgetting some guy strongly affiliated with the program by the name of "Phil Knight"

I understand that. I also believe it is a vulgar way for someone to use their money.

[Z.I.P.]

I never knew where it was. I found where the Akron Pro's stadium was. But not Forge Field. Was it where the ball diamond is now?

The first Zip game was played in Hudson. No stadium yet. Nobody thought college football would be what it is today.

Hudson? Seriously? I would have thought that just a bit too upper crusty. Or was Hudson diff back then? All I know is Forge Field under the bridge is where my dad pointed to every time we crossed. He said that "Akron You" played there. And I believed him!

[Z.I.P.]

Back in 1969 they played a game at Barberton HS and I believe they played another in Cuyahoga Falls.

Not sure about UA playing in barberton, but I remember YSU playing there while their stadium was under construction in the early 70s. No idea why.

[johnnyzip84]

Not sure about UA playing in barberton, but I remember YSU playing there while their stadium was under construction in the early 70s. No idea why.

YSU played at (Austintown) Fitch's field for a number of years prior to Stambaugh.

[Hilltopper]

YSU played at (Austintown) Fitch's field for a number of years prior to Stambaugh.

They played at Rayen High School Stadium actually. Watched the Zips lose to a Ron Jaworski led Penguin squad in the pouring rain at Rayen. Remember the Side Saddle T? Jaws threw a TD pass on the last play of the game to put the Guins on top.

[akzipper]

So they posted a photo of the JAR lobby being partially renovated. Mentioned new lights.

This is what we call "putting lipstick on a pig." With the thousands of things wrong with the JAR, lighting in the lobby never seemed like the most important.

[Captain Kangaroo]

So they posted a photo of the JAR lobby being partially renovated. Mentioned new lights.

This is what we call "putting lipstick on a pig." With the thousands of things wrong with the JAR, lighting in the lobby never seemed like the most important.

If you only have $60, and you land on Baltic Ave., you buy it.

[K92]

If you only have $60, and you land on Baltic Ave., you buy it.

[tpsjugglerdude]

Great, now I can see how crappy the JAR is in better light.

[Balsy]

I mean a little does go a long way...perhaps with the new lights will also come...idk...some new decorations and paint jobs that don't make it look like something out of the 80's?

[72 Roo]

Problem is it is out of the 80's and always will be. Replacing the JAR is a huge issue because we need $60 million and that kind of money is not out there. If it was the development dept would have found it. Those men and women are working hard to try to find it.

[taxpayer]

I guess UA acts like I do. List improvements by priorioty and then do the ones you've got cash for. In this case it's a good move since so many of us wandered around the lobby in the dark and got lost and never made it to our seats.

I suggest the next improvements -

move band back to opponents end

move media tables up to "track" level and replace with "floor" seating

Build portable risers allowing two or three elevated rows of additional floor seats. They can be rolled out of the way after each game.

Sell as many floor seat season tickets as possible. Unsold seats go to students on first come first served basis.

Consolidate season ticket holders, UA admin seating and player/coaches family into one/two sections below the track.

Clear sections behind visitor bench and designate it as student seating, again first come first served. If season tickets, Admin/faculty & family seating doesn't fill the lower bowl, advertise for one month that the balance of seats are still available for 30 days and if not sold, they will go into the student seating pool.

Once the above is implemented and the Zips continue to win, season ticket sales should increase as the most desirable seats won't be available on a game by game basis. Nest, begin replacement of the bleachers and track.

Since funds aren't available, extend an open invitation (think contest) to all architectural firms to develop a new interior design concept for the JAR; making sure that a "concept" must cost under say $5,000,000 and could be built either in stages or from April to October.

Your thoughts?

[Dave in Green]

@taxpayer, I would prefer to see UA cater to the media in the interests of getting more and better coverage for the Zips, which benefits the program longterm. I think that moving the media from the best seats in the arena to the cheap seats might be counterproductive to that. I would not be opposed to making sure that everyone currently sitting at the courtside media table is legitimate media. But I'd rather see more than fewer legit media at Zips basketball games, and taking away their best view of the on-court action is not the best way to achieve better media coverage.