akzipper Posted August 3, 2022 Report Share Posted August 3, 2022 The AAC is spread out over half the country, while 75% of the MAC is in Ohio and Michigan. It's a glorified D2 conference and most schools don't generate much excitement with casual fans. I doubt we'll ever leave, but I definitely think more people care about Memphis, Navy, USF, Tulsa, ECU, Wichita State, Temple, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Let'sGoZips94 Posted August 3, 2022 Report Share Posted August 3, 2022 36 minutes ago, akzipper said: The AAC is spread out over half the country, while 75% of the MAC is in Ohio and Michigan. It's a glorified D2 conference and most schools don't generate much excitement with casual fans. I doubt we'll ever leave, but I definitely think more people care about Memphis, Navy, USF, Tulsa, ECU, Wichita State, Temple, etc. AAC Members after Cincy, Houston, UCF depart... East Carolina Memphis USF SMU Temple Tulane Tulsa Wichita State UAB FAU Charlotte North Texas Rice UTSA Navy Men's Soccer & Women's Lacrosse would have a very nice boost as well with Vandy (women's lacrosse), ODU (women's lacrosse), James Madison (women's lacrosse), Florida (women's lacrosse), FIU (men's soccer), and FAU (men's soccer). Talent wise, assuming JoeMo does what we think he can do for Akron football, Akron matches up perfectly with those schools. Enrollment wise, we'd be middle of the pack. Facility wise, I'm sure we'd fit in just fine. Getting to the AAC is not a pipedream - it's what we should be striving for. As you pointed out, @akzipper, the MAC does nothing for fan excitement or national publicity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipmeister Posted August 3, 2022 Report Share Posted August 3, 2022 On 7/29/2022 at 5:00 PM, GoZips86 said: Charles Guthrie has been a blessing! And Charles Guthrie was blessed to be hired by a pro sports president. Not sure we can say that about his predecessors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipmeister Posted August 3, 2022 Report Share Posted August 3, 2022 5 hours ago, jupitertoo said: What would AAC membership do for the Zips aside from doubling the cost of travel? Cincinnati is exiting, so... I'm going to need to see the math on travel costs only doubling. Are you asserting, for example, flying the baseball and softball teams to away conference games in the AAC would only cost twice what it costs to bus them to away conference games in the MAC? I'm not sure you can prove that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LZIp Posted August 4, 2022 Report Share Posted August 4, 2022 Keep dreaming on the downtown arena. https://www.crainscleveland.com/sports-business/akron-eyes-improvements-jar-arena-kent-state-seeks-naming-rights-sponsor-mac-center?utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&utm_term=crain's+cleveland+business&utm_content=40091bee-9d3c-47ce-bc61-e6114e5a4b56 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Let'sGoZips94 Posted August 4, 2022 Report Share Posted August 4, 2022 3 hours ago, Zipmeister said: I'm going to need to see the math on travel costs only doubling. Are you asserting, for example, flying the baseball and softball teams to away conference games in the AAC would only cost twice what it costs to bus them to away conference games in the MAC? I'm not sure you can prove that. I think non-revenue sports find their own conferences - more regional. You already have that, and it will probably only grow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Let'sGoZips94 Posted August 4, 2022 Report Share Posted August 4, 2022 16 minutes ago, LZIp said: Keep dreaming on the downtown arena. https://www.crainscleveland.com/sports-business/akron-eyes-improvements-jar-arena-kent-state-seeks-naming-rights-sponsor-mac-center?utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&utm_term=crain's+cleveland+business&utm_content=40091bee-9d3c-47ce-bc61-e6114e5a4b56 Can you share the gist of what's said? I see the first part about Guthrie liking traditional sports venues, but the rest is behind the dreaded (and stupid) pay wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LZIp Posted August 4, 2022 Report Share Posted August 4, 2022 4 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said: Can you share the gist of what's said? I see the first part about Guthrie liking traditional sports venues, but the rest is behind the dreaded (and stupid) pay wall. Basically he thinks there charm to venues with history and culture. Wants to focus on upgrading the JAR rather than having a new arena, and that includes replacing the bleachers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Let'sGoZips94 Posted August 4, 2022 Report Share Posted August 4, 2022 10 minutes ago, LZIp said: Basically he thinks there charm to venues with history and culture. Wants to focus on upgrading the JAR rather than having a new arena, and that includes replacing the bleachers. Perfect. Sounds great to me. I am on board with this as long as it's done right, and Guthrie has done nothing to make me believe he wouldn't do it right. In the age of cookie-cutter, modern arenas, we should be looking to standout with an awesome college basketball atmosphere. Out of curiosity, has anyone with insider info seen any renovation numbers that show the absolute maximum capacity for the JAR with a renovation? i.e. If they connect the levels, could we get 6-7k? Is 5,500 the absolute max with more seating space, but less seats due to no more bleachers? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akzipper Posted August 4, 2022 Report Share Posted August 4, 2022 (edited) When I think about improving the JAR, my mind automatically thinks of new seats, paint, removing the track, renovating entrances, etc. I just don't see UA doing what it takes to make it a legitimate D1/big-time arena. In my opinion the only way to make the JAR legit would involve removing the track, demolishing everything behind the baskets on the north and south sides and corners to create a 360 seating bowl, blowing out then creating concourses behind the seats and adding suites above the top level. Something like that would be in the $40-50 million range for sure, but could be done in phases. Naming rights could probably take care of $10 million. Still not ideal for a school that's not in a great place financially. Especially since that pricetag might be on par with some new 5-8k seat arenas being built. Edited August 4, 2022 by akzipper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy5 Posted August 4, 2022 Report Share Posted August 4, 2022 10 hours ago, Let'sGoZips94 said: Perfect. Sounds great to me. I am on board with this as long as it's done right, and Guthrie has done nothing to make me believe he wouldn't do it right. In the age of cookie-cutter, modern arenas, we should be looking to standout with an awesome college basketball atmosphere. Out of curiosity, has anyone with insider info seen any renovation numbers that show the absolute maximum capacity for the JAR with a renovation? i.e. If they connect the levels, could we get 6-7k? Is 5,500 the absolute max with more seating space, but less seats due to no more bleachers? I would think a renovation would reduce the capacity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyZip Posted August 4, 2022 Report Share Posted August 4, 2022 2 hours ago, zippy5 said: I would think a renovation would reduce the capacity Agree, especially if you're replacing bleachers with chairbacks. I would guess capacity would remain similar to 5,500 if it could be engineered to have a continuous bowl of chairback seating from the floor upward. The corners will always be an obnoxious sore spot because I highly doubt they could ever be engineered out without massive architecture changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy5 Posted August 4, 2022 Report Share Posted August 4, 2022 Well that, and I'd imagine any major renovation would include some sort of premium seating which will take up some space as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AkronAlumnus Posted August 4, 2022 Report Share Posted August 4, 2022 4 hours ago, zippy5 said: I would think a renovation would reduce the capacity In the minority here but I think a renovation and reduction in seat capacity would not only help with aesthetics and it will make the JAR seem like it's drawling more people in than it actually is. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akzipper Posted August 13, 2022 Report Share Posted August 13, 2022 New JAR floor is officially done. Could use some gold like the original renderings, but still looks nice. Also looks like Akron Children's Hospital replaced FirstEnergy as the sponsor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue & Gold Posted August 13, 2022 Report Share Posted August 13, 2022 Sort of wish they would have stuck with the original rendering w/ two shades of wood stain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Let'sGoZips94 Posted August 13, 2022 Report Share Posted August 13, 2022 15 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said: Sort of wish they would have stuck with the original rendering w/ two shades of wood stain. It's missing the gold accent on the ribbon, too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z.I.P. Posted August 13, 2022 Report Share Posted August 13, 2022 3 hours ago, akzipper said: New JAR floor is officially done. Could use some gold like the original renderings, but still looks nice. Also looks like Akron Children's Hospital replaced FirstEnergy as the sponsor. Slightly off-subject, but since the pic is of the VB team. Doesn't the program have a Teraflex surface floor for games and practices? These are the small things that could help propel a program upward. I remember when my nephew's wife, who was a JC All-America was considering Akron in part because of facilities and equipment. All the top NCAA vb programs use Teraflex. Protects against both acute and chronic injuries and allows players to play more aggressively. MAC teams -- some of them, hopefully use the surface. I'm sure Ball State men's program has it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue & Gold Posted August 13, 2022 Report Share Posted August 13, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, Let'sGoZips94 said: It's missing the gold accent on the ribbon, too. Good call. Now I’m lowering my ranking of the new floor from 5-stars to 3-stars. I do like the new A logo, but the floor could have looked outstanding [sigh] 🫤 Maybe with the volleyball lines now on the court they thought the two tones of wood looked too busy? That would not, however, effect the gold accent on the ribbon. Edited August 13, 2022 by Blue & Gold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akzipper Posted August 13, 2022 Report Share Posted August 13, 2022 2 hours ago, Blue & Gold said: Good call. Now I’m lowering my ranking of the new floor from 5-stars to 3-stars. I do like the new A logo, but the floor could have looked outstanding [sigh] 🫤 Maybe with the volleyball lines now on the court they thought the two tones of wood looked too busy? That would not, however, effect the gold accent on the ribbon. Most times the court is designed to look best during basketball games, since the volleyball lines are just temporary. My guess is that mockup was created to present the new logo system and UA wanted something much simpler for the court. Usually designs are simplified to cut down on costs, but they already needed to paint gold for the wordmarks. I don't think a few extra gold stripes would break the bank. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziptrumpet87 Posted August 13, 2022 Report Share Posted August 13, 2022 Gold leaf would be nice 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Let'sGoZips94 Posted January 5, 2023 Report Share Posted January 5, 2023 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueandgold Posted January 5, 2023 Report Share Posted January 5, 2023 Do we know where the new facility will be located for sure? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilltopper Posted January 5, 2023 Report Share Posted January 5, 2023 32 minutes ago, blueandgold said: Do we know where the new facility will be located for sure? Across the street from the JAR in the rec center. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueandgold Posted January 5, 2023 Report Share Posted January 5, 2023 13 minutes ago, Hilltopper said: Across the street from the JAR in the rec center. Thanks! I'm sure it was written here somewhere before, but I didn't see it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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