Basketball practice facility (and more) coming

[clarkwgriswold]

1 hour ago, kreed5120 said:

Oh, it's not happening anytime soon, nor should it given the University's financial situation. It's still fun to talk about.

No question, it's a great topic, especially in the off-season.

 

I'd love it if the City of Akron had a facility as old and simple as the Canton Civic Center.    I love that place.

[Spin]

7 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said:

No question, it's a great topic, especially in the off-season.

 

I'd love it if the City of Akron had a facility as old and simple as the Canton Civic Center.    I love that place.

 

I've been to a bunch of Canton Invaders soccer games, Canton Legends football games, and Canton Charge basketball games. Nothing fancy or gaudy. It seemed like we were within 100' of food stands and the exit. Especially when the parking deck on the roof was open.

 

I thought about it every time I drove through Akron to get to Canton to go to games.

[clarkwgriswold]

21 hours ago, Spin said:

 

I've been to a bunch of Canton Invaders soccer games, Canton Legends football games, and Canton Charge basketball games. Nothing fancy or gaudy. It seemed like we were within 100' of food stands and the exit. Especially when the parking deck on the roof was open.

 

I thought about it every time I drove through Akron to get to Canton to go to games.

 

Great sight lines, close to the floor, can host any game or an Auto-Rama or a graduation...what's not to like?  And...it's over 70 years old.  Simple is good.

[Blue & Gold]

Would you guys rather have a true multi-purpose arena - like the Canton Civic Center, or Gund Arena (showing my age), which could also host indoor soccer, indoor football, hockey, etc., or a basketball-centric arena which can also host concerts.

 

I'm torn. I like the versatility of the true multi-purpose arena, but don't like how far back the seats are for basketball as compared to the more intimate basketball-centric arenas.

 

Just by watching other cities & schools online over the past decade, it seems to me the nicer new arenas being built for college basketball are basketball-centric arenas, which, of course, can also host concerts & volleyball, but not hockey or indoor soccer.

Edited April 15, 2023 by Blue & Gold

[ewbrooman1]

The ironic thing is I think you could build a pretty decent size arena right on campus where the JAR is now and Memorial Hall used to be. 

[Spin]

5 hours ago, Blue & Gold said:

Would you guys rather have a true multi-purpose arena - like the Canton Civic Center, or Gund Arena (showing my age), which could also host indoor soccer, indoor football, hockey, etc., or a basketball-centric arena which can also host concerts.

 

I'm torn. I like the versatility of the true multi-purpose arena, but don't like how far back the seats are for basketball as compared to the more intimate basketball-centric arenas.

 

Just by watching other cities & schools online over the past decade, it seems to me the nicer new arenas being built for college basketball are basketball-centric arenas, which, of course, can also host concerts & volleyball, but not hockey or indoor soccer.

Good question.

 

IMO it depends on whether the university wants to rent it out to others or not. And if they do, are they interested in a full size floor or would a basketball sized floor space do? Would the students be interested in ice skating? Indoor soccer? I think those are the questions that need answered. Is someone interested in putting a "pro" sports team in Akron?

 

I don't think the current administration would consider a new arena. But we can dream...

[kreed5120]

On 4/15/2023 at 7:47 AM, Blue & Gold said:

Would you guys rather have a true multi-purpose arena - like the Canton Civic Center, or Gund Arena (showing my age), which could also host indoor soccer, indoor football, hockey, etc., or a basketball-centric arena which can also host concerts.

 

I'm torn. I like the versatility of the true multi-purpose arena, but don't like how far back the seats are for basketball as compared to the more intimate basketball-centric arenas.

 

Just by watching other cities & schools online over the past decade, it seems to me the nicer new arenas being built for college basketball are basketball-centric arenas, which, of course, can also host concerts & volleyball, but not hockey or indoor soccer.

 

Basketball centric arena that can host concerts, trade shows, local high school graduations, and things of that nature. Indoor soccer or football leagues just don't have much long-term staying power. I just don't think the additional cost of a multi-purpose facility, combined with the reduced basketball atmosphere, would be worth it given how unlikely it would be that we would secure a long-term co-tenant. 

[Blue & Gold]

3 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

Basketball centric arena that can host concerts, trade shows, local high school graduations, and things of that nature. Indoor soccer or football leagues just don't have much long-term staying power. I just don't think the additional cost of a multi-purpose facility, combined with the reduced basketball atmosphere, would be worth it given how unlikely it would be that we would secure a long-term co-tenant. 

You and I are on the same page. 

[akzipper]

6 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

 

Basketball centric arena that can host concerts, trade shows, local high school graduations, and things of that nature. Indoor soccer or football leagues just don't have much long-term staying power. I just don't think the additional cost of a multi-purpose facility, combined with the reduced basketball atmosphere, would be worth it given how unlikely it would be that we would secure a long-term co-tenant. 

 

Yup indoor soccer/football leagues are super low budget and kind of a joke. I've never felt like Akron was a hockey town. Hell NE Ohio didn't even seem to care much when I lived there. The only reason you build an arena to host hockey is if you plan on starting a D1 program, get a CHL Jr Hockey team to relocate, or AHL which isn't happening with the Monsters in Cleveland. I think junior hockey might be interesting to people. Basically the hockey equivalent of BigTen/SEC football. The games in Erie are a blast, especially when Conor McDavid was here. But Would a league based in Ontario want a team in Akron? Doubtful. 

 

An arena really just needs to host basketball and concerts. What's the big indoor venue in Akron now? The Civic theater? Does EJ even have concerts anymore? 

Edited May 10, 2023 by akzipper

[gozips19]

https://neo-trans.blog/2023/06/21/seeds-sprouts-xxix-csu-to-start-arena-plans-downtown-garage-demo-olde-cedars-replacement/

[ZippyRulz]

21 hours ago, gozips19 said:

https://neo-trans.blog/2023/06/21/seeds-sprouts-xxix-csu-to-start-arena-plans-downtown-garage-demo-olde-cedars-replacement/

 

sounds like they're funding it by lumping it in with a larger campus master plan initiative..

[akzipper]

Pretty annoying that CSU will have built two arenas in the span of like 30 years that are both significantly better than the JAR. Yet UA has done absolutely nothing but paint some bleachers and put in a new scoreboard. Great commitment to the program. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

On 6/23/2023 at 8:55 AM, akzipper said:

Pretty annoying that CSU will have built two arenas in the span of like 30 years that are both significantly better than the JAR. Yet UA has done absolutely nothing but paint some bleachers and put in a new scoreboard. Great commitment to the program. 

 

CSU doesn't have football. Our new basketball arena is called InfoCision Stadium - and it's one of the nicest G5 football stadiums in the country IMO.

Edited July 9, 2023 by Let'sGoZips94

[KlerPot]

On 6/22/2023 at 5:33 AM, gozips19 said:

https://neo-trans.blog/2023/06/21/seeds-sprouts-xxix-csu-to-start-arena-plans-downtown-garage-demo-olde-cedars-replacement/

I have read the article in its entirety. They are planning the Cleveland Police Department headquarters in the ArtCraft building as well.
That's where the funding and the deal comes from😉 If there weren't so many interested parties here, it's unlikely that a construction deal like this would have gotten done.

[Reslife4Life]

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0bzLt-O9Hi/?igshid=ODhhZWM5NmIwOQ==
 

Basketball practice facility is complete. It is a shame that they took away 2 multipurpose courts away from the student body to make this though. 

[zippy5]

I spy "AA" in with the starting group on a whiteboard

[LZIp]

5 minutes ago, Reslife4Life said:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0bzLt-O9Hi/?igshid=ODhhZWM5NmIwOQ==
 

Basketball practice facility is complete. It is a shame that they took away 2 multipurpose courts away from the student body to make this though. 

Student body still has 3 if i'm not mistaken, and those 2 courts weren't highly used when I was in school, can't imagine that got any better with about half the student population.

[Reslife4Life]

1 hour ago, LZIp said:

Student body still has 3 if i'm not mistaken, and those 2 courts weren't highly used when I was in school, can't imagine that got any better with about half the student population.

The other 3 still there are almost exclusively used for pickup basketball. The blue courts in my time where used for nearly all intramurals, and had a more diverse court schedule. When covid hit, they spaced out the workout equipment and put a lot of machines in the blue court area. When it was time to take them out, my guess is that not many people had even seen those courts in use which caused them to give away the space

[Let'sGoZips94]

1 hour ago, Reslife4Life said:

The other 3 still there are almost exclusively used for pickup basketball. The blue courts in my time where used for nearly all intramurals, and had a more diverse court schedule. When covid hit, they spaced out the workout equipment and put a lot of machines in the blue court area. When it was time to take them out, my guess is that not many people had even seen those courts in use which caused them to give away the space

 

Until our football game student section is more than 1/16th full, my sympathy for the students will remain low. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

Sharp. I like that the court is an exact copy of the court in the JAR. Big program enhancement here. 

 

 

[akzipper]

I actually think I like that floor better than the JAR. While the paint/logos are exactly the same, it seems like the wood has more contrast to it which is kinda cool. Unless it's just the photo. 

 

I'm happy that the basketball teams have somewhere other than the JAR to practice. Now it's time to fix that place. 

Edited December 4, 2023 by akzipper

[Reslife4Life]

The four point line has made an appearance in picture 1

[Akron1]

Friday, July 26th - Wentz Financial Group Player Development Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony!

 

[Blue & Gold]

 

[Let'sGoZips94]

I'd imagine LCJ is a key part of the practice facility opening festivities.