Rename the JAR

[BirdZip]

What are people's thoughts on the name of the JAR? We post a lot about wanting to gain more recognition nationally. To do that, we need as many tags or catches as we can get since the national media won't latch on to the good play.Talking about games at the JAR doesn't sound fierce, isn't catchy, and isn't memorable. Since a kangaroo is our mascot, let's exploit it. I propose a rename of the JAR arena to Outback Arena. Maybe there's even a corporate sponsorship possibility.Fans and opponents can be greeted to signs of "Welcome to the Outback". We can suggest putting another flush on the barbie. It also gives the Marketing Department a new angle to try to bring people in to the games.

[Captain Kangaroo]

What are people's thoughts on the name of the JAR? We post a lot about wanting to gain more recognition nationally. To do that, we need as many tags or catches as we can get since the national media won't latch on to the good play.Talking about games at the JAR doesn't sound fierce, isn't catchy, and isn't memorable. Since a kangaroo is our mascot, let's exploit it. I propose a rename of the JAR arena to Outback Arena. Maybe there's even a corporate sponsorship possibility.Fans and opponents can be greeted to signs of "Welcome to the Outback". We can suggest putting another flush on the barbie. It also gives the Marketing Department a new angle to try to bring people in to the games.

If someone wants to donate a ton of money so we can gut the existing JAR and build a real arena, then I'm all for renaming it. If the JAR stays status quo, so should the name.

[ziptrumpet87]

I look forward to 2010 when the new stadium has been completed, the bball team has been to the NCAA tourny a few times, the JAR sells out for ALL games and we plow the JAR under for a new 8-10k arena (could the old CHHS be the temp arena while it's being built? - they used it for classes when the heat went out recently)

[FearTheRoo]

What are people's thoughts on the name of the JAR?  We post a lot about wanting to gain more recognition nationally.  To do that, we need as many tags or catches as we can get since the national media won't latch on to the good play.Talking about games at the JAR doesn't sound fierce, isn't catchy, and isn't memorable.  Since a kangaroo is our mascot, let's exploit it.  I propose a rename of the JAR arena to Outback Arena.  Maybe there's even a corporate sponsorship possibility.Fans and opponents can be greeted to signs of "Welcome to the Outback".  We can suggest putting another flush on the barbie.  It also gives the Marketing Department a new angle to try to bring people in to the games.

If someone wants to donate a ton of money so we can gut the existing JAR and build a real arena, then I'm all for renaming it. If the JAR stays status quo, so should the name. But I think it would set you back several years. You'd be surprised how integrated JAR is into the local culture, somewhat nationally too. What is the name of the arena Cleveland State plays in? To me and most I know it is still the Convo Center.

[ziptrumpet87]

I did like the sign last game about the lid coming off the JAR

[Kangaroo Craig]

What is the name of the arena Cleveland State plays in?  To me and most I know it is still  the Convo Center.

I believe it is named the Wolstein Center after the late Bart Wolstein.

[AK-Zips]

What is the name of the arena Cleveland State plays in?  To me and most I know it is still  the Convo Center.

I believe it is named the Wolstein Center after the late Bart Wolstein.

i think that's his point.

[UAZipster0305]

I love the idea of renaming the JAR as Outback Arena!...This is an especially cool idea if we get a new 10K seat arena.

[Zipmeister]

We need a catchy slogan.How about......"Come on out to the JAR and watch our team shoot down the opposition faster than James A. Rhodes could send the Guard to pick off students at Can't State."

[akronad]

Zipmeister: I agree! I like you train of thought.Someone mentioned the old Central-Hower. That bldg. will not be available until 2017.

[UA Fan]

I look forward to 2010 when the new stadium has been completed, the bball team has been to the NCAA tourny a few times, the JAR sells out for ALL games and we plow the JAR under for a new 8-10k arena  (could the old CHHS be the temp arena while it's being built? - they used it for classes when the heat went out recently)        

The U. is doing major renovations to the perimeter offices/classrooms of the JAR so it won't be plowed under or gutted to expand the arena. There would have to be a different option.I doubt if Outback Steakhouses would have much interest in sponsoring a mid-major arena in Akron, Ohio...maybe in Texas they would. In fact we would probably have to pay them to use that name. I like the creative thinking though and I wouldn't be opposed to removing the Rhodes name/connection, given the local history.

[Captain Kangaroo]

You'd be surprised how integrated JAR is into the local culture, somewhat nationally too. What is the name of the arena Cleveland State plays in? To me and most I know it is still the Convo Center.

I would be shocked if 1% of the Ohio population outside of Akron/Canton knew the Zips played basketball in a facility called the JAR. I would be doubly shocked to see if the JAR's name recognition outside Ohio is even measurable to 0.0001% of the population. Unless you're in Kalamazoo or Ypsalanti.People know CSU's arena as The Convo because that's what it was called for about 15 years. More and more people call it the Wolstein Center. The Convo name will fade in a few more years.Everything about the JAR sucks. The teenie-weenie team shop sucks. The seating sucks. The lobby sucks. The food options suck. We need a new arena or a major renovation. And if someone is willing to foot the bill, they should have the arena named after them and we should swing the wrecking ball asap.

[zip81]

I was very disappointed the first time I saw the JAR.I had just moved back from Indiana, where the High School gyms and fieldhouses were bigger and nicer.I'm hoping we don't make the same mistake with the new football stadium.

[ZachTheZip]

One of the things that could be done for relatively cheap is to completely re-do the seating. No chair-backs behind the baskets, instead put bleachers there. There should be no upper chair-backs either. The lower side sections are never full, so move the people on the upper reserved side down and fill the entire lower bowl while increasing the overall capacity by putting more bleachers up top. It wouldn't be that expensive and requires no structural alterations.

[Blue & Gold]

Everything about the JAR sucks. The teenie-weenie team shop sucks. The seating sucks. The lobby sucks. The food options suck. We need a new arena or a major renovation.

I agree with you 110% Captain!!! I recently took a 7th grader to his 1st Zips game in the JAR (he was wise enough not to wear any OSU gear - even against his mother's suggestion!) But even the 7th grader made the astute observation, "Man, this gym isn't very nice." Wow!So yes Captain, amen! EXCEPT for mentioning the possibility of "a major renovation." I DON'T EVEN WANT TO LEAVE THAT OPEN FOR A POTENTIAL OPTION! We need a BRAND NEW arena - starting from scratch!I believe the parcel of land opposite Canal Park on Main Street was once tossed around as a good spot for a downtown arena?

[RowdyZip]

Everything about the JAR sucks. The teenie-weenie team shop sucks. The seating sucks. The lobby sucks. The food options suck. We need a new arena or a major renovation.

I agree with you 110% Captain!!! I recently took a 7th grader to his 1st Zips game in the JAR (he was wise enough not to wear any OSU gear - even against his mother's suggestion!) But even the 7th grader made the astute observation, "Man, this gym isn't very nice." Wow!So yes Captain, amen! EXCEPT for mentioning the possibility of "a major renovation." I DON'T EVEN WANT TO LEAVE THAT OPEN FOR A POTENTIAL OPTION! We need a BRAND NEW arena - starting from scratch!I believe the parcel of land opposite Canal Park on Main Street was once tossed around as a good spot for a downtown arena?

All well and good. Probably not happening in the next decade. We wont even have a new stadium till '09. Barring some major runs YEARLY into the NCAA tournament, and the addition of some HUUUUUUGE corporate backing, the money wont be there for a new arena for many MANY years.

[zip81]

  There should be no upper chair-backs either.  The lower side sections are never full, so move the people on the upper reserved side down and fill the entire lower bowl while increasing the overall capacity by putting more bleachers up top.  It wouldn't be that expensive and requires no structural alterations.

That's the way it was when the JAR opened, and I believe capacity was about 7,000 back then.What really makes it look small time is seeing the wall behind the baskets.If those seats just went right on to the top, it would help.But then you lose the track in the upper deck.If the Ohio General Assembly wouldn't have cut the funds, we would have had the 12,000 theatre seats that was originally planned.

[mcperp]

It's definitely an interesting idea to change the name, though what Akron really lacks is any sort of recent basketball tradition (and no, Coleman Crawford imploring his troops to "slow it down" despite being down by 36 to Our Lady of the Elms isn't tradition).An arena, gym, or whatever you want to call it takes on the character of it's inhabitants. That's what makes crapholes like Cameron (Duke), the old Boston Garden, and U of Oregon's home court become revered bastions of basketball tradition and excellence. Even BGSU's Anderson Arena has a different "feel" about it. If Duke won 10 games a year, Cameron would have all the charm of a Matt Domonkos extra point attempt.A name change would be nice if it brought in some extra revenue, but without a lot of W's to back it up, it's merely lipstick on a hog.

[timmyboy]

redoing the jar would be pretty easy, they can easily add alot more seats to what they have now. but you must first sell out the games at the current capacity then worry about redoing the arena to hold more. The openings on the floor level ( between where the students sit and the lower level reserved) can be done away with and add more seats there and have it like wrap around so that it is the shape of a U and then leave the one lower level open for the teams coming onto the court like they currently do. that could easily add alot more seats. and another thing about the JAR that is a joke..... the section for the handicapped ( upstairs) i always hear about the people in the wheelchairs complaining about the railing being in their way. can we not do better for them? i mean heck for $5000 i would design a new arena for them if theyd like...no need to go out and spend millions on someone to design it, the same goes for the football stadium lol.

[timmyboy]

That's the way it was when the JAR opened, and I believe capacity was about 7,000 back then.What really makes it look small time is seeing the wall behind the baskets.If those seats just went right on to the top, it would help.But then you lose the track in the upper deck.If the Ohio General Assembly wouldn't have cut the funds, we would have had the 12,000 theatre seats that was originally planned.

you dont really need that indoor track upstairs when they just beuilt a brand new indoor track over at the rec center. students can use that track if they would like, cant they? so taking out the track and just going all the way up with seats would also be another very good idea if it came down to it.

[zippyrifle32]

  There should be no upper chair-backs either.  The lower side sections are never full, so move the people on the upper reserved side down and fill the entire lower bowl while increasing the overall capacity by putting more bleachers up top.  It wouldn't be that expensive and requires no structural alterations.

That's the way it was when the JAR opened, and I believe capacity was about 7,000 back then.What really makes it look small time is seeing the wall behind the baskets.If those seats just went right on to the top, it would help.But then you lose the track in the upper deck.If the Ohio General Assembly wouldn't have cut the funds, we would have had the 12,000 theatre seats that was originally planned.

from my understanding, the jar originally seated around 7,000 people because the seats were only 10" wide. sorry but i have an ass bigger than 10".

[Z.I.P.]

What are people's thoughts on the name of the JAR?

Gotta say, I was always surprised that people didn't seize on the obvious about James Rhodes Arena, and refer to it as "Murderer's Lane".

[zip81]

Naming the JAR after him was pay back for the money used to build it.It used to be said that Rhodes funded the capital projects at state universities just to name buildings after himself.A side note:Can you imagine if Ball St. named their arena the JAR?The Ball JAR Rim-shot here

[FearTheRoo]

What are people's thoughts on the name of the JAR?

Gotta say, I was always surprised that people didn't seize on the obvious about James Rhodes Arena, and refer to it as "Murderer's Lane".

Now that's a very Hippyish K-ent State response!

[AtlantaGov]

Talking about games at the JAR doesn't sound fierce, isn't catchy, and isn't memorable.

You don't think "Let's Go Peay in the JAR" is memorable??