Bobcat Attack - Ohio Basketball - BGSU New Basketball Arena

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Topic: BGSU New Basketball Arena

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ts1227

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Posted: 6/12/2011 11:27 PM

JSF wrote:expand_more

Don't forget they're leaving Anderson Arena for Stroh. You can't even compare the two.

Had they just started playing their games on the outdoor courts over by the 2 quads it would have been an improvement over Anderson. That arena had to have caused many recruits to cringe/take BG off their list.

Athens

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Posted: 6/13/2011 9:07 PM

Andrew Ruck wrote:expand_more

I am OK with building a smaller arena and being realistic about future attendance, but 4,300 is just too low. Like McKinney, I think they should've found a way for another 1-2k more.

I agree. I would have gone for 6k capacity designed to look like a 10k arena. 5k is about minimum for a solid D1 program. MAC schools should be around 6-8k in my opinion, big enough to handle a student surge when good. Miami needs to step it down to a 2500 seat gym based on what they've drawn lately.

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Athens

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Posted: 6/13/2011 9:22 PM

OhioBobcat wrote:expand_more

Ohio draws very well in the MAC and this year played in front of roughly an average of 5,500. However, that also means we played in front of nearly 7,500 empty seats on average. It’s crazy to think about a team being one of the leaders in conference attendance while also playing in front of attendance figures that are usually way below half of the facility’s actual seating capacity. While I love the Convo, aside from a few games here and there, it is just too big for basketball overall. If Ohio was to ever building a new arena, the seating capacity would fall well short of what we have now.

You are suggesting Ohio go to something like 8,000 seats? That is about what Ohio averages in MAC play but that is factoring in a few 10,000 plus crowds a season. One factor at Ohio is they don't have D1 hockey like BG and Miami which is more popular at those schools making it easier to draw in D1 basketball at the Convo. Several times a year Ohio is at the 10,000 mark and I can't see how the program could back below that number in capacity. I'd like to see the Convo downsize to 12,000 seats, the program hasn't had a crowd that high in 10 years. Don't hold your breath for a new basketball arena either. The Convo is valued at something like 40 million dollars, almost twice the structural value of Peden Stadium. A major renovation is the only realistic answer at this point in time.

giacomo

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Posted: 6/14/2011 9:52 AM

The Convo could stand to lose some seats in a renovation. What the right number would be is anyone's guess. I think 10k is a good number to have. Regarding Anderson Arena, I loved that place, as I loved all the old fieldhouses of another era. Those old films of Thurmond and Komives were great. I'd like to see some old films of action at Grover.

bigtillyoopsupsideurhead

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Posted: 6/14/2011 10:43 AM

giacomo wrote:expand_more

Since it has always been said that the Convo can't support a hanging scoreboard, I would be in favor of losing roughly 1,000 seats from two upper corners and placing two big video board up there.

Something like this, with one screen on two opposite corners of the court:

Last Edited: 6/14/2011 10:44:41 AM by bigtillyoopsupsideurhead

Monroe Slavin

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Posted: 6/14/2011 10:50 AM

Definitely gonna happen. There's tons of cash available.

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Jeff McKinney

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Posted: 6/14/2011 11:23 AM

Obviously, the funds are not available for major renovations or a new facility to replace the Convo at the moment. But we are talking in theoretical terms now.

Assuming the funds could somehow be found, I would favor a refurbishing of the Convo along the lines of what they did with Savage Hall in Toledo. Aim for 10,000 capacity.

A new facility would probably have a capacity of somewhere between 8,000 and 11,000.

OhioCatFan

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Posted: 6/14/2011 9:28 PM

Panda wrote:expand_more

Was in the BG area last week. The arena sits very close to Wooster Rd.. It is not very atractive and does not fit into the campus architecture, but what does in the athletic plant. Inside reminds ne of a high school gym. Just does not make sense. Nice offices, medical area and practice floor. My personal opinion is "very poorly done".

No building on the BUGS campus looks like it belongs there. I remember, back in the day, someone once describing the BG campus as looking like the buildings were all dropped there by an Air Force bomber. Sounds like that description is stil apt.

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Last Edited: 6/14/2011 9:31:19 PM by OhioCatFan

OhioCatFan

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Posted: 6/14/2011 9:43 PM

You guys are forgetting, the Convo is not just a basketball facility. It is used for graduation ceremonies. The last I heard it was at full capacity for these events -- even with the split two undergraduate commencement ceremonies. Also, according to some experts on this board, the last time this was discussed (we never repeat ourselves do we?), one of the new lighter weight hanging scoreboards could be supported by the roof structure. Finally, I've heard that some of the high school tournament games draw extremely well, though I haven't been to one at the Convo for a number of years.

giacomo

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Posted: 6/16/2011 11:26 AM

Good point. I gues when you think about it, the powers that be are not worrying about reducing the number of empty seats at hoop games from 8,000 to 5,000. Especially given the price tag.

Jughead

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Posted: 6/16/2011 7:17 PM

OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more

Finally, I've heard that some of the high school tournament games draw extremely well, though I haven't been to one at the Convo for a number of years.

I've seen the CONVO packed to the light green seats just in the past decade. I know that Chillicothe, Logan Elm, and Greenfield at one point brought huge crowds in D-II, but I think it has to do with recent success on the ball court (Greenfield has died down since graduating Dante Jackson of Xavier fame.)

But we must also remember, the seats for high school games start at the lower bowl as they don't bring out the reserved seats, nor the student section seats. Even though there were a lot of people in the upper bowl, I'd say that very few of those games exceeded 7,000. You'd have to ask Lou or someone in the ticket office (most likely to know) for specific numbers.

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BattleCat

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Posted: 6/16/2011 10:30 PM

Jughead wrote:expand_more

OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more

Finally, I've heard that some of the high school tournament games draw extremely well, though I haven't been to one at the Convo for a number of years.

Greenfield's demise was the retirement of long time former coach Rick Van Matre who is among the best to ever grace the sidelines in Ohio, and is a McDonalds Hall of Fame Coach. In 2006, Greenfield had over 3,000 people at a freshman tournament game and the played in front of 10k+ on two different occasions in the Convo.

falconfan

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Posted: 6/18/2011 5:38 PM

Panda- the Stroh Center "poorly done"? While all entitled to their opinion, I think many visitors will not agree. I realize that many Bobcats including ohiocatfan think BG is an ugly place to be. I like red brick and 1804 whatever on a gate as much as next guy (love to visit Ohio/Athens), but the largest freshmen class in school history arrives at BG this fall. The third largest ever arrived the previous fall. We have about $275 million in new construction ready to open on August 15. The Stroh Center, the res halls and the two dining centers will be amazing additions. And the Wolfe Center for the Arts? Beautiful, amazing looking and a pure difference maker.

Our campus isn't perfect by a long shot. BG isn't in SE Ohio and was founded and built across a different period. I get it; it's flat here. We have different colors of sandstone brick etc. But we deliver on the education side in our key programs. We are moving up. Visit us when we host MSU in bball in fall 2012- I'll sneak you in. The atmosphere will be amazing- might get beat but it will indeed be fun. And tickets will be in high demand which is just what we are seeking.

With my orange glasses. those six buildings look super!

Good luck to the Bobcats and go Falcons!

DublinCat

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Posted: 6/19/2011 12:04 PM

I thought there was some talk from ISP or whatever the new name for the IMG College Sports Network to pony up for some new video boards and lighting in both the Convo and Peden. Much like Marshall received last year; Their new video boards are VERY nice and allow for enhanced ad sales revenue. The Convo and Peden would look great with boards above each entrance timed to the big boards on each end.

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