We don't need a new arena

[pdt1081]

As I was reading this thread I see that the parking issue keeps coming up. I attended a hockey game at Ohio State this year. We parked about a mile from the arena and rode a shuttle bus to the game. Parking was free, as was the bus. We arrived very early and rode the bus to the game with some of the game workers. After the game, there were at least 12 (maybe even 16) shuttle busses taking people back to the parking lot. There were over 11,000 people at the game. This type of a system works very well.

The issue of size also arrizes quite often in this thread. Smaller, sold out or near sold out arenas make better college atmospheres. The game at OSU had no atmosphere whatsoever. All the sound goes up into the rafters and makes for a very quiet game. A similar set up at BG (high ceilings, lots of dead space...ect) will eliminate the crowd factor from games. I'm not sure of the current capacity of the arena, but if the university isn't selling out the current layout then adding more seats isn't going to help. Renovating/building new will bring in a few more fans just to see what was done to improve but that will only last for so long. One down season and you will be playing in front of fewer fans than you have now. Look at the hockey team. Last year, they were lucky to draw 2,000 people to a game. The past few games have been close to 4,000 people because the team has been winning.

[Lord_Byron]

As far as parking goes, has anyone been to the Carrier Dome? There are virtually zero lots around the building, and it doesn't seem to hurt Syracuse's attendance.

That's Syracuse, this is BG. If we started going to the Sweet 16 year after year, our attendance wouldn't be an issue either! The practices they let fans into sound like our games. Players there are idolized by everyone on campus. It's just a whole different situation...

So, according to you, we have low attendance today because people can't park near the building.

My point was that parking often drives the location of a building when it shouldn't. Parking will take care of itself.

[Falcon Commander]

seems like this same discussion went around with the old football stadium;
"needs to be bigger, . . .more parking, . . .more expansion, . . . move it out by the expressway, . . etc."

Now, 38 years later, we are still trying to figure out why, we can't fill the Doyt.

For Anderson Arena - keep it in the Heart of Campus - Renovate it, put in a parking garage and keep teams fearful to come in to ol' AA !!

my opinion