Stroh Center To Seat 4,700???

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 1:54 pm

ZiggyZoomba wrote:
BleedOrange wrote:
Falconfreak90 wrote:I think 5-6,000 is plenty for BG.
I don't think that this 4700 seat facility, with its foofoo extras and long term limitations, if financially justifiable. If all that we're doing is building another rinky-dink facility but with better parking, why bother? Really. We're buying another 50 years of humble inadequacy that will preclude so much. Let's take this $40M on something that will make a difference. Beyond location, exactly WHAT is this thing going to give us that AA doesn't? A bigger lobby? Better restrooms? A bigger locker room? I can't see spending $40M on something that won't be opening doors to bigger $$$ potential over the coming decades. I can't believe that BGSU couldn't find 100 more beneficial ways to use $40M.
Obviously the donors disagree with you.

Yeah. It's not like the Stroh's ponied up for a new science building and we said "Screw you! we're going to build a rinky-dink basketball arena instead!"

It's the Journey... · Post by **It's the Journey...** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 1:56 pm

I want to see a facility built that not only looks at where we are now, but where we could be in the future. If the powers that be decide 4500 with suites for 250 that is fine with me. Most speakers will be more than comfortable with a venue that size. As far as commencement goes, I like having smaller ceremonies in the spring and fall. Those all encompassing, all day affairs larger schools put on seem like a waste of time to me. Sure you can get a "better" speaker but is that worth waiting 3 hours after the speaker for your chance to cross the stage? I also would like to see a facility that can truly be expanded when (not if) necessary. If we build a 4750 seat arena then I would like to see it expandable to 7500 when needed. I am really not worried, the AD seems to have a solid grasp on how important the atmosphere in Anderson Arena is. When it is done I am comfidant it will pure BG.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:09 pm

BleedOrange wrote:
Falconfreak90 wrote:I think 5-6,000 is plenty for BG.
I don't think that this 4700 seat facility, with its foofoo extras and long term limitations, if financially justifiable. If all that we're doing is building another rinky-dink facility but with better parking, why bother? Really. We're buying another 50 years of humble inadequacy that will preclude so much. Let's take this $40M on something that will make a difference. Beyond location, exactly WHAT is this thing going to give us that AA doesn't? A bigger lobby? Better restrooms? A bigger locker room? I can't see spending $40M on something that won't be opening doors to bigger $$$ potential over the coming decades. I can't believe that BGSU couldn't find 100 more beneficial ways to use $40M.

Off the top of my head:

Better restroom facilities, probably spaced throughout the facility rather than just one restroom.

More comfortable seating.

Modern floor that isn't so hard (this would please Dan).

Backboards that we can easily replace if a JuCo smashes one in warmups.

A roof that doesn't leak.

A scoreboard that works.

A sound system that is understandable at high volume.

Handicap accessibility.

A location that will be accessible to everyone that wants to watch a game.

State of the art training facilities for our athletes.

Modern office space for our coaching staffs.

I'm sure there are plenty of other things that a new arena will give to our program, but these are just the ones that jump to mind immediately. All of these are NEEDS for this program to more resemble a D1 basketball program. Maybe at some point in the future we will show a need for a larger facility, but we have never demonstrated a need for a larger venue in my time as a BG fan. Like I said we've only sold out a couple games here and there even in our best attendance years. It makes a lot more sense to build a facility with all the modern amenities that fits our size requirements than it does to build a facility that is larger in the hope that we'll someday pull in larger attendance numbers than we've ever had.

VDub26Falcon · Post by **VDub26Falcon** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:15 pm

I think they need to really make sure they emphasize a "Student Section" as well because on numerous occasions, there were families, little kids and even families of opposing team players in what is supposed to be the Student Section.

Class of 61 · Post by **Class of 61** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 4:26 pm

It's the Journey... wrote:I want to see a facility built that not only looks at where we are now, but where we could be in the future. If the powers that be decide 4500 with suites for 250 that is fine with me. I also would like to see a facility that can truly be expanded when (not if) necessary. If we build a 4750 seat arena then I would like to see it expandable to 7500 when needed.

Interesting comment re: the "expandibility" of the facility...When AA was opened, AND the Doyt...BOTH allegedly were built with Expansion possibilities, AA's North wall (concrete block basically) was to be knocked out to expand the seating to 7K or thereabouts if I recall and the Doyt was to be able to add a 2ND DECK, increasing the capacity to 46K. Obviously, neither of these things was done, or deemed necessary to do...So, I guess we'll see what happens with the Stroh Center. I personally would like to see a 6K capacity, which would still allow for the "closeness" of AA to take place, AND allow for hopefully overflow crowds in the future.

It's the Journey... · Post by **It's the Journey...** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 4:36 pm

Both were built to expand, but the need has never been there. In my opinion, you would need at least 5 years of near or sell out games in a venue to consider expanding. I am not sure how the expansion of Doyt L. Perry stadium would go today, i am sure the South endzone would see more seats before an upper deck on the West or East sides. However, I believe Anderson Arena COULD still be expanded if needed. I have talked with a few people in my time at BG that indicated if expansion were to happen the court would be rotated 90 degrees. That would make the expansion court side seating. With the bleachers on the West and East sides removed the court will fit. That means the expansion would have a new "front door" to the arena and restrooms (plural), concessions, and other amenities could be added. The current entrance would then become a "student" entrance. It would have worked and been very nice but I believe parking doomed this option.

Class of 61 · Post by **Class of 61** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 4:47 pm

Perry Stadium COULD have added a 2nd deck on BOTH sides, according to the original plans, if I recall correctly...the addition of the elevators on both sides might cause a different plan to be implemented, but I'm almost positive that the original idea was for the current 23K to expand to 46K with a 2nd deck on each side ... no endzone seating needed...

Like we've said, not a big deal as we don't fill current facility (though Sat. was close)...One thing I DON'T understand is WHY we could AVERAGE 22K or so 15-20 yrs ago, and can't get the place to fill up now with a smaller capacity.

Post by **ZiggyZoomba** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 4:58 pm

Class of 61 wrote:Perry Stadium COULD have added a 2nd deck on BOTH sides, according to the original plans, if I recall correctly...the addition of the elevators on both sides might cause a different plan to be implemented, but I'm almost positive that the original idea was for the current 23K to expand to 46K with a 2nd deck on each side ... no endzone seating needed...

Like we've said, not a big deal as we don't fill current facility (though Sat. was close)...One thing I DON'T understand is WHY we could AVERAGE 22K or so 15-20 yrs ago, and can't get the place to fill up now with a smaller capacity.

See here:

http://www.ay-ziggy-zoomba.com/gallery/history/program_007?full=1

transfer2BGSU · Post by **transfer2BGSU** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 5:07 pm

Class of 61 wrote:One thing I DON'T understand is WHY we could AVERAGE 22K or so 15-20 yrs ago, and can't get the place to fill up now with a smaller capacity.

ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNU, ESPN360.com, ESPNOcho, Fox Sports Net, Big Ten Network, Versus, etc....

Remember there used to be a rule about the number of times a team could appear on national television, that's why OSU-Michigan was always a big deal - the only time you could see them play. Then the CFA took the NCAA to court and you started seeing the same teams play weekly on ABC and CBS.

Then of course, we know what happened on September 7, 1979. College football has not been the same since.

It's the Journey... · Post by **It's the Journey...** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 5:09 pm

Ok, I'll bite. What happened when I was 2 years old???

transfer2BGSU · Post by **transfer2BGSU** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 5:16 pm

hammb wrote: Off the top of my head:

A sound system that is understandable at high volume.

Why did you have to rattle on and on and on about all of that other junk?

able1 · Post by **able1** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:29 pm

It's the Journey... wrote:Ok, I'll bite. What happened when I was 2 years old???

ESPN happened for the first time.

redskins4ever · Post by **redskins4ever** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:44 pm

What happened to all the trees t hat were supposed to be planted around the Doyt?

VDub26Falcon · Post by **VDub26Falcon** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:47 pm

I saw some outside the Sebo Center.

Class of 61 · Post by **Class of 61** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 7:22 pm

ZiggyZoomba wrote:
Class of 61 wrote:Perry Stadium COULD have added a 2nd deck on BOTH sides, according to the original plans, if I recall correctly...the addition of the elevators on both sides might cause a different plan to be implemented, but I'm almost positive that the original idea was for the current 23K to expand to 46K with a 2nd deck on each side ... no endzone seating needed...

Like we've said, not a big deal as we don't fill current facility (though Sat. was close)...One thing I DON'T understand is WHY we could AVERAGE 22K or so 15-20 yrs ago, and can't get the place to fill up now with a smaller capacity.
See here:

http://www.ay-ziggy-zoomba.com/gallery/history/program_007?full=1

Thanks Grant,
I couldn't remember EXACT numbers, but, since I'm one of the few AZZer's who was around at this time frame, I knew the expansion stuff WAS "accounted" for...it's a shame that we've never needed to expand...since the University enrollment has nearly TRIPLED since I was graduating in '61.