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New Convocation Center... moving ahead!!

Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 4:37 pm
by ZiggyZoomba
OK, I think it's time to move forward with positive thoughts and discussion on the new Convo! The more I think about it, the more excited I am about it. It's going to be the the face of BGSU insomuch as it's going to be located right there at the "main entrance" to campus. What an amazing spotlight for our basketball/volleyball programs!

What are the biggest things people are looking forward to??

Me, a new scoreboard... new bathrooms... and the same game-time environment in a new setting!

Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 4:51 pm
by Dayons_Den
I am most looking forward for. . . .

. . . a proper and adequate space for the athletic archives and BGSU hall of fame slash museum area.

Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 5:00 pm
by hammb
I'm looking forward to the first weeknight game that I don't have to drive around in circles for a half hour looking for parking.

I'm looking forward to something more comfortable than those wooden benches.

I'm looking forward to a scoreboard that all the numbers actually function. Hopefully with counts of fouls & points for each player currently on the court.

I'm hoping that there is a videoboard as well...I cannot imagine why there wouldn't be, so I'm looking forward to that as well.

Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 5:27 pm
by BleedOrange
I'm looking forward to not walking 1.5 miles thru the cold, whipping Bowling Green winds to get into the building.

Re: New Convocation Center... moving ahead!!

Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 5:41 pm
by h2oville rocket
ZiggyZoomba wrote:OK, I think it's time to move forward with positive thoughts and discussion on the new Convo! The more I think about it, the more excited I am about it. It's going to be the the face of BGSU insomuch as it's going to be located right there at the "main entrance" to campus. What an amazing spotlight for our basketball/volleyball programs!

What are the biggest things people are looking forward to??

Me, a new scoreboard... new bathrooms... and the same game-time environment in a new setting!
OK, Grant- now that you, in your misbegotten loyalty, have become an employee of BGSU, you should have some sort of pull. Time to get with the architects and convince them of the need to tie the past to the present, to wit: incorporate your AA reserved seat into the new building, much like the old "yard of bricks" at Indy. In the midst of all the splendor and flash, one empty seat from AA to symbolize all that has gone before. Not that it was all that much... ;-)

Re: New Convocation Center... moving ahead!!

Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 6:15 pm
by BleedOrange
h2oville rocket wrote:
ZiggyZoomba wrote:OK, I think it's time to move forward with positive thoughts and discussion on the new Convo! The more I think about it, the more excited I am about it. It's going to be the the face of BGSU insomuch as it's going to be located right there at the "main entrance" to campus. What an amazing spotlight for our basketball/volleyball programs!

What are the biggest things people are looking forward to??

Me, a new scoreboard... new bathrooms... and the same game-time environment in a new setting!
OK, Grant- now that you, in your misbegotten loyalty, have become an employee of BGSU, you should have some sort of pull. Time to get with the architects and convince them of the need to tie the past to the present, to wit: incorporate your AA reserved seat into the new building, much like the old "yard of bricks" at Indy. In the midst of all the splendor and flash, one empty seat from AA to symbolize all that has gone before. Not that it was all that much... ;-)
Doesn't Nate have a ribs shop called Big Nate's? Maybe he could open another one in the new Convo?

Re: New Convocation Center... moving ahead!!

Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 6:16 pm
by transfer2BGSU
BleedOrange wrote: Doesn't Nate have a ribs shop called Big Nate's? Maybe he could open another one in the new Convo?
+2 (I'm a B!G boy!)

Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 6:54 pm
by NY-BG-FAN
I'm a stubborn traditionalist who doesn't think rationally about things like this. It may be obvious that we need a new facility. I'm sure the new arena will be nice. But I don't want to think about seeing a BG basketball home game anywhere else but Anderson. And though I was born yesterday, I just love that place.

Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 8:24 pm
by Bleeding Orange
NY-BG-FAN wrote:I'm a stubborn traditionalist who doesn't think rationally about things like this. It may be obvious that we need a new facility. I'm sure the new arena will be nice. But I don't want to think about seeing a BG basketball home game anywhere else but Anderson. And though I was born yesterday, I just love that place.
I agree with you, to a point. I love Anderson Arena. Don't get me wrong, the place is a total dump in terms of ammenities, accessability, etc. The place is filthy with character unlike any other sporting venue I've ever been in, though. Hell, I graduated there! How much more character could anyone possibly want? :P

I would honestly love to see the place remain the home of women's hoops and volleyball. It is a damned near perfect venue for both, and with offices and the men leaving, it would open up some room for some serious, classy renovations. I know this will never happen because of ADA and Title IX compliance (we'd be doing a total renovation now if it were in any way feasible, after all), but it would be nice. I'd hate to see AA razed.

That being said, I am most looking forward to a more modern atmoshpere for BG athletics. I think the potential for expanding our regional and alumni fanbase with some modern, accessible, and fan-friendly (in modern terms) facilities will do wonders for how people percieve BGSU. I'm looking foward to being more than the university who had a building boom in the '60s and stopped booming. I'm looking foward to the excitement and curiosity that this new building, along with Ice Arena renovations, to go along with has been and will be done to Doyt L. Perry Stadium will generate.

In short, while I'm sad to see AA go, I'm more excited for this university community to move forward in a very profound way.

Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 10:55 pm
by bobio
Unless the fans can sit a few short feet from the floor, I think the place is gonna suck for basketball. Everywhere you go, new convo centers are sterile and boring. AA can never be duplicated. However, with a little thought, the new building can at least give us a home court advantage. Otherwise, the new place will suck.

Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:03 pm
by always a falcon
bobio wrote:Unless the fans can sit a few short feet from the floor, I think the place is gonna suck for basketball. Everywhere you go, new convo centers are sterile and boring. AA can never be duplicated. However, with a little thought, the new building can at least give us a home court advantage. Otherwise, the new place will suck.
Gosh, a multi million dollar building that we've been waiting for and you already know it will suck.

I think the Sebo is pretty cool. Maybe we will get lucky and OUR convo won't be sterile and boring.

I love AA. But I am very excited to see how the aura of AA can be incorporated into a modern, comfortable arena.

Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:06 pm
by NY-BG-FAN
I too graduated at Anderson. It's just when I think of the greatest times at BG, moments at Anderson Arena are usually among the first to come to mind. I may have had more fun at Uptown/Downtown, but if so couldn't really remember by Sunday morning. Would Anderson become some kind of auxillary practice/office facility for the athletic dept.? There's no way they will knock it down right? These questions might be better suited for ask the A.D. I admit I haven't really followed the news about the new building too closely.

Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:19 pm
by TG1996
I graduated in the Doyt. I now have a patch of grass from the stadium in my back yard.

I'm just sayin. :wink:


As for the new place, I'm at least as hyped as DD for the archive museum. I know Mickey Cochrane will have a good hand in that, I hope he's able to make it his home when it's built. (Interesting note, did you know Mickey lives in the house that Ivan "Doc" Lake lived in?) I really hope there's someone around to pick up Mickey's torch and run with it, too. He's sitting on a goldmine in that little room, the thought of it on display gets me giddy.

I like some of the other ideas thrown about here, with food/concourse thoughts. And I'm REALLY interested/excited to see how they arrange the student seating.

If we could carpet the walls and make the seats all different colors, that would be pretty cool, too.

Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:34 am
by The Niz
I forget who said it before, but If they can get a Mr. Spots into the big house in Ann Arbor, we should try to get one in the convo.

I can't tell, but I'm really hoping the carpeted walls was a bit of TG's usual sarcasm.

Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:40 am
by Globetrotter
I think it is going to be a great place. My only fear is that in the construction they do some things that will make the new place lose the feeling that was present in Anderson. The students absolutely must be on the court and someone made a great point about the brick wall on the end that helps the sound. I hope that is thought of in the planning.

In the examples shown I dont like the idea of a weight room over looking the court. I think that should be for the Presidents club or whatever.