The AD's statement about a new facility

[BleedOrange]

Below is the AD's response to the question about a new facility. Over the past few years, we have heard rumors of committees, reviews, assessments, and reports. Despite it all, based on the AD's response, it's clear that there currently is no vision whatsoever for a new facility. My interpretation is that despite whatever work has been supposedly completed towards assessing a new facility, we have NO idea what we're doing. We're starting from the beginning. We're at the same place now that we were 20 years ago.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I will never see a new hoops facility at BG in my lifetime (I'm 39). "Bill in Toledo", don't get your hopes up.






Q: There has been talk of a new convocation center for many years. BGSU has one of the worst basketball facilities in the MAC -- where do we stand on getting a new arena?
Bill in Toledo

When I arrived last August, there were a number of moving parts re: future facility ideas. The first step was to hit the pause button and assess where we stand compared to other peer institutions, determine true needs and priorities, and develop a comprehensive plan to address all of our facility deficiencies.

The Facility Master Plan (FMP) is almost finished, and we should have a completed report for the public sometime in the fall. Undoubtedly, plans to address our hockey, basketball and volleyball facility challenges will be at the forefront of the FMP.

Our choices regarding Anderson and the Ice Arena fall on a continuum. At one end, we could build a single arena that would address all of our issues -- a mini-Schottenstein Center, so to speak. This would include a conversion arena, practice courts, additional ice for the community and lockers, offices, etc. Of course, this is the most expensive option as well -- likely approaching $100 million.

At the other end of the continuum, we could elect to put band-aids on both arenas. Basic structural and physical plant fixes to Anderson and the Ice Arena could keep both facilities going for another decade or more. This is the cheapest choice for BGSU, as we could probably take care of the basics at both Anderson and the Ice Arena for less than $12 million.

There are obviously a number of choices in between those two polar ends. Over the last several months we have engaged coaches, the university administration, outside voices and many others to check the feasibility and pros/cons of all the options.

As we pull everything together, we'll be in a position to move decisively later this year. It's time for BGSU take action re: Anderson and the Ice Arena.

[ZiggyZoomba]

That being said, I've got no problem with "band-aids" on Anderson Arena if they're the right bandages on the right wounds. Leaky roofs and improved parking, locker room improvements, etc...

Oh... and I really hope they consider softening that floor!

[Metz]

Oh... and I really hope they consider softening that floor!

Maybe the seats, too

Oh wait...we are all supposed to stand every second of every game.

[Flipper]

Improved parking? well...I guess it wouldn't be too hard to improve on nonexistant. They also need to add at least one family bathroom. Do that and fix whatever structural issues that might lead to a collapse and we're in bidness. The we can embark on a 7-10 year fund raising plan toi get the new building in place.

[hammb]

Any "renovation" of Anderson Arena needs to begin with turning the Library Lot into a large parking garage.

It sounds tough to believe, but I know for a fact that our parking situation adversely effects attendance. Both of my grandmother's refuse to attend the games due to the fact that they don't know how far they'll have to walk. My grandparents on one side had season tickets since the 60's, and I know that my grandma misses going to the games, but she isn't going to walk 1/2 mile through the snow to get there. Anecdotally that's 2 people that we're losing out on even a single ticket from, because of the parking issues. How many more out there?

I still say it's ridiculous that they don't offer a shuttle service from the ice arena to Anderson to let people use that lot. Personally, I can handle the walk, but there are a lot of people with young kids or older people that just won't go to the games for that reason alone.


Fix the parking situation, add some restrooms, and fix the structural issues and it'd still be a usable arena from a fan's standpoint. I think that where it really lacks, however, is in the facilities for players and coaches. Pretty sure we're way behind the rest of the conference in those amenities.

[transfer2BGSU]

So...having a major firm come in and do a study on ALL of our athletic facilities is doing nothing?

Then congratulations are in order to Greg Christopher for doing absolutely nothing. I'm looking forward to later this summer when absolutely nothing is released about the status of our athletic facilities compared to other MAC programs. I'm glad we are doing absolutely nothing in going to other MAC institutions and looking at their facilities. Makes me feel really good about the fact that we are doing absolutely nothing.

BTW - when a parking garage is built, it is my understanding that it will be in the parking lot behind the Student Health Center. I have heard various rumblings about what will happen to Lots N/14.

[FalconTurf]

The situation at BGSU is simple - lack of funds with many updates overdue. I hope AD Christopher is not going to fling a plan out quickly and spend the limited resource$ without very careful planning. This is a delicate issue. Anderson Arena cannot and should not be replaced with a sterile facility just to have something new simply because new isn't always better.

The staff and player facilities need updating most certainly. The amenities at the arena need improvement. I hate big money suites but they are big money potential in donations more than ticket sales and BG needs donations. At least one set of restrooms for each side of AA is needed and family restrooms are standard today. Obviously ADA policies need to be addressed and parking or shuttles should be improved. And finally I believe the modern fan expects video boards and other flash. Going from the flashy production of TV broadcasts to a traditional setting like AA just does not work for younger fans and many older fans as well. These issues are easily solved with a new arena.

Of course newer is not always better. No where does a pep band sound better. No where do the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as intense as AA when the House that Roars is rockin'. Nothing is more intimidating than fans on the floor (ask Steve Smith and that Jud fella from Mich. St. circa 1990) so close they can hear the timeout and tap you on the back as you go back on defense. No facility is MORE COLLEGE than AA - middle of campus with a library next door, classes on the other side and a dorm across the green, fans mingling with officials, coaches and players on the floor, and simply a true college atmosphere all around. THIS IS WHAT MUST BE MATCHED OR PRESERVED.

Regardless of her outdated clothes and all her warts and blemishes she is a great old facility (by accident or purpose) and cannot be easily renovated or replaced. You can fix all the facility and parking problems but there are so many things that are good. Please, I beg of you, let AD Christopher take his time and renovate or create something new that embodies the greatness of AA. When I go back to campus I want to hear the Falcon brass shake the house, I want the opposition to look like deer in the headlights as the fans bring the ROAR, and I want to feel like I'm at BGSU in a COLLEGE basketball arena. Go ahead and give me modern necessities but never let the spirit of AA die because it is college basketball in a college arena on a college campus with all the spirit and atmosphere you would expect.

[Peregrinner]

The situation at BGSU is simple - lack of funds with many updates overdue. I hope AD Christopher is not going to fling a plan out quickly and spend the limited resource$ without very careful planning. This is a delicate issue. Anderson Arena cannot and should not be replaced with a sterile facility just to have something new simply because new isn't always better.

The staff and player facilities need updating most certainly. The amenities at the arena need improvement. I hate big money suites but they are big money potential in donations more than ticket sales and BG needs donations. At least one set of restrooms for each side of AA is needed and family restrooms are standard today. Obviously ADA policies need to be addressed and parking or shuttles should be improved. And finally I believe the modern fan expects video boards and other flash. Going from the flashy production of TV broadcasts to a traditional setting like AA just does not work for younger fans and many older fans as well. These issues are easily solved with a new arena.

Of course newer is not always better. No where does a pep band sound better. No where do the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as intense as AA when the House that Roars is rockin'. Nothing is more intimidating than fans on the floor (ask Steve Smith and that Jud fella from Mich. St. circa 1990) so close they can hear the timeout and tap you on the back as you go back on defense. No facility is MORE COLLEGE than AA - middle of campus with a library next door, classes on the other side and a dorm across the green, fans mingling with officials, coaches and players on the floor, and simply a true college atmosphere all around. THIS IS WHAT MUST BE MATCHED OR PRESERVED.

Regardless of her outdated clothes and all her warts and blemishes she is a great old facility (by accident or purpose) and cannot be easily renovated or replaced. You can fix all the facility and parking problems but there are so many things that are good. Please, I beg of you, let AD Christopher take his time and renovate or create something new that embodies the greatness of AA. When I go back to campus I want to hear the Falcon brass shake the house, I want the opposition to look like deer in the headlights as the fans bring the ROAR, and I want to feel like I'm at BGSU in a COLLEGE basketball arena. Go ahead and give me modern necessities but never let the spirit of AA die because it is college basketball in a college arena on a college campus with all the spirit and atmosphere you would expect.

Well put.
The only thing I would hate to see more than a hasty 'band-aid' thrown on AA is a new facility with no character. Having been to EMU this last year and having sat in their cavernous, noise-eating arena, I couldn't stand to see the same happen here in BG.

[BleedOrange]

So...having a major firm come in and do a study on ALL of our athletic facilities is doing nothing?

Then congratulations are in order to Greg Christopher for doing absolutely nothing. I'm looking forward to later this summer when absolutely nothing is released about the status of our athletic facilities compared to other MAC programs. I'm glad we are doing absolutely nothing in going to other MAC institutions and looking at their facilities. Makes me feel really good about the fact that we are doing absolutely nothing.

BTW - when a parking garage is built, it is my understanding that it will be in the parking lot behind the Student Health Center. I have heard various rumblings about what will happen to Lots N/14.

Yes, NOTHING. Please wake up. All of that is the same type of meaningless, bureaucratic, result-free fluff that has going on for the past 20 years. It is similar to when congress sends something to "committee for further review".

[It's the Journey...]

So...having a major firm come in and do a study on ALL of our athletic facilities is doing nothing?

Then congratulations are in order to Greg Christopher for doing absolutely nothing. I'm looking forward to later this summer when absolutely nothing is released about the status of our athletic facilities compared to other MAC programs. I'm glad we are doing absolutely nothing in going to other MAC institutions and looking at their facilities. Makes me feel really good about the fact that we are doing absolutely nothing.

BTW - when a parking garage is built, it is my understanding that it will be in the parking lot behind the Student Health Center. I have heard various rumblings about what will happen to Lots N/14.

Yes, NOTHING. Please wake up. All of that is the same type of meaningless, bureaucratic, result-free fluff that has going on for the past 20 years. It is similar to when congress sends something to "committee for further review".

Some people will always only see steps back and never steps forward. While not a public project, the Ice Arena addition was strongly supported on an administrative level. The SEBO was the same way, as was field turf. The decision about facilities is one that must take time to be done right. The last thing I want to see if a half assed attempt to have a solution in place in the next two to three years. That would be a disaster. Let the man do his job, if you're not then you should have applied yourself. we all have our opinoins, but the decision, and how the answer is looked upon rest solely on the AD's soldiers. I would want to take my time as well. Now, in my opinion, here is was I would like to see happen with our facilities. First, build a UNIVERSITY CONVOCATION CENTER that can also be used as a sports venu. We need a facility that will draw in as many sources of additional revenue as possible. But it also needs to be a home for men's and women's basketball as well as volleyball and gymnastics. It seems like the department is moving toward centralizing their facilities and I love that idea. I would also like to see a new sheet of ice for games be added to the arena. If it is put behind the current facility it could use the existing renovations. Another sheet of ice is vital to increasing revenue for the Ice Arena in my opinion. I would not be surprised to see both projects total 70-80 million, but they need to be separate. I will be very vocally against a facility that has one playing surface (basketball court) sitting on another (ice) because I believe a facility like that will hurt more than help.

[Bleeding Orange]

So...having a major firm come in and do a study on ALL of our athletic facilities is doing nothing?

Then congratulations are in order to Greg Christopher for doing absolutely nothing. I'm looking forward to later this summer when absolutely nothing is released about the status of our athletic facilities compared to other MAC programs. I'm glad we are doing absolutely nothing in going to other MAC institutions and looking at their facilities. Makes me feel really good about the fact that we are doing absolutely nothing.

BTW - when a parking garage is built, it is my understanding that it will be in the parking lot behind the Student Health Center. I have heard various rumblings about what will happen to Lots N/14.

Yes, NOTHING. Please wake up. All of that is the same type of meaningless, bureaucratic, result-free fluff that has going on for the past 20 years. It is similar to when congress sends something to "committee for further review".

Your outlook isn't at all improved based upon the tennis and track construction that Christopher initiated almost immediately after getting here?

[bgmaggot00]

Oh... and I really hope they consider softening that floor!

From the football forum:

Why the $166k cost difference between BG and OSU? Is OSU getting a great deal due to the exposure of FieldTurf or does the $966k cost at BG include other things?

Putting the two stories together, apparently, BGSU being the leader and innovator that they are, is apparently going to to be the first school to intall Field Turf for the basketball teams.

[BleedOrange]

So...having a major firm come in and do a study on ALL of our athletic facilities is doing nothing?

Then congratulations are in order to Greg Christopher for doing absolutely nothing. I'm looking forward to later this summer when absolutely nothing is released about the status of our athletic facilities compared to other MAC programs. I'm glad we are doing absolutely nothing in going to other MAC institutions and looking at their facilities. Makes me feel really good about the fact that we are doing absolutely nothing.

BTW - when a parking garage is built, it is my understanding that it will be in the parking lot behind the Student Health Center. I have heard various rumblings about what will happen to Lots N/14.

Yes, NOTHING. Please wake up. All of that is the same type of meaningless, bureaucratic, result-free fluff that has going on for the past 20 years. It is similar to when congress sends something to "committee for further review".

Some people will always only see steps back and never steps forward. While not a public project, the Ice Arena addition was strongly supported on an administrative level. The SEBO was the same way, as was field turf. The decision about facilities is one that must take time to be done right. The last thing I want to see if a half assed attempt to have a solution in place in the next two to three years. That would be a disaster.

...

I will be very vocally against a facility that has one playing surface (basketball court) sitting on another (ice) because I believe a facility like that will hurt more than help.

We've been in such dire need of a better facility for a long, long time. That realization struck me in the early 80's. Since then, all that we've done is conduct assessments and studies. While that's obviously part of the required initial work, all that I've seen over the past 20+ is an iterative, bureaucratic cycle of nothingness. How many more feasibility assessments and studies can we use? At this point, it's hard to take any talk of initial work towards a new facility seriously. When BGSU starts taking action, and by that I mean genuinely committing financial resources and moving earth, I will be ecstatic.

I'm completely with you on the second point. The basketball/hockey facilities that we've seen so far are almost always disappointing.

[FalconTurf]

I agree completely about being disappointed that nothing has been done at this time. I've talked with a man several times who has repeatedly told me that Coach Fitch was promised a new arena to replace AA in the 1960's but when he left the plans apparently left as well. This was an issue in the late 80's but hockey was king then and limited resources were used to improve that facility (more seating on the north end). In the early 90's there were rumors that the new Fieldhouse would include a new bball facility or be modified for that use. During the 80's and 90's BG never thought big or even though big Mid-major. Hopefully we are losing that defeated attitude.

Finally after years of hoping, wishing and waiting I believe we finally have the type of people willing to address such issues. No longer do Big10 schools use 50 year old facilities with great history and limited amenities. The smaller schools are attempting to keep up. This is truly an era of new arenas, stadiums and ballparks at the professional level and the colleges seem to be attempting to keep up.

This leads to my major issue with new facilities. Do NOT make them like a professional venue. Keep the college environment - fans close to the action (especially students), on the campus (glad we did not get involved with Rossford), and with a feel of college (we don't need sterile). And I truly believe this also means that basketball and hockey must be seperate facilities.

[TG1996]

I've talked with a man several times who has repeatedly told me that Coach Fitch was promised a new arena to replace AA in the 1960's but when he left the plans apparently left as well.

Fitch was here for one year when AA was 7 years old. I'd believe that he might have been presented with plans for the north end, but a whole new arena? Color me skeptical on that.