We don't need a new arena

[Rightupinthere]

I just got back from a Cleveland Orchestra concert. I was basking in the perfection of sound emitting from this flawless group (although there were some rough parts during the Schumann horn quartet).
I couldn't help but take in the beauty which is Severance Hall. For those who do not know, Severance Hall recently went through a 36.7 million dollar renovation. The purpose of the renovation was to "to restore the hall's original detailing, expand its patron amenities and services, retain and enhance its legendary acoustics, and once again offer its resident ensemble state-of-the-art performance and support spaces."

The two year renovation was executed flawlessly. Not only did they maintain and improve the accustics of the hall, but they were able to seamlessly expand the common areas of the hall to be more "patron friendly." Not only that, but the 6,025-pipe, 94-rank E.M. Skinner organ has been revived and is in use once again. It hasn't seen the light of day since Szell covered it up with that obsured accustic shell in the 60's!

Granted, we are speaking of a performance hall and not a basketball arena, but
why could we not attempt a similar project with Anderson? Why could we not expand Anderson Northward?
Severance has a FIVE story addition added onto the back. It's still an unbelievable venue to experience music, but it's better, brighter, newer, yet still classic. The same thing can be and should be done with Anderson (not same budget, of course). Retain the house that roars, but make a house that soars.*


*Call me Jesse f***ing Jackson.

[golfertk14]

I was at the AA for Prez's Day and I was amazed how big it was..I don't think it needs a thing changed......a couple more title banners would be nice though

[It's the Journey...]

Ok, first off, I love Anderson Arena and have so many fond memories of the place. That being said, we do need a new arena. It is not just the building because if if were I would feel a total renovation in order. But, it is the problems with the surrounding area that I think gives AA it's death nell as a basketball facility. Most important is parking, there just isn't enough. The weekend games are not as bad as the week night games but that is a prime parking lot for fac/staff until 7pm and then students, who are paying quite a bit of money to go here. That is THE parking lot for the library. Closing a lot of that importance at 5pm on the night of a game, having it still half full of fac/staff cars, and having others needing to use the library causes quite a mess. As far as expansion is concerned, that is limited as well. The new admissions/visitors center that we so badly need is planned for the northwest corner of the area to the north of Anderson Arena. So, any northward expansion would have to be planned with that in mind. I also think all that would need to be done would make Anderson Arena look more crowded and cramped with the amount of space we would have to work with. Lets look outside the relm of athletics for a minute. This is where a new arena looks so attractive to me. We could build a space perfect for commencement. One where students are not limited to just 6 of their familiy members able to be present in the arena itself. Maybe even a decrease in the number of ceremonies itself. Concerts could be held with bigger names booked. Full arenas for concerts could bring in a lot of money for the department. And not just concerts, but things like monster truck rallies and all of that as well. And parking for all of these events would be convenient for those of you coming from outside of BGSU. All of this makes a new arena, im my mind, a must have.

[NY-BG-FAN]

I was at the AA for Prez's Day and I was amazed how big it was..I don't think it needs a thing changed......a couple more title banners would be nice though

Don't get me wrong I love AA but if you thought it was big, it must have been the first DI college basketball arena you've been too. We're the smallest in the MAC and up there for one of the smallest period.

[Flipper]

I agree with the notion that we need a new arena. Putting it out by the football stadium and the ice arena makes sense because that would utilize the exisitng parking and access routes the best and it would alleviate any on campus traffic concerns for the times when classes are in session.

I think the notion that we'll use it for much other than University athletic events and commenecement are a little overstated. I don't think we'd be looked upon as a profitable enough stop for the few acts that would consider making a stop between Detroit and the Mistake on the Lake.
Since it's a University facility, you might have a problem getting certain types of events approved. Forget wrestling, the feminists and anti-violence types would probably go nuts. Forget about the circus (the circus did play AA in 1985) the animal rights people would go (literally) ape

I think a nice 6500-7500 seat arena (at the absolute most) would suit us just fine.

[Warthog]

And not just concerts, but things like monster truck rallies and all of that as well.

How about indoor tractor pulls?

[TG1996]

I think a nice 6500-7500 seat arena (at the absolute most) would suit us just fine.

Exactly. I go back and forth on the "do we need a new arena?" question, most often coming back with a "no, we don't" response. (I talk to myself quite a bit.) But there is no need to build something that holds 10-15,000 (or more?) only to have 2,000 people in it for games. I also think that with some of the construction projects discussed, the earlier conversations we've had about "AA being built to take the roof off and expand" might be starting to pass us by. the only way TO grow is north, and that parcel of land sounds like its filling up. Though it would be cool if they were to expand, put another 500 or so seats in the end, with luxury/falcon club boxes and hoops/volleyball offices in a 4 or 5 story building. Though I'll always be partial to the north wall, that could be a really cool use of existing space.

[It's the Journey...]

Since it's a University facility, you might have a problem getting certain types of events approved. Forget wrestling, the feminists and anti-violence types would probably go nuts. Forget about the circus (the circus did play AA in 1985) the animal rights people would go (literally) ape

What I had in mind was along the lines of the facility at Northern Illinois. The university does not own the facility. It is a separate facility with its own administration that has a contract with the university. A little like the foundation is not tied to BGSU as tightly as some may think. That gets us out of some of the problems scheduling certain events. The contract goes something like BGSU gives the land and helps raise funds for the facility and the convocation center allows BGSU to schedule any event it needs in the facility. And I think 7500 seats would be perfect, maybe 8000 but there needs to be a way to close off sections if they are not needed.

[kdog27]

I was at the AA for Prez's Day and I was amazed how big it was..

Do you live in a bubble?

Can I call you bubble boy?

[Flipper]

04....That's just crazy enough to work...

kdog...you can call him bubble boy. You could also hook him up with some UT chicks. Then you could call him "Bubble Man"

[Schadenfreude]

I think we should just fix up Anderson.

Fill it up with chairbacks, knock out the north wall and make that the new entrance along with some seating to bring us up to 5,000 and more room for concessions.

Also, set up the design so there is room to grow in the unlikely event more seats are needed someday.

Finally, plop an above-ground parking facility between Memorial Hall and Saddlemire.

As far as graduations -- my graduation was in Perry Stadium, and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

[Metz]

I was at the AA for Prez's Day and I was amazed how big it was..I don't think it needs a thing changed......a couple more title banners would be nice though

I'm sure there are high schools gyms bigger than AA. I love the place, don't get me wrong there, but you need to get out more if you think that place is big!! :coo-coo:

[TG1996]

I'm sure there are high schools gyms bigger than AA. I love the place, don't get me wrong there, but you need to get out more if you think that place is big!! :coo-coo:

Its not big at all, but maybe "bigger than expected". With camera angles maybe catching the front row of the "upper deck", and the GA seats in the south end being in darkness, I could see it looking bigger to someone looking at it for the first time after watching it on TV. Especially considering one end is a wall.

[Metz]

Its not big at all, but maybe "bigger than expected". With camera angles maybe catching the front row of the "upper deck", and the GA seats in the south end being in darkness, I could see it looking bigger to someone looking at it for the first time after watching it on TV. Especially considering one end is a wall.

No doubt, but he said "I was at the AA for Prez's Day and I was amazed how big it was" so I assumed he saw it in person...

[TG1996]

No doubt, but he said "I was at the AA for Prez's Day and I was amazed how big it was" so I assumed he saw it in person...

I thought that's what he meant, that when he saw it in person for the first time on Prez's Day (or as I like to refer to it, "my birthday", and it was so nice for the government to recognize me with a holiday this year!), it looked big to him.

But alas, why the hell are we wasting time on that?

Nice new av, btw.