George B will feel right at home. Other than the wall at the back of the gym being removed, the place hasn't change a bit since the '60s.
I love the idea of playing some "lower end" games at AH if it were up to D1 standards. What I cannot understand is why this board is the only place where there is passion about fixing this facility.
My perception is that no one with any influence wants to talk about it. If you ignore it, maybe it will go away.
Last Edit: Oct 10, 2015 7:54:45 GMT -5 by paulie74
What I cannot understand is why this board is the only place where there is passion about fixing this facility.....
Unfortunately it won't go away and will only get worse and more expensive. IMO, nobody wants to face the issue of AH "being a bad high school gym" and pay the cost to finally renovate it. If they don't budget the money now when the University is in a capital campaign to raise money then when will the money ever "be available"?
You can't get students to the games if they are on break for two of those games. Sure there are two games while students are at school but will they even go?
The Alumni hall games are a very good idea, and they have been done before with mixed results. People are not going to come just for "nostalgic" reasons. If we are winning and its a meaningfull game, fans and students will come. The University has basically said that Alumni Hall will be upgraded in stages. It just does not have the priority of other things. Even in its current condition, it is still one of the best places to watch a basketball games. The Site Lines and the Ceiling are unique, and that has to be retained. Ironically, when it is fixed up, it could lose some of its charm.
The place is a dump. If it was a horse, it would have been shot a long time ago. All you have to know is that campus tour guides are instructed to avoid it.
The Site Lines and the Ceiling are unique, and that has to be retained. Ironically, when it is fixed up, it could lose some of its charm....
IMO none of the intimacy, charm and history of AH would be lost in a proper renovation and not a knock down rebuild. The site lines and the wood ceiling can be retained but what is needed is a repositioned court into a bowl configuration, chairback seating, video scoreboards, real concessions, upgraded restrooms and a new updated facade which were the key elements from the 1999 design plan. Doing last minute band-aid fixes when absolutely necessary and nothing substantial especially when the attached RecPlex is being renovated with an addition while using the excuse of more will be done "when funds are available" is foolish during a $160 million capital campaign to raise funds.
The renovation of Alumni Hall should be a stated goal of "Fairfield Rising" and hopefully AH will not be neglected again this time around or it's renovation pushed back to the next capital campaign. Will it?