i thought the rendering looked flawless - - now i am hearing that the seats behind the backboards will be bleachers. would you open a restaurant with nice decor but bad food ? who will sit in a compromised view with a hard no back seat ? students pay $65,000 a pop. the building will cost $55 million or more. doing anything on the cheap does not make sense.
A little surprised by the bleachers. They don’t look like bleachers in some pics I have seen. Maybe some combo. Chair back up close, then bleachers in certain sections. Maybe those sections are targeting the students and they don’t want them sitting comfortably the whole game, but rather up and cheering!
doing anything on the cheap does not make sense....
Until the "official" announcement is made and the actual final design is released nobody knows what those bleachers will be like. Maybe they will fold up out of the way for a concert stage or event? However, if they are just to save a few bucks (like having no Rafferty Stadium chairback seats) then that is just "doing anything on the cheap" again.
Not asking season ticket buyers, Stags Club members, students, Stag fans and the University community what they would want or find necessary in the new Alumni Hall makes no sense nor does - like it or not here is what we are doing so gives us your money.
I don’t know but I certainly didn’t mind sitting in bleachers when they were packed back in the day. Not sure it’s a big deal for the students, or should be.
The review process in CT appears to be similar to NYS where I have experience. So officially,the project is not approved at this time. After the presentation to the board the minutes from the presentation are published as a matter of public record. Then a period of time is assigned for the public to review the minutes and make comments on the proposal. Those comments must be answered/responded to by the applicant (FU) in writing and become part of the review process documentation (public record). There may be a need for an additional public meeting based on the number of comments received. Hopefully,an additional meeting is not needed. The board could then add the applicants request to the agenda of a future meeting and then move to bring the application to a vote for approval or disapproval at that time. Ps- The university needs to find a better traffic consultant. the guy they had was a horrible presenter. The chairmans questions were all reasonable, they were probing, but not out of line. By the way John Fallon the lawyer representing FU was my RA during my freshmen year at regis hall. Boy both of us have gotten old!
Thanks for clarification of my question above 74. Now my new question would be, in your opinion does this mean almost 100% certainty of approval in a reasonable time period or are there still more technicalities that could get in the way of an 'official' announcement happening soon? How long should we have to wait for this to happen?
It was mentioned by the presenter that the bleacher-style seats behind both baskets were intended for students. Maybe they are 'open seating' while chair seats on the sidelines and 2nd deck are assigned? A quick Google of some of the "best college basketball arenas" will show that they are configured in the same manner.
It was mentioned by the presenter that the bleacher-style seats behind both baskets were intended for students. Maybe they are 'open seating' while chair seats on the sidelines and 2nd deck are assigned? A quick Google of some of the "best college basketball arenas" will show that they are configured in the same manner.
I can confirm. Ive been to a number of arenas across the entire conference spectrum and this is a popular setup. Bleachers on ends, chairbacks on sides.
Towson's two levels of chairback seats in their 5,200 seat SECU Arena with bleachers just behind one basket. Last season CAA Towson was (10-22)(6-12) and (5-8) at home averaging 1,380 fans.
I don’t know but I certainly didn’t mind sitting in bleachers when they were packed back in the day. Not sure it’s a big deal for the students, or should be.
I didn't mind sleeping in a pool of beer back in the day either.
I would look at the bigger picture--Multi use. It doesn't hurt to put chair backs (even if they need to fold up) in the end zones. If you are going to do this, do it right, I'd put the chair backs in both end zones and make this classy.
If they insist on bleachers, I would only put them in the end zone behind what would be the stage. But IMO, do all chair backs and do it right. I don't care what other college venues have done. How many bleachers do you see in big time arenas? (yes, I'm sure there are exceptions).
Think big, we have been thinking small way too long.
Must go all-out on the amenities: great concessions (not a couple tables serving convenience store junk food and t-shirts), nice bathrooms and a place for pre-game adult beverages. One set of bleachers max! Sound system that can be heard clearly. Have people try example chairs for a period of time before a model is selected!
I believe there are a couple of main goals for the project based in the planning board presentation. 1) construct the new building on essentially the same footprint as the old alumni hall because it fits within the campus master plan at that location. 2) Increase capacity to 3500 seats. Bleacher style seats behind the baskets require less space to install then “chair back” seats. So installing bleachers are the solution to staying within the constraints of the existing footprint and at the same time driving the extra 1000 seat capacity for games. Yes , the bleachers are less costly so I am sure minimizing cost played into the decision. Additionally, the seats will fold up adding floor space for other uses in the facility (concerts, graduations other university sponsored events).
I believe there are a couple of main goals for the project based in the planning board presentation. 1) construct the new building on essentially the same footprint as the old alumni hall because it fits within the campus master plan at that location. 2) Increase capacity to 3500 seats. Bleacher style seats behind the baskets require less space to install then “chair back” seats. So installing bleachers are the solution to staying within the constraints of the existing footprint and at the same time driving the extra 1000 seat capacity for games. Yes , the bleachers are less costly so I am sure minimizing cost played into the decision. Additionally, the seats will fold up adding floor space for other uses in the facility (concerts, graduations other university sponsored events).
All those points make sense and I'm sure will play a huge part in how the project evolves. As an aside, I certainly hope there is no duplication in any way of the temporary seats that were installed in AH this past year, the most uncomfortable seats ever IMO. Actually, even if they aren't replaced for the coming season, I hope they are removed.
I believe there are a couple of main goals for the project based in the planning board presentation. 1) construct the new building on essentially the same footprint as the old alumni hall because it fits within the campus master plan at that location. 2) Increase capacity to 3500 seats. Bleacher style seats behind the baskets require less space to install then “chair back” seats. So installing bleachers are the solution to staying within the constraints of the existing footprint and at the same time driving the extra 1000 seat capacity for games. Yes , the bleachers are less costly so I am sure minimizing cost played into the decision. Additionally, the seats will fold up adding floor space for other uses in the facility (concerts, graduations other university sponsored events).
All those points make sense and I'm sure will play a huge part in how the project evolves. As an aside, I certainly hope there is no duplication in any way of the temporary seats that were installed in AH this past year, the most uncomfortable seats ever IMO. Actually, even if they aren't replaced for the coming season, I hope they are removed.
The most important aspect of the New Arena will be to have comfortable Chairback Seats on each sideline, along with enough legroom. Investing the money in that, is most important. Over the years, as we played at Bucknell, Monmouth and Quinnipiac and with the AD's there (Doris and Schlickmann). And by far, the Bucknell arena was on the top of the list by Staff and AD's. They had comfortable seats, bleachers behind the basket that were close to the Court and Stag Club type of amenities. It looks like our new Arena has many of the qualities of Bucknell. Plus Bucknell has Bleachers behind the basket giving them good sight lines.
Monmouth, seats are awful and uncomfortable..... not enough legroom. Quinnipiac Seats behind the basket are too far away from the court. They also do not have enough seats/rows from Base-line to baseline. And if you like cement, you will like Quinnipiac's decor.
Bucknell Arena with seats and bleachers moved back
Many of the Stag fans here have been Stag fans before ADs Gene and Schlickmann and outlasted many of the presidents. All of the above suggestions, ideas and ammenities that are considered necessary by the people who will be buying the tickets and attending the games and supporting the program haven't been asked by the University as to what they feel is important in the new AH. Sad.
Anybody who has been to Bucknell to see a game and I have been one of them, knows it is a great venue. If the FF venue turns out to be as good Sojka pavilion then we will have a real gem of a facility including bleachers behind both baskets.