Bucknell's 4,000 seat Sojka Pavillion (costs $42.9 million to build in 2018 dollars)
Obviously, the upper level in the new AH allows them to up the seats by 1000 and stay in the same footprint.
That said, I'd still only put bleachers on one end (and preferably none). Nothing worse than Grandma at graduation struggling to sit in bleachers on graduation day. I watched my mother-in-law first hand at the Prep 2003 graduation in AH. To insure comfort for sports and events, let's make it classy. Fold up one end of bleachers for other events or have no bleachers at all.
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.
For to insure comfort for sports and events, let's make it classy. Fold up one end of bleachers for other events or have no bleachers at all.....
All the more reason to have had invaluable input from current season ticket buyers, Stags Club members and Stag fans who will be expected to pay for the tickets, go to the games and support both of the University's basketball programs.
The University should have the goal of making the new Alumni Hall the best basketball facility in the MAAC and in similar and better leagues. Only one chance to get it right especially at this price point.
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.
IMO, the RENDERINGS blow Bucknell away.
Hope its close to reality.
Renderings seem to always look better than the final product. It will be interesting to see the sight lines of how the 2nd level seats overhang the Concourse level. If they end up close to the court, those 2nd level seats could be spectacular.
The terms concourse and 2nd level are enough for me. Just tear it down. I'm sure it will be wonderful. We've all been screaming for this moment on this board for many years. I, and I'm guessing, that we never thought the day would ever come. For us older folks anyway. The details will never make everyone happy so let's just let it rip. The time might actually be approaching. It's joyous.
Application by 1073 No Benson Rd FF university to build a Convocation center is on the planning board agenda for August 13th. The approval process continues.
Meeting minutes from last nights planning board meeting have not been published as of today. Will need to wait for publication of minutes to see if any issues were raised.The 8/27 regular meeting was cancelled. So if any issues were raised about the application to build a convocation center they will need to be addressed at the mid Sept. planning board meeting.
Great news. Approved unanimously after a brief discussion on coordinating with Fairfield police on traffic (13:40). Apparently a state traffic board must also sign off because N Benson is a state road. But that would not appear to be an issue. So let’s get the wrecking ball out after the last game this season. It’s really happening.
No more "someday soon". Time to get the final rendering out, time to start the "non-silent" campaign and hopefully still time to find out what the season ticket buyers want, the Stags Club members want, our fellow alumni want and the University community wants in the new Alumni Hall.
Bucknell's 4,000 seat Sojka Pavillion (costs $42.9 million to build in 2018 dollars)
That $42.9 Million figure - which comes from Wikipedia - is incorrect. That is the inflation-adjusted cost for the entire project, which also included one of the East's top natatoriums, a large fitness facility, a varsity weight room, and offices. Cost of only the arena in 2019 dollars would be well under $30 Million. All of the money to build the complex was raised privately.
Three things that aren't noticeable in the picture: (1) The top half of the end zone seating that is out of sight to the right of the picture are also chairbacks; (2) There are three suites that have seating not included in the 4000-seat capacity; and (3) Almost all of the seats fold up to make a much bigger practice facility.
As for the bleacher seating in much of the endzones, those seats are largely used by students who stand all game anyway - and by younger kids - so no one minds the lack of chairbacks there. It's not an issue for graduation either, since on the very rare occasion that graduation has to move indoors, it goes to the fieldhouse, not to Sojka.
Last Edit: Aug 15, 2019 10:16:47 GMT -5 by bison137