Holt Arena Seating

[SLCBengal]

The Idaho Board of Education meets today and tomorrow in Idaho Falls, and ISU is seeking approval "to begin a fundraising effort and to initiate planning and design for the acquisition of new seating in Holt Arena..." The estimated cost is $2,500,000.

BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
ISU seeks approval to begin a fundraising effort and to initiate planning and design
for the acquisition of new seating in Holt Arena for football, basketball and other
events held in the arena. Holt Arena is certainly the most iconic facility in eastern
Idaho and by far the most used by both ISU and the community. Holt Arena opened
in 1970 as an 11,700-seat stadium. Because of its age, the current fiberglass seats
break at a rate of roughly 150 annually. As the original manufacturer has gone out
of business, ISU has had to purchase new seats from another source and the
replacement seats are different from the original seats. They are then painted to
try match original seating in color. Holt Arena is the venue for scores of University
and community events. The 90 plus events seating more than 500,000 visitors
each year include ISU basketball and football, the Simplot Games, high school
athletics and band competitions, agriculture shows, monster truck shows, state
and regional wresting, high school and university graduations, and more. ISU is
amending its FY19 Six-Year Capital Project Plan to include this facility upgrade.

IMPACT
As ISU continues to focus aggressively on enrollment growth, fundraising,
branding, image building, and athletics success, upgrading the patron and
spectator experience in Holt Arena is an important part of that plan. Enhanced and
new seating will also impact student and student-athlete recruiting, the ability to
attract additional and more diverse events. This will help generate much needed
revenue, and will certainly assist in making events more comfortable and enjoyable
to those attending. This upgrade will also help enrich donor and business
relationships with interest groups, both within and outside of the State of Idaho.

Board of Education Meeting, College of Eastern Idaho

https://boardofed.idaho.gov/meetings/board/archive/2018/0620-2118/06BAHR-FINANCE.pdf?cache=1529512790620

 

[PBP]

Badly needed. In the ISJ today the new president was quoted about athletic fundraising being a priority (among others). That was very good to see.

PBP

 

[Tacoma5]

A good start in his tenure to win some folks over. Hope this pulls through!

 

[Tacoma5]

I read in the ISJ this morning the planning and designing of the new seating has been approved. Great news and if all goes well we could see it for next football season.

 

[Black Falkin]

:clap:

 

[SLCBengal]

I read in the ISJ this morning the planning and designing of the new seating has been approved. Great news and if all goes well we could see it for next football season.

Read more: ISUVoice.com: Idaho State Board of Education approves seating renovation at Holt Arena

 

[Bengals]

New seating would be huge. It may not be as fast as we would like, but they are slowly improving Holt. New lights, video board, and now seating. This will help recruiting a great deal. When a recruit walks in and does not see those 70's colored seats it has to help.

 

[spudbowl]

How about raising enough money to put seats in the upper section of Reed Gym? This would improve the fan experience for both women's bb games and men's games (at Reed) plus volleyball. I enjoy women's games at Reed because I sit in the lower level. For men's games, I don't enjoy sitting on bleachers, not fun.

 

[Wulfz]

How about taking some of the seats from Holt Arena and using them to replace the benches in Reed gym. There would be plenty of replacement seats when ones break.