New Arena or Multi-Use Facility

[SLCBengal]

There's an article in today's ISJ by Madison Guernsey which states ISU is debating between building a new arena or a multi-use facility...

Idaho State University is considering swapping its plans of building a basketball arena for something more versatile.

After announcing preliminary plans in May 2015 to build a 4,000-seat basketball arena at the school’s Pocatello campus, ISU Director of Athletics Jeff Tingey told the Journal last week a different — less expensive — option is being mulled.

Tingey said the project’s direction may shift toward a multi-use indoor facility that could house practices, athletic training, academic centers and meeting rooms. That facility would cost around $10 million — half of the projected cost of a new basketball arena. Tingey said no locations for the potential venues have been determined.

Read more: ISUVoice.com: ISU debating whether to build basketball arena or multi-use facility

I heard Bill Evans say in last night's post-game that he wished he wouldn't have to move back and forth from Holt to Reed for games -- something a multi-use facility wouldn't solve. Also nice to hear that ICCU has indicated that just because it made a sizable donation to UI, it doesn't mean it wouldn't do the same for ISU...

 

[clawsout]

....i'd vote NEW arena....it would provide more room for volleyball, and both basketball teams....I think it would help tremendously in recruiting to those teams also......PLUS you could then promote building a multi-use facility to ALL the people coming to games and being in the new arena.....whereas if you build a multi-use facility first....the public is less likely to be seeing it, etc....

....just my "first blush" thoughts....willing to be swayed a little....someone else's thoughts ?.....

 

[sasquatch]

I vote new arena. If there's a major donor standing by, using the donation for a multi-use facility pretty much means you've kissed that portion for a new arena good bye. It reminds me of the capital campaign under Bowen where there was a big portion intended for a new arena, but the donors were persuaded to apply it to the performing arts center. You can't get that amount back.

I agree with claws. And if you can still build it for 20+ million, then add more on if necessary to attach an academic center. Somebody like Portneuf Health seems like a good donor to add a new training room. I also like the idea of a famous alum being the face of a major campaign. Somebody like Jared Allen or Merrill Hoge, for example, would provide both a local and regional/national impact.

Something is better than nothing, and I'm glad a bunch of different options are being looked at at the very least.

 

[PBP]

Agreed something is better than nothing and that at least would help reduce some of the issues but it may simply be an acknowledgement that despite the best efforts of a lot of folks they simply can't come up with the money for a new arena and don't expect to be able to in the next few years.

 

[votb]

In the past a "regional" hospital had expressed a "willingness" to consider being the major donor for naming rights, but other demands would have created a "rift" with another hospital which may have done some long-term, irreparable damage. Personally, I believe that if we settle for something less than a new arena now we'll never get it. I could be wrong, but new facilities are just getting more expensive with each passing minute.

 

[clawsout]

....votb....we have to have people that can "negotiate" past the possibilities of entities getting "butt hurt" (excuse the lack of professional term) over competitors and naming rights, etc.....I realize it might be a "tender subject" ....BUT we can not let it affect the "big picture" .....otherwise for example.... you will never get a dime from any credit union or bank...other than the one that is always mentioned....

....and I totally agree.....go for an arena first.....put together the campaign....be successful...break ground and get it going.....success with it with create a snowball effect and more success (multi-purpose, etc) will follow......

......we need some "Leaders" to step forward to lead the drive....as someone said earlier..... Merrill....Marvin....Dirk.....Jeff Cook ...Steve Hayes....Ron Boone...etc.....or "Tri-Chairs" ...or a group from those names and others....to promote the BB arena and the multi-purpose building......others can do the "grunt work" but we need some of the "famous folks" to lead the campaign.....maybe make a crucial phone call, etc..... :twocents:

 

[Skippy]

A 5,000 seat arena would probably cost north of $60 million now. It would be great if ISU could raise that kind of money but I am not holding my breath. Apparently ISU is not either. It sounds like they are looking for an athletes center similar to what Montana built for their football program. Think expanded workout room, meeting rooms, study center, locker rooms, etc. The thinking is put your money into creature comforts for the athletes, which is more appealing to recruits.

A new arena would be nice but it’s probably not realistic at this point. I think the largest donation ISU athletics has ever received is about $1.2 million. If they find $50 to $60 million, great, but an athletes center is more feasible and theoretically would have a greater impact on recruiting for all sports, including football.

 

[sasquatch]

Hopefully ISU has some actual concrete numbers to work with. Just doing a quick search online, I found a new arena/events center is being built in Wilmington, DE, for the 76ers G League team. It will have an arena seating 2,500, BUT it will be 140,000 sf (double the size of the Vandals proposed arena), and it will also have 2 indoor soccer fields, retail space, and other rec center type amenities This was just announced in November, 2 months ago, and the cost is $26M. Decrease the square footage, add 1,500 to 2,500 seats, and you still have a similar cost.

$26 million is still a lot of money, probably not a lot of bells and whistles, but those can be added later.

https://arenadigest.com/2017/11/29/20171129plans-unveiled-76ers-fieldhouse-wilmington/

 

[Skippy]

If all you’re looking for is square footage, you’ve got plenty of that in Holt Arena. If you want a first class facility with high end lockeroons, coaches offices, meeting rooms, etc. — all the things that appeal to athletes and coaches, it’s going to cost you a lot more. Idaho’s arena started out as a 6500 seat facility. Now it’s down to 4200, as the price continues to rise. The ISU basketball team is drawing 1000 warm bodies a game. (I’m talking REAL attendance, not tickets out). You are going to have to prioritize where you want to spend those precious dollars to get the most bang for buck. Coaches would probably say help me maximize recruiting with athletes comforts.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see a new basketball arena and if they can find the money to build a quality facility —not just another barn with a basketball floor, I’m all for it.

 

[spudbowl]

When I think ISU men's basketball, I think of the 8,000 - 9,000 fans that used to attend games in the Minidome in the 1970s through the early 1990s (I remember a game against Idaho in about 1993 with 8700 people in attendance).

Those days, as Skippy has shown in the past, are gone. People don't attend college basketball games like they used to.

The ISU men cannot even come close to selling out Reed Gym. Part of the problem with Reed is that is uncomfortable in the upper bleachers. It is a great atmosphere and bright but sitting in the upper bleachers is not something that appeals to people. I had friends in town this past week who paid $17 a ticket to sit in the bleachers.

I would suggest that ISU make a small investment to improve Reed with individual seats on the floor (like we have now) and seats above in the upper section. This would improve things for fans and it would look like something of a contemporary arena instead of a gym. Then improve concessions for fans (we can certainly be more creative than a single table in the west hallway) and perhaps add new restroom facilities. See if improved conditions and consistency of playing in Reed can increase the fan base for men's games (the women's team also obviously would benefit from this as well). Then, fund raise for the multiple purpose facility which would include more practice facilities to appeal to athletes and coaches.

I would not had said this a few years ago when I wanted a 8000 seat basketball arena but the reality is, what it is.

 

[JJB]

The ISU men cannot even come close to selling out Reed Gym. Part of the problem with Reed is that is uncomfortable in the upper bleachers. It is a great atmosphere and bright but sitting in the upper bleachers is not something that appeals to people. I had friends in town this past week who paid $17 a ticket to sit in the bleachers.

I would suggest that ISU make a small investment to improve Reed with individual seats on the floor (like we have now) and seats above in the upper section. This would improve things for fans and it would look like something of a contemporary arena instead of a gym. Then improve concessions for fans (we can certainly be more creative than a single table in the west hallway) and perhaps add new restroom facilities. See if improved conditions and consistency of playing in Reed can increase the fan base for men's games (the women's team also obviously would benefit from this as well). Then, fund raise for the multiple purpose facility which would include more practice facilities to appeal to athletes and coaches.

I would not had said this a few years ago when I wanted a 8000 seat basketball arena but the reality is, what it is.

Losing hasn't helped attendance, but you're pretty spot on about Reed's conditions. The only folks who openly advocate for moving all games to Reed are the ones who sit right on the floor - all with chair backs either along press row or in folding chairs directly on the sidelines. The upper level is uncomfortable as Hell. Besides the bench seating, it can get hotter than Hades up there. I've seen people get up in the middle of a game and head outside for cool/fresh air. It obviously isn't that great of an environment or fans would keep coming back to sit there. I encourage anyone to go back and look at attendance when primarily using Reed. It inevitably decreases. You can only put so much lipstick on it.

I say wait until there is a new president. Vailas doesn't have a popular persona, whether it's deserved or not, so fundraising will have challenges. I believe Tingey has hit a ceiling in terms of what he is capable of doing in terms of raising funds. That's not meant to be a knock, but it is what it is. He also is polarizing - some alumni and boosters simply don't like him. There will be some loosening of purse strings when he's gone, but whether that translates to a lot or a little remains to be seen. Borich is a positive, and he exceeded the Everything Matters campaign.

A multi use facility is a band aid. An arena is needed, and it's only to get more expensive, like votb said.

 

[Skippy]

The ISU men cannot even come close to selling out Reed Gym. Part of the problem with Reed is that is uncomfortable in the upper bleachers. It is a great atmosphere and bright but sitting in the upper bleachers is not something that appeals to people. I had friends in town this past week who paid $17 a ticket to sit in the bleachers.

I would suggest that ISU make a small investment to improve Reed with individual seats on the floor (like we have now) and seats above in the upper section. This would improve things for fans and it would look like something of a contemporary arena instead of a gym. Then improve concessions for fans (we can certainly be more creative than a single table in the west hallway) and perhaps add new restroom facilities. See if improved conditions and consistency of playing in Reed can increase the fan base for men's games (the women's team also obviously would benefit from this as well). Then, fund raise for the multiple purpose facility which would include more practice facilities to appeal to athletes and coaches.

I would not had said this a few years ago when I wanted a 8000 seat basketball arena but the reality is, what it is.

Losing hasn't helped attendance, but you're pretty spot on about Reed's conditions. The only folks who openly advocate for moving all games to Reed are the ones who sit right on the floor - all with chair backs either along press row or in folding chairs directly on the sidelines. The upper level is uncomfortable as Hell. Besides the bench seating, it can get hotter than Hades up there. I've seen people get up in the middle of a game and head outside for cool/fresh air. It obviously isn't that great of an environment or fans would keep coming back to sit there. I encourage anyone to go back and look at attendance when primarily using Reed. It inevitably decreases. You can only put so much lipstick on it.

I say wait until there is a new president. Vailas doesn't have a popular persona, whether it's deserved or not, so fundraising will have challenges. I believe Tingey has hit a ceiling in terms of what he is capable of doing in terms of raising funds. That's not meant to be a knock, but it is what it is. He also is polarizing - some alumni and boosters simply don't like him. There will be some loosening of purse strings when he's gone, but whether that translates to a lot or a little remains to be seen. Borich is a positive, and he exceeded the Everything Matters campaign.

A multi use facility is a band aid. An arena is needed, and it's only to get more expensive, like votb said.

A multi-use facility is not really a band-aid, it’s a fix for a different problem. You’d still be using Holt and Reed for game venues, but the multi-use facility could include a practice facility that would address the over-booking problems at Reed in the fall. It could also provide state of the art dressing rooms for football and basketball, decent coaches offices, meeting rooms, etc.
As noted earlier, I’m all in if they find enough money to build a quality new arena that includes the amenities players and fans like, but I’m highly skeptical they’re going to find that kind of money. They’ve been trying for four years now and very little has been identified. And count me out if you’re just going to build a new set of walls and call it “a new arena.” We’ve got two of those already.

 

[Skippy]

Ps—the best home attendance this year has been the last two games in Reed. I understand the bleachers in the upper deck can be uncomfortable but so can the bleachers on the floor of the south side of the dome. And for my money, give me that Reed Gym atmosphere (and heat) anytime over Holt.

 

[clawsout]

....Skippy.....sit up in the upper sections of Reed for just a half of a game and your back might vote differently......those bleachers are terrible.....

 

[Skippy]

I hear ya. It would be great if ISU replaced them with chair backs. Should have done it 20 years ago.

 

[Spudhead]

Elon is building a new arena and it's supposed to be finished later this year. They are reporting it's around $20 million to $25 million, and some are estimating it might be a little higher, like around $30 million. It's a private school, and they had a big donation from a couple which was about $13 million. Look it up and check it out though, it's niiiiiice. More than just 4 walls with bleachers.