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Post by ionaintheblood on Feb 14, 2015 0:52:29 GMT -5
Watching a lot of games on ESPN tonight while waiting for the Iona game I will note there were a lot of expensive arenas that were more than 3/4 empty.
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Post by Cjb on Feb 14, 2015 7:58:56 GMT -5
If we had a choice to do nothing, at this time, with the hope that we could do something later(3-5 years) on or to replicate the Marist gym within a year or two? I wouldn't want to replicate the Marist (McCann) gym. Strange configuration - too much seating behind both baskets and not enough along the sides where most people like to watch a game. Watching a lot of games on ESPN tonight while waiting for the Iona game I will note there were a lot of expensive arenas that were more than 3/4 empty. So many beautiful, costly venues hosting so many shitty teams. Iona the complete opposite... drives me nuts seeing that every night. Can't imagine how the players and coaches must feel.
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Post by ionaintheblood on Feb 14, 2015 10:58:48 GMT -5
If we had a choice to do nothing, at this time, with the hope that we could do something later(3-5 years) on or to replicate the Marist gym within a year or two? I wouldn't want to replicate the Marist (McCann) gym. Strange configuration - too much seating behind both baskets and not enough along the sides where most people like to watch a game. Watching a lot of games on ESPN tonight while waiting for the Iona game I will note there were a lot of expensive arenas that were more than 3/4 empty. So many beautiful, costly venues hosting so many shitty teams. Iona the complete opposite... drives me nuts seeing that every night. Can't imagine how the players and coaches must feel. CJB I agree we have a much better product but you must admit that we are not even close to filling up Hynes most games and its not because its not an arena. We just do not seem to be a regular draw in Southern Westchester even though we produce an excellent entertainment value every time we play. We don't even seem to draw a huge student crowd. There are now over 1,000 students living on campus with another 1,700 living in off campus housing that is not their parents' home. Yet we are probably drawing 500 to 750 per game with free tickets and other incentives. I have thought that maybe the money is better spent significantly improving the student athlete experience with great locker rooms, weight training facilities, film rooms, coaches offices, extra strength trainers, academic advisers, etc... And as you have mentioned in a prior post, what the Big Five does in the next few years may have a significant impact on mid major programs much like the BCS football has impacted the sub championship division. Lets hope not but it has to be considered when a college is considering spending $20 million.
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Post by iona1970 on Feb 14, 2015 12:08:44 GMT -5
ionaintheblood, that's what i have been saying, give the players better facilities behind the scenes and rent msg and barclays once a year, and try to sell out the gym first before we build an arena
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Post by ichoops on Feb 14, 2015 13:03:01 GMT -5
Maybe with gambling coming to Yonkers they will build an arena also. We're only minutes away.
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Post by Cjb on Feb 14, 2015 16:19:04 GMT -5
CJB I agree we have a much better product but you must admit that we are not even close to filling up Hynes most games and its not because its not an arena. We just do not seem to be a regular draw in Southern Westchester even though we produce an excellent entertainment value every time we play. We don't even seem to draw a huge student crowd. There are now over 1,000 students living on campus with another 1,700 living in off campus housing that is not their parents' home. Yet we are probably drawing 500 to 750 per game with free tickets and other incentives. I have thought that maybe the money is better spent significantly improving the student athlete experience with great locker rooms, weight training facilities, film rooms, coaches offices, extra strength trainers, academic advisers, etc... And as you have mentioned in a prior post, what the Big Five does in the next few years may have a significant impact on mid major programs much like the BCS football has impacted the sub championship division. Lets hope not but it has to be considered when a college is considering spending $20 million. ionaintheblood, many valid points. A few added thoughts on this general subject: I believe there might be a bit of a "chicken and egg" dilemma with the HAC... locals who've been there or who've seen it on TV equate it to a high school gym which may result in their lack of interest. High school facility = high school perception = lack of interest. Does a Stony Brook type venue "legitimize" the program more in their eyes and attract greater attendance? The direction the NCAA could be headed is a real tough one - it's the reason I raised this concern in other posts. The more I think of it, the more I think the school should move forward and take the risk of embarking on a major HAC upgrade. No matter how much lipstick you put on it, the HAC is subpar for D1. The school needs to put itself in a position to succeed, not fail. A new improved HAC may end up opening doors for the school rather than close them. Nobody can predict the future and certain factors are beyond the schools control. What the school can and should control is positioning itself as best as possible which I believe means moving quickly ahead on a major HAC upgrade. Who knows? Perhaps, level heads may prevail and college basketball as we've all come to know and love will remain intact. Tim Cluess is a Cadillac at the price of a Dodge. He is the keystone to getting this done and should be fully engaged in all aspects of the project. As I've said in other posts, Tim Cluess may very well end up being more important to Iona (athletics and school) than a guy named Valvano.
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Post by hawaii bill on Feb 15, 2015 14:24:43 GMT -5
My thought is if they can turn the court around and get the seating at 3500 with the arena set up that works for now. As long as it could be augmented later by building up if need be. They need an all purpose venue that would accommodate the whole student body or close even if basketball becomes the power 5 teams in one tier and everyone else in the other.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2015 15:02:58 GMT -5
Got this from the Seton hall board. Eagles is doing an excellent job with the NJIT program:
NJIT committing 100 million dollars for a new entertainment center which includes basketball arena for 3,500 fans.
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Post by maacmaniac on Feb 20, 2015 14:16:53 GMT -5
"Tim Cluess may very well be more important to Iona (athletics and school) than a guy named Valvano"...... WOW CJB!!! Hope you are right!
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Post by tiger on Feb 20, 2015 14:34:09 GMT -5
the diner has been knocked down ....more dorms are being built
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Post by maacmaniac on Feb 20, 2015 15:45:13 GMT -5
the diner has been knocked down ....more dorms are being built The College Diner should have been landmarked... many late night/early morning meals at that place after drinking at the North Ave. establishments.
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Post by epatrick on Feb 20, 2015 16:19:45 GMT -5
Great memories; only fair meals.
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Post by dansimms on Feb 20, 2015 19:30:37 GMT -5
I am curious to see where NJIT lands conference wise. It sounds like they will have a Stony Brook / Monmouth / Quinnipiac type 3500 seat arena before Iona does. Do we know if MAAC can consider them if not a Catholic Based School? Are they a better fit for NEC, America East, Colonial, MEAC or MAAC?
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Post by GuyF on Feb 20, 2015 19:31:33 GMT -5
Not MAAC.
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Post by epatrick on Feb 20, 2015 19:52:56 GMT -5
Catholic is not a requirement. Hasn't been for a awhile. Size might be a big issue.
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