Reusse: Unlike the Gophers’ coaching situation, the solution for Williams Arena is simple: Blow up The Barn

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Zeppelin Gopher said:
Yea...why are we pretending to cater to people who can barely walk the Barn steps?? I know plenty of old people who have nice seats in the lower bowl (long term, big $$ season ticker holders) who have zero complaints.

I'm 41 and fit (besides the liver), my seats are row 2 upper deck. And yes, the Barn deck seats require some steep stairs. Personally I enjoy sprinting those steps for my beers and bathroom breaks.

But there are few if any elderly/infirmed people I've seen trying to get up in the 2nd level all season. It's literally not an issue.

The restrooms and concourses are an issue. But we can fix that.

I cannot believe some people are actually advocating tearing down our historic on campus arena.
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^^^^^^^^^^
He gets it! 🕺
 

We've spent the last 12 years on a (when hired) 31 year old coach with one mediocre season at FIU under his belt and his former assistant who has been a part of exactly one NCAA tournament in 15 plus seasons as a player/assistant coach/head coach at the high major level. Did anyone see the attendance at the games against Iowa and Penn State? Two teams that have had peak (in the case of PSU) and peak/near peak seasons (in the case of Iowa) in the last 5 years. They both suck this year and had crowds that looked smaller than ours. We are in the midst of the worst stretch of program history and want to discuss the arena?

When is the University going to invest in the basketball program? I can't imagine anyone who gave big money to the "Nothing Short of Greatness" campaign that built the new practice facility was too thrilled that 2 years after it was built we hired Ben Johnson to replace Richard Pitino. Now the suggestion is to blow up the Barn and build something new? Why? What would be the point in such an expensive measure when the University either balks at the idea of spending on a basketball coach OR submits to pressure from non-fans to not hire who they planned to (depending on your version of events)? If the University wants to act in this manner, stay in the Barn until it falls apart and then become a tenant at wherever the Timberwolves play at that point because they aren't serious anyway.

I am totally open to the idea of replacing the Barn (easier for me to say as I didn't grow up in Minnesota), but I don't think it solves any problems. With NIL, it seems pretty naive to believe we're going to get better players simply because we have a nice, new arena. People might come to one game to experience the new arena, but after that a product like Pitino (much less Johnson) put on the floor will continue to draw poorly.
 

EG#9 said:
We've spent the last 12 years on a (when hired) 31 year old coach with one mediocre season at FIU under his belt and his former assistant who has been a part of exactly one NCAA tournament in 15 plus seasons as a player/assistant coach/head coach at the high major level. Did anyone see the attendance at the games against Iowa and Penn State? Two teams that have had peak (in the case of PSU) and peak/near peak seasons (in the case of Iowa) in the last 5 years. They both suck this year and had crowds that looked smaller than ours. We are in the midst of the worst stretch of program history and want to discuss the arena?

When is the University going to invest in the basketball program? I can't imagine anyone who gave big money to the "Nothing Short of Greatness" campaign that built the new practice facility was too thrilled that 2 years after it was built we hired Ben Johnson to replace Richard Pitino. Now the suggestion is to blow up the Barn and build something new? Why? What would be the point in such an expensive measure when the University either balks at the idea of spending on a basketball coach OR submits to pressure from non-fans to not hire who they planned to (depending on your version of events)? If the University wants to act in this manner, stay in the Barn until it falls apart and then become a tenant at wherever the Timberwolves play at that point because they aren't serious anyway.

I am totally open to the idea of replacing the Barn (easier for me to say as I didn't grow up in Minnesota), but I don't think it solves any problems. With NIL, it seems pretty naive to believe we're going to get better players simply because we have a nice, new arena. People might come to one game to experience the new arena, but after that a product like Pitino (much less Johnson) put on the floor will continue to draw poorly.
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We were told the same line before building the new practice facility, if we only had a practice facility that could compete with the other schools it would make a huge difference in recruiting. I have seen no difference, so I call BS on the new arena. I think its largely people want to blame the problems on something/anything other than the admin and the coach.
 

EG#9 said:
We've spent the last 12 years on a (when hired) 31 year old coach with one mediocre season at FIU under his belt and his former assistant who has been a part of exactly one NCAA tournament in 15 plus seasons as a player/assistant coach/head coach at the high major level. Did anyone see the attendance at the games against Iowa and Penn State? Two teams that have had peak (in the case of PSU) and peak/near peak seasons (in the case of Iowa) in the last 5 years. They both suck this year and had crowds that looked smaller than ours. We are in the midst of the worst stretch of program history and want to discuss the arena?

When is the University going to invest in the basketball program? I can't imagine anyone who gave big money to the "Nothing Short of Greatness" campaign that built the new practice facility was too thrilled that 2 years after it was built we hired Ben Johnson to replace Richard Pitino. Now the suggestion is to blow up the Barn and build something new? Why? What would be the point in such an expensive measure when the University either balks at the idea of spending on a basketball coach OR submits to pressure from non-fans to not hire who they planned to (depending on your version of events)? If the University wants to act in this manner, stay in the Barn until it falls apart and then become a tenant at wherever the Timberwolves play at that point because they aren't serious anyway.

I am totally open to the idea of replacing the Barn (easier for me to say as I didn't grow up in Minnesota), but I don't think it solves any problems. With NIL, it seems pretty naive to believe we're going to get better players simply because we have a nice, new arena. People might come to one game to experience the new arena, but after that a product like Pitino (much less Johnson) put on the floor will continue to draw poorly.
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Thank you. If it were possible to start a slow clap in this setting, I would. 👏 👏 👏
 

howeda7 said:
At a certain point though, keeping the shell isn't worth it. Look at the Chicago Bears stadium. They spent a ton on "renovating" Soldier Field and now they're replacing less than 20 years later.
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I just wish I trusted modern-day architects. In fairness, though, both Mariucci and the football stadium were done sensitively and stylishly.
 



disco said:
True, but Moody is also the primary arena/venue in a metro area of 2.4 million. It's not just for UT hoops. It's Austin's Target/Xcel center.
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Thats great...but not really material. If you want to build a Moody like place on campus I am all for it. Splitting it with the Wolves anywhere is a terrible idea and will be about as effective as the Dump was.
 


Hates Monikers said:
You've shown this picture over and over and over through the years. Nobody disagrees that this is abysmal. However, the size of the rink has been reduced since this was taken and is the same (or within a few feet) as Wisconsin and Ohio State. They seem to make it work. If you're using it for more than a three-day basketball tournament, a more permanent solution would be found. This picture has no relation to what it would look like if it became the basketball team's home.

I'm not advocating for Mariucci. However, I it would be much better than Williams Arena. And, given the financial realities at the Legislature and whether donors giving to a stadium rather than NIL makes any sense, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Mariucci happens someday.
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It shows that it would be a logistical nightmare for the hockey team. Its not like you can make playable ice on the fly.
 



Gopher Teeth said:
We were told the same line before building the new practice facility, if we only had a practice facility that could compete with the other schools it would make a huge difference in recruiting. I have seen no difference, so I call BS on the new arena. I think its largely people want to blame the problems on something/anything other than the admin and the coach.
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To be fair, practice facilities/athlete's villages, were a major component in recruiting. But everything changed with legalizing pay-to-play (aka NIL). At the time the push was going on to build it, I don't think most people would have expected college sports to change so drastically.
 

Dave H said:
Thats great...but not really material. If you want to build a Moody like place on campus I am all for it. Splitting it with the Wolves anywhere is a terrible idea and will be about as effective as the Dump was.
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I don't think the Gopher basketball team sharing an arena with the T-Wolves is a like for like comparison to the Gopher football team sharing a stadium with the Vikings.

When I go to a Gopher football game (for the most part on a Saturday afternoon/evening) I am on campus anywhere from 4-7 hours, enjoying the surroundings of the Bank depending on the weather.

For a Gopher basketball game or hockey game (more than half the time on a work day), I am usually on campus about 10 minutes longer than the game lasts, and that is just walking back to my car, often trying not to get frost bite.

In short basketball games across college campuses are no where near the social events compared to football games in that aspect.
 

Bad Gopher said:
I just wish I trusted modern-day architects. In fairness, though, both Mariucci and the football stadium were done sensitively and stylishly.
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I mean you sort of have to trust them either way, don't you? I trust them more with a bare plat of ground and instructions to build a modern replica of this then to figure out how to fit it around a 100 year old skeleton.
 

disco said:
No NBA team back then, so if you wanted to watch basketball, you watched the Gophers.
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Why can both gopher hockey and Wild sell out. Same sport. I think that's what you're implying. Possibly a minor reason. NBA and Gophers are a different crowd.
 



Ope3 said:
I don't think the Gopher basketball team sharing an arena with the T-Wolves is a like for like comparison to the Gopher football team sharing a stadium with the Vikings.

When I go to a Gopher football game (for the most part on a Saturday afternoon/evening) I am on campus anywhere from 4-7 hours, enjoying the surroundings of the Bank depending on the weather.

For a Gopher basketball game or hockey game (more than half the time on a work day), I am usually on campus about 10 minutes longer than the game lasts, and that is just walking back to my car, often trying not to get frost bite.

In short basketball games across college campuses are no where near the social events compared to football games in that aspect.
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That may be so (I disagree fwiw) but it still makes zero sense to put the Gophers in what will be a pro arena even if it is on campus. They will be second class tenants in their "home".

And have you ever been in an arena when the pare down the seats for lower attendance...it sucks. It feels empty and the atmosphere is hollow.
 

Dave H said:
That may be so (I disagree fwiw) but it still makes zero sense to put the Gophers in what will be a pro arena even if it is on campus. They will be second class tenants in their "home".
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The "zero sense" part is highly debatable. Completely depends on the rent agreement, revenue possibilities and what if anything the University would have to contribute towards such a facility.

Dave H said:
And have you ever been in an arena when the pare down the seats for lower attendance...it sucks. It feels empty and the atmosphere is hollow.
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For a sporting event, no. Closest I have been to that situation is a few concerts at Xcel in which they cut the arena in half, with the stage being more at center ice. Not really relevant for this.

If it's just putting a curtain up in the upper deck, then yeah that would suck and probably would not suit the Men's basketball program.

However, the Moody Center in Austin, TX looks like a more forward thinking transformation and solution with adjustable seats and a movable ceiling.


Looks fantastic.
 


Unregistered User said:
It also cost $375MM

The most expensive college arena ever built.
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The presumption is that the T-Wolves Ownership group would be footing the vast majority of the bill with the Gophers as tenants.
 

I don't know that there's a right or wrong answer to this question, but eventually we'll need to have an answer, as I do feel strongly that something more conducive to the fan experience will be needed. What we have now is barely above "indoor plumbing" level of modernity.

I know what I want. It was cemented in my mind and heart last night when I happened upon this:



The Ryman Auditorium might have been lost. It was a repurposed old church, and I'm not sure if anyone ever saw it as a permanent home of the Opry, especially with foresight of how popular the genre would become. Obviously the Opry moved out to the suburbs in an era when Lower Broadway was dilapidated. The Ryman was slated for demolition before it was saved by preservation efforts in the 90s. Now it's one of the cultural treasures of the continent.

Similarly, I don't know what might have replaced Northrop Auditorium or if it was even considered for replacement, but it was gutted and reconfigured. I wouldn't have wanted anything different. The new interior is computer-designed for optimal accoustics, and it's beautiful in a way only an old building can be. There are architectural anchors on campus, and it's one of them.

I think of Williams Arena as one of those anchors. I do believe there's a way to have both the old styling and sense of place of the building AND the modern amenities and conveniences that make fans want to be there and players/recruits want to play there. It might take a Northrup-scale gutting, but so be it. If this were done, it would not only be first class but UNIQUE--one of only a few places in the country that did such a thing. It would be a jewel and an item of pride in both the sporting and non-sporting communities.
 




howeda7 said:
If the Wolves owners pay for the majority of the arena, they will end up in Eagan as part of ZiggyVille.
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Quite possibly. While the prospect of the Gophers playing in essentially in my back yard would be personally appealing, I would not nearly be in as much favor of joining the Wolves in Dakota Cty on a regular basis (compared to downtown MPLS).

A few games wouldn't be a bad idea though if they can also pull off boutique gym somewhere in Dinkytown.
 

GFBfan said:
And the rent agreement will favor the Wolves as well as all the revenue streams.
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Maybe. Maybe not.

Perhaps the Wolves would need the state's help with infrastructure or something else and a favorable agreement could be made.
 

Ope3 said:
Volleyball could certainly play games off campus as well if the PAV isn't big enough. I assume that's what Nebraska does.

I understand it's not just about Men's basketball, but there is no denying it predominantly about Men's basketball.
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Have we not learned anything from Football playing in the MetroDump? Any off campus games are fool's errands. Less cash goes to the U because they would be relying on third parties to handle parking, concessions and such. It's not just ticket prices that put money in the U's pocket.
 

Gopher Teeth said:
We were told the same line before building the new practice facility, if we only had a practice facility that could compete with the other schools it would make a huge difference in recruiting. I have seen no difference, so I call BS on the new arena. I think its largely people want to blame the problems on something/anything other than the admin and the coach.
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The practice facility was delayed and obstructed by administrational boondoggles. It was promised to Tubby Smith when he was hired and ground was not broken until (IIRC) Richard Pitino's second year.
 

gophersfan said:
www.startribune.com

Reusse: Unlike the Gophers' coaching situation, the solution for Williams Arena is simple: Blow up The Barn.

The venue’s often-cited grandeur faded long ago, and it will turn 100 in 2028.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com
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We do not need a repeat of the Gophers in the metronome. I’m OK with the Barn, contrary to what Patrick says it is not a dump. It’s a great place but they want less seats. Remove all the chairs make wider chairs with cupholders and put urinals in the damn bathrooms. That would be a huge help other than that the place is great. I enjoy it. I intend every game there you think because you build new arena, the coach and the players are all of a sudden gonna be good. How about don’t worry about that get a real coach and get players that can play and we can go from there
 

The cost is more expensive to gut and remodel than to tear down and build an entirely new arena.

We don't need the 100-year old roof and walls.

Build a new one.

For those citing Hinkle Field House remodel as the way to do it. I completely disagree. Been in that building 4 or 5 times for games since they did the re-do, and was quite unimpressed. It looks like a 100-year old building that they re-did to make look like a 50-year old building. Plastic, cheap looking seats with very little to no premium seating areas. The "charm" of the old place no longer exists. I thought it looked weird. It almost looked they "dropped" a temporary plastic seating structure into this beautiful old building.

A new building on campus with around 9-10k seats would sell out for a few years in the honeymoon period. That's when they have to make hay.
 

Unregistered User said:
It also cost $375MM

The most expensive college arena ever built.
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I was at the Moody Center this winter for a game. It was a fine place to watch basketball but don't be confused... it isn't a basketball arena. It was funded by mostly by Live Nation in exchange for keeping the income from non-UT events like concerts, rodeos, etc for the next 35 years.

The entire upper deck was covered when I was there. Think the Twins upper deck at the Metrodome but with modern technology. The coverings had video, stats, additional scoreboards, etc. It looked sharp.

I am not sure the Moody Center is a fair comparison on how to build a new stadium. Basketball is just one of the activities held there.
 

Rocksoldier said:
We do not need a repeat of the Gophers in the metronome. I’m OK with the Barn, contrary to what Patrick says it is not a dump. It’s a great place but they want less seats. Remove all the chairs make wider chairs with cupholders and put urinals in the damn bathrooms. That would be a huge help other than that the place is great. I enjoy it. I intend every game there you think because you build new arena, the coach and the players are all of a sudden gonna be good. How about don’t worry about that get a real coach and get players that can play and we can go from there
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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

It's a dump.
 

Ewert86PC said:
Have we not learned anything from Football playing in the MetroDump? Any off campus games are fool's errands. Less cash goes to the U because they would be relying on third parties to handle parking, concessions and such. It's not just ticket prices that put money in the U's pocket.
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Yes, the Gophers Athletic Department would have a reduced percentage of concession revenue. Parking actually goes to the University as a whole, not the Athletic Department, but that's besides the point.

On the other hand they wouldn't have spend the necessary tens or hundred(s) of millions of bucks to play in a new or drastically remodeled on campus facility.

If the trade off makes financial sense it's a good idea, and vice versa. Depends on tenant agreement and other factors.
 
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