Interesting STrib article on the future of Williams Arena

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After attending the Illinois game a few weeks ago, I finally came to grips with the fact that we could just as well tear down Williams Arena. It disgusts me to say that (Look at my screen name), but the place offers us no advantage anymore. Even with Tubby Smith as our coach, we hardly have a homecourt edge anymore. The really good teams come in here and generally beat us with ease.

With all the talk of the practice facility, I started to figure if we need that so bad, we might as well just do it right. Build a new state of the art arena with a practice facility as part of the building. If this is what it is going to take to make us able to compete in this conference, then I will live with it. I know today's players probably don't give a crap about our wonderful arena anyway. So let's give them what they want.

The place has given me years of fun and memories. But the last couple of years, going to games has become more of a chore. The crowd stinks, and the team is often less than inspiring. Things have changed in sports, and I don't think we'll ever see Williams again the way it was when Clem was here and before. If the atmosphere is going to continue the way it is now, we might as well move on. If it will bring in the right recruits and make us as competitive as Wisconsin, so be it. They play in an arena that offers none of the magic of Williams, but they win all the time there anyway. So it musy be working on other levels.

I know it isn't going to happen now, and there is no money, but I have made my peace for when it does. I am going to the game tomorrow, and I don't have anything close to the feeling I used to have about attending a game. Partially because of this pathetic season, but also because I know the place will be dull and the people in my section will only make it worse as they sit there and complain and tell each other to sit down.

Can you tell I am ready for this season to be over?
 

I'd be okay with a new arena as long as it is done right, something akin to a target field version of a college basketball arena. You only can do this once every few generations, and they better not mess it up
 

It's a well written article

I too have been a fan of the Williams, but if you want to stay competitive, sometimes you have to embrace change.
 

I am glad that Minnesota is in the company of Northwestern as the only Big Ten schools without a practive facility. Why is one of the largest schools in the Big Ten (and one of the largest in the nation) always so late to get new facilities? It seems like the school is much better positioned to compete in the arms race it decrys than many of its competitors yet has simply chosen not to do so.

I would hate to see the Barn go, but I agree with Williams Arena Guy in that if the University is going to do something, it should do something first rate/state of the art. I still think the Barn could be a great home court advantage, but the combination of the style of play of the current team and the people filling it just does not work. When the kid from Michigan was at the line in tie game with a minute to play and nobody made any noise,that has nothing to do with the arena. It's not that good teams win at Minnesota, it's that bad and average teams do. This year they already have 4 unacceptabe home losses.
 


WAG

WilliamsArenaGuy said:
After attending the Illinois game a few weeks ago, I finally came to grips with the fact that we could just as well tear down Williams Arena. It disgusts me to say that (Look at my screen name), but the place offers us no advantage anymore. Even with Tubby Smith as our coach, we hardly have a homecourt edge anymore. The really good teams come in here and generally beat us with ease.

With all the talk of the practice facility, I started to figure if we need that so bad, we might as well just do it right. Build a new state of the art arena with a practice facility as part of the building. If this is what it is going to take to make us able to compete in this conference, then I will live with it. I know today's players probably don't give a crap about our wonderful arena anyway. So let's give them what they want.

The place has given me years of fun and memories. But the last couple of years, going to games has become more of a chore. The crowd stinks, and the team is often less than inspiring. Things have changed in sports, and I don't think we'll ever see Williams again the way it was when Clem was here and before. If the atmosphere is going to continue the way it is now, we might as well move on. If it will bring in the right recruits and make us as competitive as Wisconsin, so be it. They play in an arena that offers none of the magic of Williams, but they win all the time there anyway. So it musy be working on other levels.

I know it isn't going to happen now, and there is no money, but I have made my peace for when it does. I am going to the game tomorrow, and I don't have anything close to the feeling I used to have about attending a game. Partially because of this pathetic season, but also because I know the place will be dull and the people in my section will only make it worse as they sit there and complain and tell each other to sit down.

Can you tell I am ready for this season to be over?
Click to expand...

WAG,

You have a frown face today, that is for sure!

Count me out. I hope to be dead and buried before Williams Arena is torn down. If catering to the whims of 18 year olds is what it takes to compete it makes me sick to my stomach.

My first goal would be to get a practice facility.

If down the road we HAVE to replace Williams I sincerly hope the new building incorporates the best features of Williams and was more like Target Field than Target Center. Yes, an elevated floor, a close feel and great sight lines and a "Barn" like look. If all we would get was a Target Center or Kohl Center like modern clone I will object to my dying breath.

If current eighteen year old kids do not want to play at Williams Arena then fine, don't let the Barn door hit you in the ass on the way out.

Just IMHO.
 

That's the one thing I forgot to say. As 201 and EG said, a new arena should still have the classic old-school feel. I have not been to Conseco, but everyone says that place has the feel. I don't want a new Kohl Center; it should incorporate much of what we love, but it would be new, it wouldn't have all the obstrucuted seats, it would have much improved concourses, etc.
 

I am still hoping the U builds a BioTech building or two before they start on a new BB building. Is it wrong of me to think that?
 

The Pope

The Pope of Dinkytown said:
I am still hoping the U builds a BioTech building or two before they start ona new BB building. Is it wrong of me to think that?
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No, I do not think you are wrong.

We do live in a world where the highest paid U of M employee is Tubby, unless I am mistaken.
 



Section201 said:
No, I do not think you are wrong.

We do live in a world where the highest paid U of M employee is Tubby, unless I am mistaken.
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Tubby also generates a significant amount of income allowing the rest of the athletic department to stay afloat.

I guess I'm always confused why the Pavilion can't be considered as a practice facility...its primarily an empty, worthless building considering the women won't play there. A remodeling of the Pavilion could make a nice practice facility; however, if the long term plan is a new stadium other than williams this doesn't work.
 

WilliamsArenaGuy said:
After attending the Illinois game a few weeks ago, I finally came to grips with the fact that we could just as well tear down Williams Arena. It disgusts me to say that (Look at my screen name), but the place offers us no advantage anymore. Even with Tubby Smith as our coach, we hardly have a homecourt edge anymore. The really good teams come in here and generally beat us with ease.
Click to expand...

Moreon Pee- Is this you commenting on your own story post again?

A new arena will give us the homecourt edge? If Nolen didn't get hurt we would still be a ranked team and we will be again next year and the year after, so stop being such a candya$s.
 

NurumbiCongo said:
Moreon Pee- Is this you commenting on your own story post again?

A new arena will give us the homecourt edge? If Nolen didn't get hurt we would still be a ranked team and we will be again next year and the year after, so stop being such a candya$s.
Click to expand...

I hope a joke went over my head here. Willilams Arena Guy is a long time respected poster and is certainly not Myron Medcalf.
 

Section201, would you really rather see the Gophers continue to play in Williams Arena at their current level versus in a dull, plastic, etc new arena at a much better level? I know that is a completely hypothetical question, but reading your response I got the impression that the Barn is more important than results.

To me, the product on the court/field vastly outweighs the arena/stadium a team plays in. If the Gophers start winning, that new arena becomes a place that people want to be and it likely will eventually have its own charm. On the other hand if they keep losing, it won't matter how nice the environment is (see Gopher football for a perfect example of that).
 



Glove,

Part of the reason why the Pavilion won't work is that it is where the volleyball team plays and practices. The synthetic floor is down and nets are up from August thru at least early December.
 

WilliamsArenaGuy said:
That's the one thing I forgot to say. As 201 and EG said, a new arena should still have the classic old-school feel. I have not been to Conseco, but everyone says that place has the feel. I don't want a new Kohl Center; it should incorporate much of what we love, but it would be new, it wouldn't have all the obstrucuted seats, it would have much improved concourses, etc.
Click to expand...

Agree. Much as TCF has that traditional feel. Here is link to photos of Mizzou Arena. Opened in 2004 for $75 mill. Seats 15,000+

http://www.google.com/images?q=mizz...ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CCgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1003&bih=550

Here's the Wiki page
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mizzou_Arena

FWIW Conseco opened in 1999 at a cost of $183 mill
 


Ted Mondale has expressed a desire to have a permanent funding source for metro sports facilities (given that the Vikings, T-Wolves and Saints all have needs right now) and given there has been one stadium bill or another before the state legislature for 17 years in a row. (How pathetic, way to take problems head on guys.)

Anyway, for all of the 25 + bills over 17 years, only 4 have passed (Excel, Twins twice, one of which was a farse, and TCF). That's not a high success rate and it would obviously be nice to just have a dedicated funding source and not have to beat the issue into the ground year after year. The Gophers would be wise to participate and encourage this. I have serious doubts they will ever raise the money for the practice facility much less a new arena. And having The U included would make it more politically palatable. I hope PR machine Maturi gets involved in this discussion.
 



anonymous said:
Glove,

Part of the reason why the Pavilion won't work is that it is where the volleyball team plays and practices. The synthetic floor is down and nets are up from August thru at least early December.
Click to expand...

They don't use the SportCourt flooring any longer (except when they host an NCAA Regional)
 

I think the Sports Pavilion is also where gymnastics, and wrestling practice and play along with volleyball. I might be wrong though...
 

NurumbiCongo said:
Moreon Pee- Is this you commenting on your own story post again?

A new arena will give us the homecourt edge? If Nolen didn't get hurt we would still be a ranked team and we will be again next year and the year after, so stop being such a candya$s.
Click to expand...

JHC, are you kidding me?

You win the prize for worst assumption and worst reading comprehension ever on this website. Congratulations!
 

RoyalGopher said:
I think the Sports Pavilion is also where gymnastics, and wrestling practice and play along with volleyball. I might be wrong though...
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They could practice/compete in the hypothetical new arena of the bball team has a practice facility.
 

Passive team, passive coach, losing season equals....

A dull Williams Arena. Where is Eric Musselman? Hire him and bring back the warmup show.
 

eg

EG#9 said:
Section201, would you really rather see the Gophers continue to play in Williams Arena at their current level versus in a dull, plastic, etc new arena at a much better level? I know that is a completely hypothetical question, but reading your response I got the impression that the Barn is more important than results.

To me, the product on the court/field vastly outweighs the arena/stadium a team plays in. If the Gophers start winning, that new arena becomes a place that people want to be and it likely will eventually have its own charm. On the other hand if they keep losing, it won't matter how nice the environment is (see Gopher football for a perfect example of that).
Click to expand...

EG,

I am not sure if you and I are that far apart but, yes, I would rather continue to watch Gopher hoops in Williams Arena as I do not ascribe our performance level being the result of the arena.

If I want to watch hoops in a dull modern arena I can go to a Wolves game. YUCK.

There are hundreds of D1 schools that have newer arenas than the Barn but they don't all win Conference and National Championships but they suffer having to play in crap holes like Kohl.

Virginia has a newer, super expensive, fancy, John Paul Jones Arena but it has not changed their position in the ACC a lick.

I do see positive results coming from a new practice facility but NOT a new arena.

I may be in the minority but I think Williams Arena is at the heart of the program.

Just IMHO.
 

Section201 said:
EG,

I am not sure if you and I are that far apart but, yes, I would rather continue to watch Gopher hoops in Williams Arena as I do not ascribe our performance level being the result of the arena.

If I want to watch hoops in a dull modern arena I can go to a Wolves game. YUCK.
There are hundreds of D1 schools that have newer arenas than the Barn but they don't all win Conference and National Championships but they suffer having to play in crap holes like Kohl.
Virginia has a newer, super expensive, fancy, John Paul Jones Arena but it has not changed their position in the ACC a lick.

I do see positive results coming from a new practice facility but NOT a new arena.

I may be in the minority but I think Williams Arena is at the heart of the program.

Just IMHO.
Click to expand...

New arenas do not have to be crap. Just like baseball, the ones built in the 70's 'were crap', think Camden Yards and Target Field(the new wave, and they are great).

I love the Barn and would hate to see it go but there will be a day.
 

19

station19 said:
New arenas do not have to be crap. Just like baseball, the ones built in the 70's 'were crap', think Camden Yards and Target Field(the new wave, and they are great).

I love the Barn and would hate to see it go but there will be a day.
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Yes, there will be a day. I hope it is far away. When the day does come as I stated earlier, I hope the new building incorporates some of the "features" of Williams and is done at a level like Target Field and NOT Target Center or the Dome.

I am an old dog and I love Williams Arena.

:clap::clap::clap:
 



Section201 said:
EG,

I am not sure if you and I are that far apart but, yes, I would rather continue to watch Gopher hoops in Williams Arena as I do not ascribe our performance level being the result of the arena.

If I want to watch hoops in a dull modern arena I can go to a Wolves game. YUCK.

There are hundreds of D1 schools that have newer arenas than the Barn but they don't all win Conference and National Championships but they suffer having to play in crap holes like Kohl.

Virginia has a newer, super expensive, fancy, John Paul Jones Arena but it has not changed their position in the ACC a lick.

I do see positive results coming from a new practice facility but NOT a new arena.

I may be in the minority but I think Williams Arena is at the heart of the program.

Just IMHO.
Click to expand...

JPJ Arena's atmosphere is great when it's full (i.e. vs Duke, UNC and Maryland) for the other 13 or so games, it's just another generic 2/3 full arena. Full and loud are key ingredients to any arena. The Barn loses it's charm when it's not full and shaking and a new arena will be fine if they don't sit all the corporate suits on the lower level and the average age of the season ticket-holders is less than 65. Also, since the new Barn won't really need to compete for concerts, etc. it doesn't have to be a cookie-cutter.
 

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