New arena - just look at the Longhorns’ new Moody center

[GopherBlood777]

I do doubt his ability to win (at a reasonably high level - which last year was not at a high level so don't argue he has won anything yet).

I will give some credit that he has got some good young (Payne could be a star) talent along with transfer talent to come to the U... (Battle, Garcia situation is unique as the family health situation makes it seem like any coach at the U would've landed him due to proximity to his family).... but, let's not pretend that he has shut down the MN talent pipeline of recruits leaving the state.

List of MN HS basketball players who left the state in the last two years (Ben was supposed to shut that down):
-Will Tschetter - Michigan
-DJ Jefferson - Tennessee
-Tre Holloman - MSU
-Prince Aligbe - Boston College
-Camden Heide - Purdue
- Demario Watson - Iowa State
-Eli King - Iowa State
- Ahjany Lee - St Thomas
- Antonio Chol - Rutgers
- Elvis Nnaji - George Mason
- Kendall Blue - St Thomas
- Brenden Moss - Kent State
-Taison Chatman - Ohio State
-Nolan Winter - verbal to Badgers (buck the fadgers)
-Boden Kapke - Butler

As far as Evans, this is a big recruit to land, but I doubt he pitched him on the historic barn. I bet it was more on bring back a dormant program to glory and referenced the mid-90s...which any coach would think to do.

I don't think our roster is big enough for that many players

 

[MennoSota]

I'll agree to the new arena when Duke, Butler, and Kansas all build new arenas...

 

[Wet_Blanket_Guy]

I'll agree to the new arena when Duke, Butler, and Kansas all build new arenas...

Brad Stevens = catching lightning in a bottle
Duke and Kansas are not comparable programs other than age of their arenas - recruits go there as they are storied programs / nba feeder systems, and perennial top 10 teams fighting for a title …a little different than the U

I’d say that these arenas (for these examples) are far overshadowed by their historical coaches + the few years Stevens was at Butler.

 

[Wet_Blanket_Guy]

I don't think our roster is big enough for that many players

Or any I guess. We’ll take ramberg and treyton

 

[GopherBlood777]

Or any I guess. We’ll take ramberg and treyton

LMAO you really live up to your moniker, I will certainly give you that much.

 

[Gold Vision]

Going to Williams Arena might be the only thing that brings me to a game this year.

 

[MennoSota]

Brad Stevens = catching lightning in a bottle
Duke and Kansas are not comparable programs other than age of their arenas - recruits go there as they are storied programs / nba feeder systems, and perennial top 10 teams fighting for a title …a little different than the U

I’d say that these arenas (for these examples) are far overshadowed by their historical coaches + the few years Stevens was at Butler.

Why build a cookie cutter arena when there is already two cookie cutter arenas in the Twin Cities (Target and Xcel)?
Kids go to win games not look at some shiny cement mausoleum.

 

[Wet_Blanket_Guy]

Why build a cookie cutter arena when there is already two cookie cutter arenas in the Twin Cities (Target and Xcel)?
Kids go to win games not look at some shiny cement mausoleum.

Xcel is a great arena, target center is a dump (concourses + location (safety issues)).

I remember when the played the state basketball tournament at the xcel for a year or two and it was awesome (clearly too many seats)..

 

[Ope3]

Why build a cookie cutter arena when there is already two cookie cutter arenas in the Twin Cities (Target and Xcel)?
Kids go to win games not look at some shiny cement mausoleum.

New doesn't have to mean "cookie cutter". Xcel doesn't fit that description, neither does the Pacers arena in Indy. This Texas place looks great. So does the relatively new homes for Pitt and USC, and the remodeled gym for Northwestern.

 

[MennoSota]

New doesn't have to mean "cookie cutter". Xcel doesn't fit that description, neither does the Pacers arena in Indy. This Texas place looks great. So does the relatively new homes for Pitt and USC, and the remodeled gym for Northwestern.

They all are the same. Just cement. Give me a place with character, like the Barn.

 

[Gopher Teeth]

So you are blaming the arena for our lack of winning? Interesting.

Well it was the practice facilities, fixed that, any difference? Nope.
So now its onto the next excuse. Guaranteed if we replaced the Barn, you won't see a miraculous turn around and then they will find the next made-up reason\excuse. Look at Nebraska, I thought that arena was touted as the start of turning things around. Nope.

 

[gopherguy15]

I would guess that the majority of those on GH that complain about Williams Arena tend to be in one of two groups... 1) younger Gopher fans and/or 2) NBA fans. The younger fans have truly never seen the Barn rocking like the 90s. Absolutely deafening. NBA fans are used to the no-character shiny arenas that all look the exact same. There will always been pros and cons to both sides. Being in my mid-30s, I'm probably part of the last generation of Gopher fans that will always be a fan of Williams Arena. I hope that Ben Johnson gets this program good enough again to pack the seats so the Barn is a nightmare for opposing teams like it used to be.

 

[stocker08]

What is the thought process here? The Barn is pushing away fans or recruits? What is is that makes people think it needs to be replaced?

And don't say because there are open seats. That's an idiotic reason. "LESS SEATS WILL IMPROVE THE TEAM!"

 

[Wet_Blanket_Guy]

What is the thought process here? The Barn is pushing away fans or recruits? What is is that makes people think it needs to be replaced?

And don't say because there are open seats. That's an idiotic reason. "LESS SEATS WILL IMPROVE THE TEAM!"

All of the above. If you have a few minutes listen to Dan Barreiro’s show from today. The first 30 minutes was on this topic. It was interesting

 

[GopherBlood777]

What is the thought process here? The Barn is pushing away fans or recruits? What is is that makes people think it needs to be replaced?

And don't say because there are open seats. That's an idiotic reason. "LESS SEATS WILL IMPROVE THE TEAM!"

Exactly, it would just result in higher ticket prices for people who are already attending the games. Still need to win and play well to have a good environment that people are drawn to.

 

[Wet_Blanket_Guy]

Exactly, it would just result in higher ticket prices for people who are already attending the games. Still need to win and play well to have a good environment that people are drawn to.

I think it’s not as easy as that. How much is donors, how much is financed…etc…how big is the hole they would need to recoup via ticket sales (which would skew it higher)…but if the hole were smaller maybe the U makes a business decision that aims towards packing it on a nightly basis and getting younger people / families engaged, thus hooking future generations of fans.

When the twins built target field, it dramatically helped attendance- pretty much the same team and they were winning in the metronome.

 

[Gilthorp57]

The longhorns opened the new $375m 10k seat arena that can flex up to 16k seats (for concerts / other large events when needed.

QUESTION:

How in the heck does a fan base as rabid as Texas (and as large) come to the conclusion that a smaller arena (seating wise) is better than their more historic / larger seating capacity arena…yet the gophers can’t?

- the announcers in the Texas / Gonzaga game kept talking about how it would usher in a new era for Texas and be a game changer for recruiting as it would continually fill packed and create an energetic environment versus a much larger historic arena that could feel cold and empty and certain nights (feel familiar…)

STATS:

old arena (frank erwin center *the drum*) used” sat 16k plus for basketball, was on-campus, and opened in 1977 (so not as old as our cherished Barn)

CONCLUSION:
gophers need to move into the modern age with a much smaller arena (probably 8-10k seats *don’t say much bigger as it would only be full during badger and maybe Iowa games each year then feel empty*) which would create an energy that players crave more than playing in a historic building…one of which hasn’t seen any real positive history in 25+ years.

Honestly, Mariucci would be a better arena at this point.

Strangely that game against Gonzaga did not sell out, so much for the rabid fans.

 

[disco]

Xcel is a great arena, target center is a dump (concourses + location (safety issues)).

I remember when the played the state basketball tournament at the xcel for a year or two and it was awesome (clearly too many seats)..

Target Center is a lot nicer since the remodel, but the overall design of the building is poor. As for safety issues - I've never felt unsafe in that area. If you're afraid of Minneapolis, just don't go.

 

[disco]

I would guess that the majority of those on GH that complain about Williams Arena tend to be in one of two groups... 1) younger Gopher fans and/or 2) NBA fans. The younger fans have truly never seen the Barn rocking like the 90s. Absolutely deafening. NBA fans are used to the no-character shiny arenas that all look the exact same. There will always been pros and cons to both sides. Being in my mid-30s, I'm probably part of the last generation of Gopher fans that will always be a fan of Williams Arena. I hope that Ben Johnson gets this program good enough again to pack the seats so the Barn is a nightmare for opposing teams like it used to be.

I'm neither. I'm 50.
We went to the game tonight, and I took some time during halftime to walk around and really look around the place. There are things that could be done, but things that are just inherent in the structure of the building that probably can't be fixed.

If it were up to me, and I couldn't do a full gutting, I'd do these things to start.
1. I'd eliminate all bench seating in the lower bowl except the student section. Maybe eliminate all the benches in the upper deck except in the end sections. It looks haphazard.
2. Not sure if there's demand, but you could eliminate the seating in the upper deck end sections entirely and replace it with some kind of club seating/area. I doubt those seats have been sold on a regular basis in years.
3. Replace all troughs with actual urinals.
4. You couldn't expand to the north, because it's right up against the street. But could you build out a larger concession area on the south side, with more options, and possibly modern restrooms?

What you can't fix.
1. Obstructed view seats, but I'd just not put chairs in those areas.
2. The way the upper deck overhangs. Our seats tonight were under the upper deck. We had great seats to see the game, but we couldn't see any of the scoreboards.
3. Width of the concourses (unless number 4 above would work.)

I don't think it should be torn down, but it definitely needs work.

 

[Ope3]

I would guess that the majority of those on GH that complain about Williams Arena tend to be in one of two groups... 1) younger Gopher fans and/or 2) NBA fans. The younger fans have truly never seen the Barn rocking like the 90s. Absolutely deafening. NBA fans are used to the no-character shiny arenas that all look the exact same. There will always been pros and cons to both sides. Being in my mid-30s, I'm probably part of the last generation of Gopher fans that will always be a fan of Williams Arena. I hope that Ben Johnson gets this program good enough again to pack the seats so the Barn is a nightmare for opposing teams like it used to be.

I'm in my 50s and been to 1 Timberwolves game in 10 years. I do not fall into either category but think the Barn needs to be replaced or undergo a major overhaul, soon.

New and shiny doesn't mean it has to be generic or devoid of character. Not sure why you think that new/shiny equates to devoid of character. It all depends on how it's designed.

 

[Cayman]

Coming out of the gate with threads about how great St. Thomas is and how we need to get rid of the Barn is one way to make a splash on the board.

I do doubt his ability to win (at a reasonably high level - which last year was not at a high level so don't argue he has won anything yet).

I will give some credit that he has got some good young (Payne could be a star) talent along with transfer talent to come to the U... (Battle, Garcia situation is unique as the family health situation makes it seem like any coach at the U would've landed him due to proximity to his family).... but, let's not pretend that he has shut down the MN talent pipeline of recruits leaving the state.

List of MN HS basketball players who left the state in the last two years (Ben was supposed to shut that down):

-Will Tschetter - Michigan

Committed to Michigan 8 months before Ben Johnson was hired.

-DJ Jefferson - Tennessee

Didn't have a Minnesota offer. Also technically not from Minnesota originally, just attended prep school here. Shot up like 100 spots in the rankings after committing to Tennessee. Originally committed to Tulsa.

-Tre Holloman - MSU

Committed to a more established coach who had been recruiting him for much longer.

-Prince Aligbe - Boston College

Didn't have an offer from Ben Johnson. I think Pitino offered him.

-Camden Heide - Purdue

Committed to a more established coach who had been recruiting him for much longer.

- Demario Watson - Iowa State

Minnesota staff backed off of him last summer.

-Eli King - Iowa State

Committed to a coach who had a long standing relationship with the family.

- Ahjany Lee - St Thomas

Minnesota passed on Lee and went for Payne instead.

- Antonio Chol - Rutgers

Who? No seriously, I've literally never heard of this player and I like to think I follow Gopher basketball recruiting pretty closely.

- Elvis Nnaji - George Mason
- Kendall Blue - St Thomas
- Brenden Moss - Kent State

Mid-major players?

-Taison Chatman - Ohio State

Big NIL money was a high, if not top, priority for Chatman.

-Nolan Winter - verbal to Badgers (buck the fadgers)

Staff offered early, before Wisconsin I think. Disappointing to lose out on him, but I don't think the staff did anything wrong here.

-Boden Kapke - Butler

Backed off of Kapke, got Evans instead.

As far as Evans, this is a big recruit to land, but I doubt he pitched him on the historic barn. I bet it was more on bring back a dormant program to glory and referenced the mid-90s...which any coach would think to do.

I don't have particularly strong opinions on the whole Barn argument. I'd be kinda bummed to see it go, and I'm really not sure it's holding the program back in any major way. I also wouldn't like stop going to games if they built a new arena though. If it's about appealing to recruits, I would think the practice facility would be a bigger deal than a new arena.

 

[Some guy]

I don’t know what I think but if we had access to 350 million dollars it probably would grow the program more to hire a coach for the next 25 years at 14 million a year. Would have a lot of hiring options at that price point

 

[Holy Man]

I don’t know what I think but if we had access to 350 million dollars it probably would grow the program more to hire a coach for the next 25 years at 14 million a year. Would have a lot of hiring options at that price point

Perhaps a lot of options but also a lot of coaches mailing it in at the end of their careers. Piles of cash doesn’t equate to successful coaches.

 

[Wet_Blanket_Guy]

Strangely that game against Gonzaga did not sell out, so much for the rabid fans.

They were actually well over 100% as they didn’t open the top deck. 16k is only the seating for concerts, but they had the panels for the top deck closed so the seating capacity was closer to 10k…yet they still managed 11,313 with standing room only tickets

 

[Gophers_4life]

Remember though, that Moody is probably going to replace Erwin as the the main arena in town, so it will serve the purpose that the Xcel and Target Center do here, for Austin. Austin is a huge city now - nearly a million people. If their primary arena was pushing 50 years old, it makes sense to build something new.

No arena at the U would ever be the primary arena for this market, so it's not really the same thing.

That just means we don't even need the "top ring" of seats and the flexing panels to block them off.

9-10k would probably be the sweet spot. Sure, there might be a handful of games/events/matches per year that could seat more ... tough luck.

Make it a tough ticket to get, motivate people to get them. Duke's historic arena is 9k?

 

[disco]

That just means we don't even need the "top ring" of seats and the flexing panels to block them off.

9-10k would probably be the sweet spot. Sure, there might be a handful of games/events/matches per year that could seat more ... tough luck.

Make it a tough ticket to get, motivate people to get them. Duke's historic arena is 9k?

Yeah - something around the size of Mariucci would probably be fine.

 

[Gophers_4life]

Yeah - something around the size of Mariucci would probably be fine.

That's 6k?

 

[disco]

That's 6k?

Mariucci is 10k.

 

[Gophers_4life]

Mariucci is 10k.

I didn't even realize it was that big! I must be thinking of the Pav.

Hmmm.

Does the U of Minn really need 3 arenas? With capacities of 6k, 10k, and 9-10k?

 

[Dupreefor3]

I do doubt his ability to win (at a reasonably high level - which last year was not at a high level so don't argue he has won anything yet).

I will give some credit that he has got some good young (Payne could be a star) talent along with transfer talent to come to the U... (Battle, Garcia situation is unique as the family health situation makes it seem like any coach at the U would've landed him due to proximity to his family).... but, let's not pretend that he has shut down the MN talent pipeline of recruits leaving the state.

List of MN HS basketball players who left the state in the last two years (Ben was supposed to shut that down):
-Will Tschetter - Michigan
-DJ Jefferson - Tennessee
-Tre Holloman - MSU
-Prince Aligbe - Boston College
-Camden Heide - Purdue
- Demario Watson - Iowa State
-Eli King - Iowa State
- Ahjany Lee - St Thomas
- Antonio Chol - Rutgers
- Elvis Nnaji - George Mason
- Kendall Blue - St Thomas
- Brenden Moss - Kent State
-Taison Chatman - Ohio State
-Nolan Winter - verbal to Badgers (buck the fadgers)
-Boden Kapke - Butler

As far as Evans, this is a big recruit to land, but I doubt he pitched him on the historic barn. I bet it was more on bring back a dormant program to glory and referenced the mid-90s...which any coach would think to do.

WillTschetter committed long before Ben was our coach. The only guys on that list that I wish we had are Holloman and Chatman. Including guys DJ Jefferson, Chol, Elvis, Blue, Lee and Moss is pretty disingenuous on your part. JOJ was also a more productive player than Watson in AAU