Williams Arena Improvements

[HHH_Gopher]

The letter sent out to season ticket-holders earlier this year about the reseating plan mentioned potential improvements to Williams Arena that will accompany the plan.

What types of things would you like to see done to the Barn?

Given the budget challenges of the U and the athletic department, I doubt we'll see any major structural changes to the building, including the concourses and entrances (unless the practice facility results in changes in that area).

I'd like to see all of the a/v systems upgraded. A new center-hung scoreboard with state-of-the-art hd video screens. A ribbon board circling the second deck railing. Flat screen TV's mounted at a frequent distance for all areas where the scoreboard is not visible (particular issue of mine since I can't see the video screens).

It's amazing that we are nearing twenty years since the major renovation of early 90s. I still think the arena holds up amazingly well, and upgrading the visual feel of the place will serve it well for many years to come.

 

[SickAndTiredOfLosingToWI]

How about we just leave it like it is and get you a VR helmet.

 

[station19]

Please no ribbon board.

Bring back a college game day atmosphere(not pro bs). Band, cheers, crowd involvement. All this done by getting rid of lame in-game promotions.

Other A/V upgrades. check.

OMG, I left out cheerleaders.

 

[RahRahSkiUMah]

Ditto on the ribbon boards... It doesn't fit the venue at all, plus it's distracting and wouldn't do a thing for my in-game "experience." It's just another way to bombard us with more advertising... So that means they'll probably do it.

 

[GopherRock]

No on the ribbon boards. I find them very distracting in arena-sized venues, particularly The Barn.

The Barn and Mariucci both need a new sound system, one where you can actually hear what Dick J is saying. I know the acoustics in The Barn are horrible just due to the design of the building, but anything is better than what's in there.

 

[station19]

Speaking of cheerleaders:


Was at a game with 'date' around 1999-2000. I was 'admiring' how cute one of the cheerleaders was. A few seconds later I mentioned how cute another one was and how much the two looked alike. Found out later they were identical twins.

What ever happened to the twins?

Found out later yet my 'date' was not impressed with my 'admiration' of said cheerleaders.
Oh well.

Edit: Sorry for the hyjack.

 

[GoAUpher]

I actually think ribbon boards would be good. Not the full wrap around treatment that turns The Barn into an NBA arena. But at least enough of the new boards to improve the display of score/stats.

 

[Section201]

chair upgrade

We need powered chairs to jettison all the old grizled norwegian sitting fans in the lower levels to get up and out of their chairs!

 

[Tater]

bring back bench seating throughout the Barn!

 

[Haugy#33]

We need powered chairs to jettison all the old grizled norwegian sitting fans in the lower levels to get up and out of their chairs!

AND cup holders for people like Dr. Don!!! They gotta have their drinks!!! I bet he sneaks in a few mixers!!!!

 

[PurplePride]

The number one thing would be to adjust the lighting to darken the crowd. It makes it a much more enjoyable place when just the playing surface is lit up.
The Lakers do it in the NBA and I believe Illinois in college.

 

[dpodoll68]

Speaking of cheerleaders:


Was at a game with 'date' around 1999-2000. I was 'admiring' how cute one of the cheerleaders was. A few seconds later I mentioned how cute another one was and how much the two looked alike. Found out later they were identical twins.

What ever happened to the twins?

Found out later yet my 'date' was not impressed with my 'admiration' of said cheerleaders.
Oh well.

Edit: Sorry for the hyjack.

Pretty much anyone who went to the U at that time knew about "the twins". My buddies and I still talk about them today. The thing that's funny is that they weren't even that good-looking, but they had the twin factor going for them and that added to their mystique. They were actually Vikings cheerleaders after college for a while as well.

 

[book]

Get rid of "people" singing the national anthem for us. Pep band only please!

 

[SDGopherFan]

put the students on the side of the court

opposite the tv camera. Place looks dead on tv. Also get rid of the guy who sits behind the broadcasters who wheres uggs, gay as hell! your making our university look bad with your gayness!

 

[Gopher-Maker]

Serious Answer: Let the student section wrap around the court (I think it used to be that way, but I'm not sure), rather than being just one chunk of seats off-center on one side.

Not serious, but would be reall cool - answer: Raise the floor another three feet, and shine the lights on the court about 50% brighter.... now, that would be an intimidating court to play on!



Minnesota for Grad School + Purdue for undergrad = Gopher-Maker

 

[jmag21]

Pretty much anyone who went to the U at that time knew about "the twins". My buddies and I still talk about them today. The thing that's funny is that they weren't even that good-looking, but they had the twin factor going for them and that added to their mystique. They were actually Vikings cheerleaders after college for a while as well.

I remember the twins, but I was never that impressed. To be honest, I usually find the cheerleaders far more attractive than the dance team.

 

[pharmacygopher]

Sound system is a must. Those speakers look 20+ years old.

Ribbon boards would be nice. Subtle. TCF makes use of them but it's not overdone.

Scoreboard would be awesome (if they actually use it for live action and replays) but was is the cost?

 

[MinnesotaBoiler99]

Serious Answer: Let the student section wrap around the court (I think it used to be that way, but I'm not sure), rather than being just one chunk of seats off-center on one side.

Not serious, but would be reall cool - answer: Raise the floor another three feet, and shine the lights on the court about 50% brighter.... now, that would be an intimidating court to play on!



Minnesota for Grad School + Purdue for undergrad = Gopher-Maker

Ugh. Please delete your signature and change your moniker

 

[howeda7]

The number one thing would be to adjust the lighting to darken the crowd. It makes it a much more enjoyable place when just the playing surface is lit up.
The Lakers do it in the NBA and I believe Illinois in college.

On the one hand, how intimidating would that be for the other team? The court is lit up. All around it is darkened. What will you land on when you go flying off the court? You can't tell! On the other hand, they'd probably never allow it for the same reason.

 

[JGopher]

We need powered chairs to jettison all the old grizled norwegian sitting fans in the lower levels to get up and out of their chairs!

Maybe hire people to sit up in the rafters with strings to make them dance like marionette puppets too

Warning: About to beat a dead horse. Watching MSU play in Mackey Arena last week made me want to be there just by watching the crowd. Everyone was on their feet every couple minutes during that game, and the TV cameras frequently panned the ENTIRE arena during those times just to show the atmosphere. I bet there were a lot of old, grizzled, high spending Purdue alums there too. Looked like fun.

 

[PurplePride]

On the one hand, how intimidating would that be for the other team? The court is lit up. All around it is darkened. What will you land on when you go flying off the court? You can't tell! On the other hand, they'd probably never allow it for the same reason.

20-25 years ago all arenas were like that.
For some reason we now have to light up every corner of the arena. It's like going to the movies with the lights on.
Turn the house lights off and make the game the only action and not the peanut vendor.

 

[mnboiler]

Warning: About to beat a dead horse. Watching MSU play in Mackey Arena last week made me want to be there just by watching the crowd. Everyone was on their feet every couple minutes during that game, and the TV cameras frequently panned the ENTIRE arena during those times just to show the atmosphere. I bet there were a lot of old, grizzled, high spending Purdue alums there too. Looked like fun.

OT, I know but, that entire day was insane. The doors to Mackey opened at 8 AM for College Gameday and to keep the energy up and the atmosphere crazy for 2+ hours was insane. About midway though I leaned to the person next to me and said "They need to give us 4Loco's." Anyway Gameday was amazing and if it ever comes to Williams it's worth going.

The atmosphere for the game from beginning to end was crazy. The Paint Crew bought a decibel reader and said in the first half the when Purdue was on defense the average was roughly 110 dB's and the dB's peaked at 116's. As a reference in '87 and '91 the Metrodome hit 115 and 123. The overall energy flowing though the building was amazing.

And, yes, the old, grizzled, high spending Purdue alums did get on there feet when they needed to.

 

[Bad Gopher]

The video scoreboard can bite me. The game atmosphere went to complete hell when they installed that thing. How fun would it be if the pep band played during timeouts instead of the gay contests, commercials and promotions up on that screen. I would take a scoreboard with more info on it, including individual rebounds.

I agree with Gopher Rock - there should be a sound system that would work in that building. Spend a few dollars for an accoustical analysis and an engineered audio system.

Hard to think of too many things I would change about the Barn.

 

[Cannon]

I graduated in 2002 and took a job with Target Corp in downtown Mpls. At the time, both of the "Twins" were working in the Merchandsing Dept. I am no longer at Target Headquarters but I would bet that they are both still there.

 

[HHH_Gopher]

Videoboards/Ribbon Boards

While I agree with many of you that the old days of the pep band jumping in right away at every timeout was great, that train has left the station. Maximizing revenue within the game is not going away, and the use of technology is a major component of that. Frankly, I think the videoboards and ribbon boards at the Bank have been used well.

The Barn is always going to be quaint in a way, but modern college athletics demands a different approach. I believe that ribbon boards, maybe not all the way around the 2nd deck facing, could be done well and absolutely add the game experience with better stats communication and out of town scores.

The only school that has really resisted the in-game marketing approach is Notre Dame with football. That's a special case and a hard one to point to as a model.

 

[GoAUpher]

While I agree with many of you that the old days of the pep band jumping in right away at every timeout was great, that train has left the station. Maximizing revenue within the game is not going away, and the use of technology is a major component of that.

True, but the U could back it off slightly if they wanted to. Here's hoping a new AD will view his season ticket holders as a group to be appreciated rather than exploited.

But that's my way of saying its not the technology's fault. The U chooses to use their technology to bombard us with ad breaks. Adding a ribbon board doesn't have to equal more of the same (though sadly it probably will). Which is why I'd support a more limited ribbon board install.

 

[brucekaupa]

#1 Bring back Julius Pearlt.
#2 Bring back the buttered popcorn they had in the early 80s. God was that good.
#3 Get rid of any cart-based vendor booths. The place is crowded enough without them.
#4 Whip out the giant Gopher for pre-game introductions
#5 Bring back that nasty cymbal player from the 90s.

 

[sec105]

Serious Answer: Let the student section wrap around the court (I think it used to be that way, but I'm not sure), rather than being just one chunk of seats off-center on one side.

No they didn't. The students sat in the second deck.

#1 Bring back Julius Pearlt.
#2 Bring back the buttered popcorn they had in the early 80s. God was that good.
#3 Get rid of any cart-based vendor booths. The place is crowded enough without them.
#4 Whip out the giant Gopher for pre-game introductions
#5 Bring back that nasty cymbal player from the 90s.

Agree 1+.

Jules was the best.

 

[Bad Gopher]

True, but the U could back it off slightly if they wanted to. Here's hoping a new AD will view his season ticket holders as a group to be appreciated rather than exploited.

But that's my way of saying its not the technology's fault. The U chooses to use their technology to bombard us with ad breaks. Adding a ribbon board doesn't have to equal more of the same (though sadly it probably will). Which is why I'd support a more limited ribbon board install.

Agreed. Milking me for commerce. Why shouldn't I feel like a cow? Why not just hook up an IV; pick my pocket on the way in; charge me for breathing the air. I have nothing left to give you people!!!

 

[CrocShots]

Improvement?

The lighting idea.
Booze.