🏀 Renovation or new arena?

[UAgrad93]

 

[TerryP]

In a roundabout way a few of us were talking about this last week. It's feasible to see a new law school. At the same time word started circulating that they're looking to construct beside the softball complex for a new arena?

Money is 'freeing up,' so to speak.

 

[TerryP]

BTW, continuing a little on the older conversation.

We've seen mention of 10K capacity. Last night announced capacity was 12,600...pretty sure that's what I read this morning.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

The push for a new location/arena has been going on for lover a year. If Suttles is putting it out there now, it tells me that it is even closer to reality than even he's suggesting. I know Byrne has been more open off the record that a new arena is a very strong possibility now. Some plans/studies are being done/completed. Everything is pointing that way now...

Here's some stuff from a while back from when it started to happen...

| MBB/WBB - Coleman, the rebuild, and a point I've tried to stress.

My questions on an entirely new arena (built where Coleman is now), is how much more money would it take? And, how much longer would it take to demo/build it? I know the option of building elsewhere on campus property was explored (one option is on land near near rec/softball/tennis facilities)...

rolltidebama.com

| MBB/WBB - Bama vs Gonzaga on the court?

Appears to be in the works, a home and home (sorta). I like.

rolltidebama.com

 

[TerryP]

@Brandon Van de Graaff

Timing of the conversation coinciding with the season starting isn't a coincidence in my opinion; funny.

 

[TerryP]

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

@Brandon Van de Graaff

Timing of the conversation coinciding with the season starting isn't a coincidence in my opinion; funny.

Certainly no coincidence that it's being talked about the day after the season started, but a month ago Byrne was really open about it during a booster event, and even Oats said a new arena was in the works on a local radio show recently (he did backtrack when pressed on it, but his statement was clear). So I guess even though it hasn't officially been given the green light yet, it hasn't been a big secret either.

 

[TerryP]

@Brandon Van de Graaff I got to thinkin' about the email/questionnaire that went out asking members opinions on different phases of the Crimson Standard: seating, concessions and the like, remember? It wasn't the smoothest approach from my seat. A bit of a crash and burn on the PR side, I'd say.

With the new build it's been one of those "they're saying it but they're not saying it" and it's been to this group, then another, and on down the line. Today I'm laughing a bit because "he's saying it but not..." is hitting Facebook through CTSN: there's 50,000 fans just to start.

I don't know why. I just find the whole thing curiously funny.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

I keep thinking....
"Its a certainty ".
Money flowing...school growing...traffic certainly growing...school population growing....condos around campus vicinity growing...everywhere you look...things are new and shiny and growing.... certainly a golden era of Bama athletics....and UofA as a whole....until you get to Coleman

But....a certainty..... I guess.... until I see ground broke..(.i hope in my lifetime...)
I will not believe it....that we will move Bama Bball that far up the priority...
We shall see...

And we have debated this subject extensively on RTB....

 

[Kirk Van de Graaff]

they keep winning and selling out they will have to.

 

[JoshB]

I know I'm in the small minority here but I prefer renovation. I really, really like Coleman and think it can be greatly approved with renovations rather than starting over with what will likely end up being an ugly monstrosity like the majority of new modern arenas look like. There genuinely isn't a bad seat in Coleman (IMO).

 

[1CrimsonTider]

I know I'm in the small minority here but I prefer renovation. I really, really like Coleman and think it can be greatly approved with renovations rather than starting over with what will likely end up being an ugly monstrosity like the majority of new modern arenas look like. There genuinely isn't a bad seat in Coleman (IMO).

I don't care either way. One thing though.

The renovation will change the seating; the thing you appreciate.

 

[OldPlayer]

I know I'm in the small minority here but I prefer renovation. I really, really like Coleman and think it can be greatly approved with renovations rather than starting over with what will likely end up being an ugly monstrosity like the majority of new modern arenas look like. There genuinely isn't a bad seat in Coleman (IMO).

There’s a lot of nostalgia for Coleman. But a facility built for today and the future will be better than a facility built for 60 years ago. I like having the athletic facilities (except for BDS, Rhoads and the soccer field) close together. It helps with team training and support.

If Alabama does move towards a new facility, it needs to be a multi-purpose facility. When Coleman was built, there wasn’t a gymnastics program (but there was wrestling). Use the facility as a money-maker with the ability to hold concerts.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

There’s a lot of nostalgia for Coleman. But a facility built for today and the future will be better than a facility built for 60 years ago. I like having the athletic facilities (except for BDS, Rhoads and the soccer field) close together. It helps with team training and support.

If Alabama does move towards a new facility, it needs to be a multi-purpose facility. When Coleman was built, there wasn’t a gymnastics program (but there was wrestling). Use the facility as a money-maker with the ability to hold concerts.

I was always thinking.....it would be bball only...keep coleman for other activities......gymnastics...volleyball...etc

But you maybe right...

I think there was a lot of discussion for changing floor from one sport to another and scheduling practices.. ..

Colemans not falling in or anything....maybe to much overhead to keep both...

Surely part of discussions i am sure

 

[Bammerboy321]

I know I'm in the small minority here but I prefer renovation. I really, really like Coleman and think it can be greatly approved with renovations rather than starting over with what will likely end up being an ugly monstrosity like the majority of new modern arenas look like. There genuinely isn't a bad seat in Coleman (IMO).

The initial rendering for Coleman looked good. But if given the option to build a new arena or renovate Coleman, you take a new arena every day. We've thrown plenty of money - albeit not to this degree - at Coleman throughout the years and then find ourselves talking about what a new arena would do to this program. This has gained so much traction, and with all the momentum the program has, it would be stupid to sit on our asses. It's time.

 

[JoshB]

The initial rendering for Coleman looked good. But if given the option to build a new arena or renovate Coleman, you take a new arena every day. We've thrown plenty of money - albeit not to this degree - at Coleman throughout the years and then find ourselves talking about what a new arena would do to this program. This has gained so much traction, and with all the momentum the program has, it would be stupid to sit on our asses. It's time.

I get it that the no-brainer - even if for nothing other than recruiting - is to build a new facility. It's just a personal preference thing. I'm not going to cry if they build a new one.

I don't care either way. One thing though.

The renovation will change the seating; the thing you appreciate.

To what extent?

 

[TerryP]

We've thrown plenty of money - albeit not to this degree - at Coleman throughout the years and then find ourselves talking about what a new arena would do to this program.

The last new build in the SEC was Ole Miss; their program has gone backwards since their new arena.
Auburn was before that and we can point to their NCAA quarterfinal run as a highlight but will end up pointing to the FBI as well.
Missouri built a new arena almost 20 years ago and they were doing better in their 'old house.'

The "new arena leads to better basketball" argument doesn't pass my logic test. It's GREAT for the fans; minimal impact on the program itself.

BAD ANALOGY INCOMING:

~Facebook changes their name to Meta. The core remains the same. We didn't see a massive overhaul to work stations, etc.

~New arena vs Coleman. The core remains the same within the program. We won't see a noteworthy improvement for their "work stations." The practice facilities along with support facilities in Coleman, for basketball, are some of the best in the nation.

 

[TerryP]

To what extent?

The plans call for the seating to be gutted reducing the number of seats as well as changing the sight lines. Think about this aspect. While they're expanding the concourse areas the angle(s) of the seating sections will have to increase to a steeper pitch.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Auburn was before that and we can point to their NCAA quarterfinal run as a highlight but will end up pointing to the FBI as well.

I doubt the fbi zeroed in on AU..... because of anything except their HC....they added....( and add being AU doesnt help their case)

The "new arena leads to better basketball" argument doesn't pass my logic test. It's GREAT for the fans; minimal impact on the program itself.

Ye

Yep. We really hashed that out ....with some passion i must say...

Be interesting to see....where Bama goes with this...

"The big people" see what exciting and successful football has done for Uof A ( not just Saban era but before also)
And it looks like we really hired right this time....and must keep him...fo the round ball program...

We shall see...

 

[OldPlayer]

The last new build in the SEC was Ole Miss; their program has gone backwards since their new arena.
Auburn was before that and we can point to their NCAA quarterfinal run as a highlight but will end up pointing to the FBI as well.
Missouri built a new arena almost 20 years ago and they were doing better in their 'old house.'

The "new arena leads to better basketball" argument doesn't pass my logic test. It's GREAT for the fans; minimal impact on the program itself.

BAD ANALOGY INCOMING:

~Facebook changes their name to Meta. The core remains the same. We didn't see a massive overhaul to work stations, etc.

~New arena vs Coleman. The core remains the same within the program. We won't see a noteworthy improvement for their "work stations." The practice facilities along with support facilities in Coleman, for basketball, are some of the best in the nation.

I think you’ll need to wait more than two weeks to see any impact from the Facebook -> Meta name change.

You’ll also probably need a bigger sample size than two teams in the SEC to be statistically valid.