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Post by Lurkin McGurkin on Feb 9, 2023 7:37:26 GMT -6
I've seen a couple people mention that Worthen is supposed to get some upgrades in the near future.
The only thing I've heard is new seating in the lower bowl, but they've been saying that for years.
What would you guys like to see done? I've always thought Worthen was a little sparse/industrial in its look, but I've got to say they have maintained it well over 30 years. It still looks great.
Things I'd like to see:
Real seats throughout. It might drop capacity to about 10K, but I think we can live with that.
Concourse flooring. The polished concrete is ok, but it would be nice to see something a little more decorative.
A Hall of Fame/memorabilia area.
Lower camera area for broadcast. The current area is so high, it's like you're looking down on the court. A lower area would make you feel more like you're there, in the action.
Redo the lighting in the bowl. The current lights have a yellow cast to them that is not flattering.
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Post by CallingBS on Feb 9, 2023 7:45:14 GMT -6
- Get rid of all silver bleachers
- Replace all broken seats/ perhaps replace lower bowl seating
- Memorabilia area is a great idea
- Some sort of box seating like they have at Toledo
- Suites
- I'd move media to somewhere in middle and have more floor-level seating
These changes would likely reduce capacity to somewhere around 8k, which is fine.
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Post by 00hmh on Feb 9, 2023 8:55:32 GMT -6
Leave 500 or 1000 silver in some corner or other nosebleed areas, maybe, but surely some of the current seating could be used for space for something. We have about 1500 seats we really can't expect to fill.
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Post by cardfan on Feb 9, 2023 9:51:25 GMT -6
- Get rid of all silver bleachers - Replace all broken seats/ perhaps replace lower bowl seating - Memorabilia area is a great idea - Some sort of box seating like they have at Toledo - Suites - I'd move media to somewhere in middle and have more floor-level seating These changes would likely reduce capacity to somewhere around 8k, which is fine. Yep. Worthen was overbuilt with the 11K seats. We were never going to maintain that kind of attendance over time. 8-9 K seats would have been perfect so removing some of the silver bleachers, update the bowl, and add some suits around the top would be the way to go, I think. |
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Post by Lurkin McGurkin on Feb 9, 2023 9:53:18 GMT -6
It would be nice if they put really good seats in the lower bowl. Give the most loyal fans a comfortable chair. Maybe take out a few rows of bleachers and put seats on the floor. That would also make some room for press row and officials. It's pretty tight there right now.
I guess you could move media into the stands, but that just looks amateurish. Not that there's a lot of media at our games anyway. But you definitely want announcers at the sideline... many times the refs will come by and explain a call or review to them, which they can relay to the viewers.
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Post by Lurkin McGurkin on Feb 9, 2023 9:54:36 GMT -6
...and add some suits around the top would be the way to go, I think. I don't know that it can structurally hold suites. Box seats maybe. |
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Post by 00hmh on Feb 9, 2023 10:03:19 GMT -6
...and add some suits around the top would be the way to go, I think. I don't know that it can structurally hold suites. Box seats maybe. Need elevator to whatever level there are suites. Box seating not the same revenue boost. Bleachers are there to give floor space, not sure they'd want to give up that. |
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Post by villagepub on Feb 9, 2023 10:34:58 GMT -6
...and add some suits around the top would be the way to go, I think. I don't know that it can structurally hold suites. Box seats maybe. It can. |
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Post by villagepub on Feb 9, 2023 10:39:56 GMT -6
I don't know that it can structurally hold suites. Box seats maybe. Need elevator to whatever level there are suites. Box seating not the same revenue boost. Bleachers are there to give floor space, not sure they'd want to give up that. Elevators can be retrofitted to the side of the existing structure on both sides of the arena. The bleachers and concrete risers currently covered in tarps could be removed. Restructure support on top of the existing column system and create suites on both sides. Elevator and emergency stairwells can be retrofitted to the outside of the arena. Additional emergency egress can be added to the new suite level to allow alternate paths to lower levels. |
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Post by Lurkin McGurkin on Feb 9, 2023 10:53:29 GMT -6
Elevators can be retrofitted to the side of the existing structure on both sides of the arena. The bleachers and concrete risers currently covered in tarps could be removed. Restructure support on top of the existing column system and create suites on both sides. Elevator and emergency stairwells can be retrofitted to the outside of the arena. Additional emergency egress can be added to the new suite level to allow alternate paths to lower levels. You're talking about at least $10 million of work. While I suppose anything is possible, I don't see that happening. |
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Post by 00hmh on Feb 9, 2023 11:08:44 GMT -6
I don't know that it can structurally hold suites. Box seats maybe. It can. Lurkin is probably right about the financing issues.
Biggest issue there is whether we have the corporate interest, including law firms and accounting who are prime candidates for suites. Economically they work best in urban areas where the company can gain some advertising benefit, and probably has many employees who might use the suite and it can be used for entertaining clients or customers. Of course the big schools with bigger alumni base, and which draw larger crowds generally. including resulting state wide corporate accounts with people willing to drive an hour to campus from populations areas can make them work.
FB is not making a ton on suites and they were pretty easy to incorporate into the stadium build out. FB games, at least the Saturday version, are more natural for corporate sponsors.
Without that corporate support, BB retrofit is a pretty big project and would most likely require a donor wanting some naming rights, I don't think you can justify it by the revenue enhancement to get external debt financing, paid out of the department budget.
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Post by villagepub on Feb 9, 2023 12:05:02 GMT -6
Lurkin is probably right about the financing issues.
Biggest issue there is whether we have the corporate interest, including law firms and accounting who are prime candidates for suites. Economically they work best in urban areas where the company can gain some advertising benefit, and probably has many employees who might use the suite and it can be used for entertaining clients or customers. Of course the big schools with bigger alumni base, and which draw larger crowds generally. including resulting state wide corporate accounts with people willing to drive an hour to campus from populations areas can make them work.
FB is not making a ton on suites and they were pretty easy to incorporate into the stadium build out. FB games, at least the Saturday version, are more natural for corporate sponsors.
Without that corporate support, BB retrofit is a pretty big project and would most likely require a donor wanting some naming rights, I don't think you can justify it by the revenue enhancement to get external debt financing, paid out of the department budget.
It's dead space in a poorly designed building. With a competitive team, I feel interest in suite rentals is greater than what you may think. (notice my preface) |
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Post by Lurkin McGurkin on Feb 9, 2023 12:42:50 GMT -6
Does anyone know what the openings around the outside, about 2/3 of the way up, are for? They look like doorways, so I always assumed they were there in case of expansion.
I wouldn't say the arena was poorly designed. It's a basketball arena, it wasn't designed for anything else. Good sightlines all around, and the dome roof focuses the noise on the court (which is why it's terrible for concerts). The roof is too high, but again, that may have been anticipating expansion.
We were really optimistic about the program back then.
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Post by 00hmh on Feb 9, 2023 13:03:05 GMT -6
Lurkin is probably right about the financing issues.
Biggest issue there is whether we have the corporate interest, including law firms and accounting...
Without that corporate support, BB retrofit is a pretty big project and would most likely require a donor wanting some naming rights, I don't think you can justify it by the revenue enhancement to get external debt financing, paid out of the department budget.
It's dead space in a poorly designed building. With a competitive team, I feel interest in suite rentals is greater than what you may think. (notice my preface) Competitive team always helps but it doesn't matter as much as demographics. Suites aren't full of big fans or even casual fans looking for a good game as much as the walk in crowd is. Suites are about the food and drink and somebody who wants to rub elbows with others there.
These are essentially season tickets with benefits that are used as perks for EEs and for advertising and events to promote customer good will. Show a good time. Since BSU has limited statewide fan interest to start with and isn't in Indy area, I doubt it is ever going to happen.
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Post by cardfan on Feb 9, 2023 14:03:20 GMT -6
We'll see how effective the new AD is at fundraising and pushing objectives.
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