Comments on: Facilities Improvements on the Way http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2008/07/22/facilities-improvements-on-the-way/ Just a few guys loving the same woman and talking Irish Football. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:19:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: The Biscuit http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2008/07/22/facilities-improvements-on-the-way/#comment-66898 The Biscuit Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:58:56 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2008/07/22/facilities-improvements-on-the-way/#comment-66898 Craig, thanks for that info. Not a bad idea - but you're right - if they don't do it right it'll look like shite. Like the Pirates playing in Three Rivers Stadium (yes, from the burgh) for all those years. Just doesn't fit. Craig, thanks for that info. Not a bad idea - but you’re right - if they don’t do it right it’ll look like shite. Like the Pirates playing in Three Rivers Stadium (yes, from the burgh) for all those years. Just doesn’t fit.

]]> By: Craig http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2008/07/22/facilities-improvements-on-the-way/#comment-66896 Craig Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:47:07 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2008/07/22/facilities-improvements-on-the-way/#comment-66896 The advantage of re-using the JACC is that the site prep is already done and the external superstructure is already in place. I can't imagine that it wouldn't be cheaper without having to worry about that stuff. Plus, the location of the building is more or less ideal. Any alternative would be farther from students, parking, or both. At last word, hockey was something like $5 to $8 MM from their goal, which last I'd heard was ca. $30 MM. They're talking about doing some sort of "arena within an arena" in the north dome, which could look really sharp as long as they do it right. (And for me, doing it right is going to require altering the ice surface, as anything that has an asymmetrical curved wall on one side is going to look low-rent. They need to either rotate the ice or move it further away from the wall.) The advantage of re-using the JACC is that the site prep is already done and the external superstructure is already in place. I can’t imagine that it wouldn’t be cheaper without having to worry about that stuff. Plus, the location of the building is more or less ideal. Any alternative would be farther from students, parking, or both.

At last word, hockey was something like $5 to $8 MM from their goal, which last I’d heard was ca. $30 MM. They’re talking about doing some sort of “arena within an arena” in the north dome, which could look really sharp as long as they do it right. (And for me, doing it right is going to require altering the ice surface, as anything that has an asymmetrical curved wall on one side is going to look low-rent. They need to either rotate the ice or move it further away from the wall.)

]]> By: Mark http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2008/07/22/facilities-improvements-on-the-way/#comment-66894 Mark Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:39:13 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2008/07/22/facilities-improvements-on-the-way/#comment-66894 I agree weisgipper that basketball and hockey are both deserving of their own well built, brand spanking new, arena. But is it a question of money, or of space and time? Building two whole new buildings to house hockey and b-ball would an enormous amount of space (tOSU hockey arena is quite a building and it takes up plenty of land.) Not to mention the eye sore that type of contstruction project would create around campus. I think renovating the JACC with a new facade and just plain gutting it from the inside would solve both those problems, and we could still get an amazing arena if they invested some serious cash (just ask Dick Ebersol if he has any lying around.) I agree weisgipper that basketball and hockey are both deserving of their own well built, brand spanking new, arena. But is it a question of money, or of space and time? Building two whole new buildings to house hockey and b-ball would an enormous amount of space (tOSU hockey arena is quite a building and it takes up plenty of land.) Not to mention the eye sore that type of contstruction project would create around campus. I think renovating the JACC with a new facade and just plain gutting it from the inside would solve both those problems, and we could still get an amazing arena if they invested some serious cash (just ask Dick Ebersol if he has any lying around.)

]]> By: The Biscuit http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2008/07/22/facilities-improvements-on-the-way/#comment-66819 The Biscuit Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:06:34 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2008/07/22/facilities-improvements-on-the-way/#comment-66819 I agree WG. The JACC needs a complete overhaul. I dont really mind the Hoops and Hockey arenas being under the same roof, but they should be real renovations (essentially starting over) rather than the band-aid strategory. Hopefully Swarbrick will see this, and act. As for the cause, I don't think ND is too 'cheap' for it or that it's just donation. I think it's a combination of the two, along with an alum donation focus on Football. All 3 need fixed. I agree WG. The JACC needs a complete overhaul. I dont really mind the Hoops and Hockey arenas being under the same roof, but they should be real renovations (essentially starting over) rather than the band-aid strategory. Hopefully Swarbrick will see this, and act. As for the cause, I don’t think ND is too ‘cheap’ for it or that it’s just donation. I think it’s a combination of the two, along with an alum donation focus on Football. All 3 need fixed.

]]> By: weisgipper http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2008/07/22/facilities-improvements-on-the-way/#comment-66808 weisgipper Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:58:08 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2008/07/22/facilities-improvements-on-the-way/#comment-66808 The Track & Field facility is a joke. Not that ND has had a lot of outdoor T&F meets recently, but it would be nice to sit and watch. Unofortunately, there will be no seats in that facility. It's the same old nickle and dime crap Dr. White used before, and now we see it on his way out! As for some of the other improvements, like the new soccer stadium....It's about friggin' time! You have two of the best soccer programs in the nation and they don't have the best soccer facility in town. That actually goes to one of the Catholic HS: Marian. Don't get me started about the JACC. It's a complete and utter joke. If you're going to scale down the seating for basketball, make a new arena just for basketball like Pitt, Clemson and UVa. Those are new arenas with all chairback seating, corporate boxes, and whatnot. Basically they are just putting a band aid on this old relic and it makes me sick as an alum and supporter of ND hoops. Hockey deserves their own facility. Heck if Western Michigan has their own arena, then ND should too! To prove a point, Ohio University in Athens, has their own hockey arena. And they are only a CLUB SPORT! The big question or concern I see is one of two things: IS ND that cheap? or Is the Athletic Department not doing a good enough job of getting donors to help fund these essential athletic needs? Remember how long it took to get the new Football Facility and how behind the times we were on that? Swarbrick and Jenkins cannot let this happen again. The Track & Field facility is a joke. Not that ND has had a lot of outdoor T&F meets recently, but it would be nice to sit and watch. Unofortunately, there will be no seats in that facility. It’s the same old nickle and dime crap Dr. White used before, and now we see it on his way out!

As for some of the other improvements, like the new soccer stadium….It’s about friggin’ time! You have two of the best soccer programs in the nation and they don’t have the best soccer facility in town. That actually goes to one of the Catholic HS: Marian.

Don’t get me started about the JACC. It’s a complete and utter joke. If you’re going to scale down the seating for basketball, make a new arena just for basketball like Pitt, Clemson and UVa. Those are new arenas with all chairback seating, corporate boxes, and whatnot. Basically they are just putting a band aid on this old relic and it makes me sick as an alum and supporter of ND hoops.

Hockey deserves their own facility. Heck if Western Michigan has their own arena, then ND should too! To prove a point, Ohio University in Athens, has their own hockey arena. And they are only a CLUB SPORT!

The big question or concern I see is one of two things: IS ND that cheap? or Is the Athletic Department not doing a good enough job of getting donors to help fund these essential athletic needs?

Remember how long it took to get the new Football Facility and how behind the times we were on that? Swarbrick and Jenkins cannot let this happen again.

]]> By: Mike http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2008/07/22/facilities-improvements-on-the-way/#comment-66805 Mike Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:49:01 +0000 http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2008/07/22/facilities-improvements-on-the-way/#comment-66805 No mention whatsoever of improvements that benefit the hockey program is disappointing. The new atrium sure as hell isn't going to help the fact that their locker rooms are still the bathrooms I used during Junior Parents Weekend. No mention whatsoever of improvements that benefit the hockey program is disappointing. The new atrium sure as hell isn’t going to help the fact that their locker rooms are still the bathrooms I used during Junior Parents Weekend.

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