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Post by explorer88 on Apr 4, 2013 8:06:18 GMT -5
New Arena NeededGood article by Joe for PhilaHoops. In 10 Years will we look back and say La Salle capitalized on this run or did nothing like was the case in 1990? Doing nothing now would be even worse than 1990 because that team, as good as it was, never made a run in the tournament. A tremendous amount of pressure is now on the administration. For those Brother Mike fans out there we are going to see what he is made of now. La Salle is truly at a crossroads here. As never before.
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Post by coachd on Apr 4, 2013 8:44:43 GMT -5
I think that was Brother Mike who just yawned and went back to sleep.
The fundraising has already unofficially begun for the new arena. As many have already designated their donation to "new arena only".
The official fundraising has to draw in the handful of high-dollar donors that are happy to see the program turning in the right direction.
And that has nothing to do with the President, AD nor BOT and everything to do with the La Salle community (students, alums, parents, friends of La Salle).
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Post by luhoopsfan on Apr 4, 2013 8:51:40 GMT -5
^^ Nailed it.
In my opinion 3 things need to happen in the following order
1 - a legit renovation to Gola that allows for seats all around, regardless of cost, to help extend the lifeline of this run. Consider it a bridge for the next 5 years. This needs to happen starting May 13th.
2 - a new athletic training facility consisting of: weight rooms, aerobic centers and physical therapy treatment resources. This can break ground in 3 years. Estimated investment: $5MM
3 - a new multi-purpose facility that can house basketball games primarily but also support University events such as opening convocations, graduations and student events like concerts on campus. This facility should be able to hold between 4,500 and 5,500 people for a basketball game and depending on configurations, up to 6,000 for events (including the floor). No idea of what the school would be willing to spend on something like this, but I think something around $35MM (which is about what was spent on Holroyd) should be sufficient. Whatever $35MM can get you that's what we should get.
4 - a real chapel/church. We're a Catholic school and we celebrate mass in the basement of a building as though we are somehow in ancient Rome hiding from persecution. Total investment $2.5MM
In all I imagine we're talking about $45MM over the next 5-7 years to be invested into athletics. The University has invested
$10MM to expand campus
$35MM to Renovate Holroyd
$20MM for the Business School
$2.5MM for the Athletic Fields
$5MM (I think) for the new dorms
All since the start of this century, in addition to a lot of other smaller projects like renovating classrooms in Olney Hall, upgrading some smaller things in Hayman
The University is going to see a tremendous jump in applications. Consider that the %'s listed in Joe's article include a multitude of schools that are in the tournament all the time so there really isn't a lot more exposure for them to get from a Tourney appearance. When you haven't been there in 20 years, you're suddenly the new name for people to consider and the impact is going to be exponentially greater.
I would love to see the stats on Google searches for La Salle and the # of unique visitors to lasalle.edu and goexplorers.com comparing March 2013 to March 2012 and March 2011.
If I get a brochure in the mail for a specific Athletic facility fund I will gladly write a check.
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Post by coachd on Apr 4, 2013 9:04:57 GMT -5
What we can't do is what Saint Joe's did and modify Gola to get to 4,500 seats and dramatically increase ticket prices and say we are good for the next 30 years!
The Saint Joe's entire hoops program is in dire straights from an alumni perspective... they failed to capitalize on the Jameer years. We must learn from their mistakes and make the best decisions for the next 5 years and beyond.
After 1992, we did do something but it wasn't the right decision. We jumped into a midwestern conference and Dayton and Duquesne bailed on us. It turned into a disaster until we got into the A10. We know not to do that again.
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Post by talkinbball on Apr 4, 2013 9:35:59 GMT -5
Great article! Would hope the Daily News or Inky columnists would pick up on this theme.
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Post by gymrat67 on Apr 4, 2013 10:54:41 GMT -5
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Post by lasallescreamer on Apr 4, 2013 10:56:14 GMT -5
We r much more at fault if we screw up the next 10 years than the 10 years following the Train. We now know-ABSOLUTELY KNOW- that success just doesn't continue without much nourishment. When the train graduated, we had 2 more good years w Randy and Doug but no pipeline existed. The fiasco with the midwest conf. buried us.We now know that we MUST have a facility;that coaches must keep bringing in a stream of players and not 1 great player every so often; that alumni support is vital; and we know that the alumni WANTS this program to move forward. Its vital to kep G and to have the A-10 find ongoing stability. We know whats at risk; we know what to do. Lets do it. Lets Go Explorers!
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Post by Fastchuck on Apr 4, 2013 11:03:47 GMT -5
^^ Nailed it. 4 - a real chapel/church. We're a Catholic school and we celebrate mass in the basement of a building as though we are somehow in ancient Rome hiding from persecution. Total investment $2.5MM Didn't they aquire a church along with the Germantown Hospital purchase? On the corner of Wister and Olney. Any plans for that property? |
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Post by SICguy84 on Apr 4, 2013 11:08:08 GMT -5
^^ Nailed it. 4 - a real chapel/church. We're a Catholic school and we celebrate mass in the basement of a building as though we are somehow in ancient Rome hiding from persecution. Total investment $2.5MM School already owns a church at Chew Ave and Wister Street. If I recall correctly it was a former Baptist church, nice stone building actually. Reconfiguration and renovation for our Latin Rite should NOT be that difficult or extensive. Irony in that the Archdiocese has been selling off Catholic churches to other denominations. |
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Post by ck on Apr 4, 2013 11:34:39 GMT -5
Does this work, or is it like writing on IRS payment "Not one penny for Defense" (or whatever). That is, just symbolic?
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Post by gymrat67 on Apr 4, 2013 12:21:12 GMT -5
In 2007, La Salle University acquired the 4.75 acre former Manna Bible Institute campus ( which had been formerly Ancilla Domini Academy private Catholic girls school ) at 700 E. Church Lane for $750,000.
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Post by bumfuzzled on Apr 4, 2013 13:07:59 GMT -5
New Arena NeededGood article by Joe for PhilaHoops. In 10 Years will we look back and say La Salle capitalized on this run or did nothing like was the case in 1990? Doing nothing now would be even worse than 1990 because that team, as good as it was, never made a run in the tournament. A tremendous amount of pressure is now on the administration. For those Brother Mike fans out there we are going to see what he is made of now. La Salle is truly at a crossroads here. As never before. Is Brother Michael still at La Salle? Is Tom Brennan still at La Salle? Answer these 2 questions and you will have your answer as far as a new Field House. |
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Post by coachd on Apr 4, 2013 14:03:17 GMT -5
Does this work, or is it like writing on IRS payment "Not one penny for Defense" (or whatever). That is, just symbolic? Yes, the money sits in an account, earning interest, until the new arena construction begins. It would be unethical, and unlawful I believe, for the funds to be used for anything but for what the donor intended the funds be used for. |
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