Offseason Arena Discussion

[theneumann64]

We unfortunately millered the golf outing thread, and that's my fault, so I apologize. I'm always a big proponent of not turning every thread into a facilities thread, or beating the dead horse during the actual season.

But we're in the summer now, with not much news likely to pop up for some time. So let's have at it. The discussion we were having on the other thread was about renovations, and whether it's really going to solve any of the problems we have. I won't re-post, but let's keep arena discussion here, and got some dialogue going.

[MisterD]

I think we should build a new arena. Can I get a second?

[stlexplorer]

Seconded

[stlexplorer]

I'm sticking by my hopes of Tastycake Arena, new mascot?

[a10champion15]

hahaha

That actually does give me an idea. The issue isn't only with attendance which is going to continue to improve with continued success. People are excited about next year basketball team and attendance will be greatly improved.
The tastycakes guy actually made me think about something my accounting professor told me last semester. How bad the school does at promoting and asking for donations. My parents are both alumni who donated money simply for both the business school and the basketball program. They did that on their own. The school should of sent out something expressing the success of their athletics this year. They need to do a better job promoting their atheltics which all in all were outstanding this year.

The other option is looking for a company such as Tastycake to sponsor and fund a new arena. Tastycake currently isn't in the financial position but I wouldn't be surprised if someone was interested.

Build a 5000 arena and turn Tom Gola into an universal athetics center, new gym, practice arena and athetic offices. Most importantly the concession stands much provide beer. I am sure that generate some good money. That be my recommendation if ronovating Tom Gola isnt a suitable option.

[theneumann64]

Jun 19, 2013 10:09:30 GMT -5 a10champion15 said:

hahaha

Build a 5000k arena and turn...

Put me on record as thinking 5 million seats is a bit much.

[a10champion15]

Jun 19, 2013 10:33:09 GMT -5 theneumann64 said:

Jun 19, 2013 10:09:30 GMT -5 a10champion15 said:

hahaha

Build a 5000k arena and turn...

Put me on record as thinking 5 million seats is a bit much.

Damn ... I didn't realize I did that but I do think thats reasonable right? Sorry about that!

[theneumann64]

I'm just giving you a hard time, I knew what you meant.

[MisterD]

Jun 19, 2013 10:33:09 GMT -5 theneumann64 said:

Jun 19, 2013 10:09:30 GMT -5 a10champion15 said:

hahaha

Build a 5000k arena and turn...

Put me on record as thinking 5 million seats is a bit much.

Basketball City USA can fill 5MM 20 times per year easy.

[SICguy84]

Who knows, the new president might have a vision or plan about getting a respectable and long lasting arena built on campus. New blood at the top...

[luhoopsfan]

The key angle in building something new is finding a way it can/will benefit the neighborhood. I don't know if there is a way to support that idea but it may heop with some of the funding issues by way of securing a government grant similar to the one we're getting for the biz school

We mentioned in the other thread that raising $25MM for an arena is probably the high water mark for La Salle, but let's consider possibly raising $20MM and securing the grant to match - $40MM can build us something perfectly.

[MisterD]

Where do N. Phila HS playoff and title games get played now? Home gyms or do they already have a "bigger" site? Or is it Gola? I know playing on a minor league field was a highlight of my HS baseball career so I imagine this would be similar.

[belfieldhappyhour]

My first thought about a new arena, is yes, as fast as it can be built.

Second thought, is that it better be in the best location possible (near armory if I had $10 mill to add to the arena funds), or second best locale, in the woods under soccer stadium/baseball field. Problem with that second part, and some of the first location for that matter, is dealing with the issue that parcels of both areas are Fairmount Park Commission, and they don't like losing land even if its just woods.

The dumbest place for the new arena would be Belfield and Wister as I've heard rumored. That is harder to get to and has less parking than Gola. At least with the two areas I mentioned, south campus and maybe even Central's lots can be used for parking.

Plus if you are able to put arena in the woods at Belfield and 20th, you can create an athletic complex type area with the field and new arena all being right there together.

[coachd]

We need to have a bar/restaurant area where alumni can gather before and after games that is connected to the concourse. The best food for the arena would need to be some sort of a mall food court concept with the food places being open year round. Would like to see a flavor of Philly type design. Have a cheesesteak place, Saladworks type place (for those who want to eat healthier), pizza place, chinese food. Other food and drink would be available at the bar/restaurant (TGI Fridays type). These places would all pay rent and help pay off the mortgage for the new arena.

Parking near the arena should be plentiful. And need to do a study to see whether a multi-level parking garage is needed.

Random thoughts (thinking out loud)... We need to do it right. I'd like to see classrooms built into the arena that can also be used as luxury boxes when you open the "window". We need to get the most out of the investment. The weight room and other training facilities would also be attached to the arena. The center court scoreboard would have the video replay built-in. Cup holders in seats. Only bleecher seats are behind the baskets for the students.

[durenduren]

This is an out there idea, but it might have legs:

I think La Salle's best chance for the new arena route might be the 2024 Summer Olympics. If we can secure an event like La Salle had for fencing or some nonsense for the failed 2016 bid, it could be our ticket to new construction. I think we'd all like to see a bigger event be hosted by La Salle, and if they can fashion a multi-purpose facility that can cater to both the short term, immediate needs of the Olympic Committee and the long term needs of La Salle, there might be some additional funding available from the taxpayers.

If you can market this as a venue usable for outside events to stimulate the economy and usable for the local area... ie. Liacouras ?

I know this is all a long shot, but the time frame for funding would fit, the possible kick-back in potential outside funding helps, and the introduction of a local infrastructure and amenities surrounding an Olympic event on La Salle's campus (bars, restaurants) would be additionally well-timed.

Time to come off the crazy-pills now, hope you all enjoyed this outlandish moment.

[luhoopsfan]

you could never have a successful bar/restaurant type place within the arena that basically gets used 20 times per year, it doesn't make any sense. Plus, you couldn't have it open year-round because it would get no business from students in the summer and if there was anyone there, I doubt the clientele would be what the school envisioned so let's take a bar/restaurant concept off the table.

it needs to be done right and that doesn't necessarily mean build it for when we are at the absolute best of times - build something that is sustainable and operationally cost controlled. A few lower level sections with seats along the sidelines is fine, but behind the baskets and all upper level areas as bleachers would be completely acceptable.

A location by the armory is ideal in terms of traffic in/out - it has direct access to Broad Street to head south to the Boulevard and easy access back North along Ogontz Ave back to 309 (or back to broad Street by Cheltenham Ave), though the idea of putting it with all the other athletic stuff is terrific.

Hayman would also have to get a bit of a face lift for a practice facility and in reality, 1 of the courts should probably be converted to a big time weight/cardio room. A Mezzanine could easily be added to house the cardio equipment especially considering there is existing stair access to an elevated area (the walkway to the camera deck).

[MisterD]

Agreed on the bar/restaurant, but would it be possible to have an easily collapsable, step-up-from-tailgating area? If you ask me, as many of you have, the biggest hurdle we still have is the lack of a community basketball feel. Take the tourney announcement video, there were ~ 100 kids in the theater and I imagine tons more elsewhere. Get a central place where people can be reeled in by the event and gathering even if they care nothing about basketball. A "hey, will you be at _______?" spot.

[theneumann64]

I don't think Philadelphia has much chance at an Olympic bid, but DurenDuren is right about that creating a sort of outside force to get things done.

I think there's always the temptation to get carried away, and I think one time we had basically a "build your dream arena" thread, which was right around the time of one of these massive lottery jackpots (which none of us won sadly), but I think being realistic is important. With regards to the bar/restaurant thing, it's not going to happen any time soon. Places like Chili's and Friday's aren't shy: if they think there's a market for something, they'll be there. The fact that there's nothing like that anywhere near La Salle isn't because no one has thought of it- the market can't support it. While I hate when the neighborhood gets vilified, you have to be fair. It's not a place where people are going to fill up a restaurant, even a "chain" one, every Friday and Saturday night year round. Ann having 15 or 16 basketball games a year there, when at least 7 or 8 of them are on weeknights, in the middle of Winter, doesn't change the equation. Are you really going to go Friday's on Wednesday, January 9th, at 9:30, after La Salle- James Madison, just because it's across the street? No: 90% of people are going straight home because they have to work in the morning. And let's face it, the school probably doesn't want a place with a liquor license that close anyway.

[a10champion15]

Yea I don't think the restaurant/bar idea would work but having a space in order to provide one during games would be nice. Just use the space when necessary. Perhaps have chickies sponsor it so when we do have games we can serve beer and food both during and after the game.

For the first time since I attended people were tailgating the La Salle games. I would say it started two years ago. Unfortuantely, it is off campus mainly in people's house specially the fraternities. I wish they would allow us to tailgate in the parking lot but the school would flip even though so many other schools do it without any consequence. I can guarentee if there was big game early in the season and it isn't miserable out people will tailgate on 20th.

[MisterD]

Another key factor is that Chili's and Friday's both suck ass.

[MisterD]

Right, A10champ, and I know the common refrain is "how would you police it???" but how do stupid little town fairs do it? You have it sectioned off and you do wristbands or something and 21+ gets in, under 21 doesn't. Seems easy.

[theneumann64]

Jun 19, 2013 13:54:43 GMT -5 MisterD said:

Another key factor is that Chili's and Friday's both suck ass.

First of all: pound it. Second of all: I was just throwing them out there as an example of that "kind" of restuarant. Or should we set our sights higher on one of those $95 a plate Steakhouses?

[theneumann64]

That also came across more pissy than I wanted it to. I was going for humorous.

[durenduren]

Jun 19, 2013 13:36:03 GMT -5 theneumann64 said:

I don't think Philadelphia has much chance at an Olympic bid, but DurenDuren is right about that creating a sort of outside force to get things done... And let's face it, the school probably doesn't want a place with a liquor license that close anyway.

Completely agree with everything being said. While the Olympic bid is a total shot in the dark, I think we need something to drive this new construction outside the university. I don't think a new facility is feasible purely on La Salle's shoulders in any reasonable time frame. This isn't priority number one, it's going to fall behind the School of Business and the long-expected changes with the Administrative building. That's all speculation, but that was the consistent word from Brother Mike in years past.

And in regards to the Liquor License... When La Salle purchased the Germantown Hospital property, the Church on Penn Drive (at the point there between Olney/Wister/Penn) was bounced between two options that were pretty openly discussed. That property was apparently shown to the owner of Finnegan's Wake at 3rd/Spring Garden, who is a proud La Salle alum. When the feasibility of that was shown to be uneconomical, La Salle thought of making it the bookstore. Moral of the story - I don't think La Salle is as against the liquor license thing as we're led to believe. I just don't think the right situation has arrived, where La Salle has enough control in conjunction with a suitable location and tenant willing to be flexible to the university's unique needs.

[theneumann64]

Jun 19, 2013 13:56:09 GMT -5 MisterD said:

Right, A10champ, and I know the common refrain is "how would you police it???" but how do stupid little town fairs do it? You have it sectioned off and you do wristbands or something and 21+ gets in, under 21 doesn't. Seems easy.

I think the thing you guys may be overlooking, because it's June right now, is that the college basketball season runs during the absolute worst weather months. Or are you talking about having like an indoor, heated tent kind of thing like they do for Homecoming.

[durenduren]

Jun 19, 2013 14:01:17 GMT -5 theneumann64 said:

Jun 19, 2013 13:54:43 GMT -5 MisterD said:

Another key factor is that Chili's and Friday's both suck ass.

First of all: pound it. Second of all: I was just throwing them out there as an example of that "kind" of restuarant.

It's not that far off actually. La Salle had conducted some sort of "where we'll be in 20 years or so" kind of study a few years back, and from what I was told as a tour guide, they had mock-ups of North Dorms to include shops of some sort, which specifically included a Chili's. I would have been more thrilled with an on-campus garbage dump though.

[durenduren]

Jun 19, 2013 13:56:09 GMT -5 MisterD said:

Right, A10champ, and I know the common refrain is "how would you police it???" but how do stupid little town fairs do it? You have it sectioned off and you do wristbands or something and 21+ gets in, under 21 doesn't. Seems easy.

Advancement would love this. As would my liver.

[coachd]

The concept is that if you think small, you will get less. If you think big, you will get at least some of the things you want but not all due to cost or inability to support it over the long run.

But I think we all agree that our concessions need to be more then just a few dozen hot dogs and pretzels being sold at half time.

So what if we have to settle for a McDonald's, Wawa, Pizza place, Explorers Den relocated... all in the Arena. If the area can't support a Fridays, Tuesdays, Chilis or KC Prime then we won't have it but at least offer it to these companies on a 1 year trial basis.

[MisterD]

Jun 19, 2013 14:03:11 GMT -5 theneumann64 said:

That also came across more pissy than I wanted it to. I was going for humorous.

If I get upset by someone saying "pound it", that's my problem, not yours.

[SICguy84]

What is the prognosis for the immediate neighborhood? Nobody can really answer that with confidence. From what I have been told the neighborhood was quite nice from the 1920s up until say the late 1960s or early 1970s. Where will the neighborhood be in 20 years or so? Examples of gentrification in Northern Liberties or Washington West come to mind. Basically are things going to improve or will it continue to remain shady? Will investors come in and rehab homes in the area, driving up prices, expanding the market? I think it would be in the school’s best interest if the neighborhood became safer and cleaner.