New Arena?

Shocker, guess who the 1 vote against Cook field is

Hey Danny, he’s not the only one who would vote against Cook Field at MHT. I’ve walked on and across Cook thousands and thousands of times or so as a student who lived in the East quad, and an athlete who practiced and competed there for two varsity sports. Just think it’s a shame it’s going to be gone when there are alternatives. And say what you want about the survey and it’s ā€œbias.ā€ I’d bet that no matter how you put it most students would say keep Cook Field green. For sure a rehab of Millett won’t work but I just don’t think making the convenient choice to pave over Cook is a great one.

On top of that, when they get done developing it and get a hotel and restaurants in there it doesn’t seem like it’s a big enough space for all that. Where is the parking going to be? It’ll be like cramming 40 pounds of crap in a 10 pound bag. Just not fitting for the space and the beauty of the campus we all once enjoyed.

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This poll is biased because it doesn’t include the JohnnyMac plan as an option.

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When did Cook Field become a hallowed ā€œgreen spaceā€ that is part of everyone’s Miami experience? I can’t remember ever stepping foot on it. Come on, it’s a field.

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In my freshman year at Dennison all I ever did was walk across it to class. Occasionally saw people throwing frisbees, sunbathing, etc.

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It is a field that has substantially more use by students than a new arena will. As such I believe it is a poor location for the new facility. Where Millett is Coach Coles Arena should be.

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Perhaps I missed the reasoning, but is there context to why a new arena in the same vicinity as the current Millett Hall isn’t in the cards?

All I can tell you is that when I took History of Miami from Dr. Shriver in 1989 he said there were three spaces on campus that would never be built on: the space across from Lewis Place, the overlook in Central Quad, and Cook Field. I’m not sure what his reasons were.

I always thought I remembered it was due to soldiers mustering and drilling there before going off to our country’s various wars over the years, but I couldn’t find anything on-line that says that.

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Grumpy, not so sure it’s ā€œhallowed green spaceā€ but it is green space and there’s not much of it left that’s useful for other than looking at and walking by on today’s campus. Bet there’s lots of grads that never stepped on it and that’s ok. But I stepped on it…alot! More than most for sure. Not just to get from building A to building B. So for me it is kind of a special place. (And it’s GREEN!!!) I kinda like it and think there’s enough red bricks surrounding it as is. Put ā€˜em someplace else.

Just another opinion in the crowd.

And if they build it there, and it looks like they will, I’ll get over it. Kind of like the big name change years ago. Move on pops.

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The university wants to create an event district area with the arena and proposed hotel/conference center to replace Marcum Inn.

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Like I said, all that ā€œevent districtā€ buildings crammed into Cook Field sound like it would be 40 pounds of crap in a 10 pound bag.

Lucky students in Dorsey Hall get a beautiful view of the four story red brick wall that’s the side of the new arena. Or maybe the brightly lit parking lot of the 3 story Oxford Mariott Inn. East quad used to be kind of nice, quite and a bit isolated. It’ll be action central. O Boy!

Because if you are building a new arena, may as well put it in a better location

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I lived in Dennison too my freshman year (80-81) and Cook Field was used for frisbee football and other casual stuff but never got the impression it was sacred ground.

I lived in McBride and Cook Field was primarily used for Intramurals and greek week events. When it rained or snowed you were wise to walk around and not across. You were better off hanging out in your quad then sitting in the middle of Cook field. I believe part of Cook Field is turf now? can we really call that a green space?

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Depends on the color of the turf. If it’s blue like Boise State’s field, then I suppose you call it ā€œblue spaceā€.

What you all don’t know is Cook Field is where Miami has sacrifices to the basketball gods so it is indeed sacred ground!

Felt the same way (76-80).

All the new arena details and drawings are in the new minutes. See link. Very cool!

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Very informative too.

Some highlights I took away from the report.

New Arena to be open for the 2028-2029 season

Millett needs $17.5 mill of necessary repairs in the next 3 yrs for things like roofs, elevator, bathrooms, ADA compliant issues

Fully renovate Millett is expected to cost $175 mill

Cost of utilities to run Millett is $290k each year. New arena expected to be $56k per year. Saving $234k per year

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