I originally liked the idea of the Lewis Place location, but have changed my mind after reading this thread. While I am okay with building across from Lewis Place, I agree with DG that a basketball arena is not the best use of that space. Cook Field and the JohnnyMac plan both make sense. I would also support building something near Millett Hall if that is even possible.
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I have been on campus since Friday afternoon, and have visited every single site mentioned on this thread, multiple times, and in the building map of the University. I stood there like an idiot at each one (not hard for me to do!) taking in the sites. My opposition to “slant walk” (geographic descriptor only) has not changed. I would either use the corner of Spring and Campus (Nellie Walker building site), Phillips site, with building to include classrooms if necessary, or rebuild on the current Millett site, and find a temporary home for BB and VB while it is being done. As for the hotel, I keep wandering over to where the Miami Inn currently sits, (and is set for demolition) and continue to believe that would be a good locale. Back to campus wandering.
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“Back to campus wandering.”
Hopefully no one is aware of the restraining order.
KIDDING BLUES……
Yes, Alumni would turn out. Millett replacement is not the answer. Putting real money into teams we want to see place us is a whole other solution. Also…create some kind of transportation for students to actually get to Millett…maybe the red buses, just something. Miami should have said “See ya” to the MAC conference years ago!
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No where to go now. Which is why I would like to see the MAC add WKU.
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BUSSES? Dadgumit, these whippersnappers need exercise! Why, back in my day, we walked to Millett in freezing blizzards, uphill (both ways!)
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Actually, in the “ice age” of the mid 70’s we did.
WKU bball seats 7,366. ( 3 players @ 6’11’’ for trivia fans)
Football. 22,000
They have a really nice arena for hoops.
I am still thinking 6000 seats would be a good number for our new Arena. You stats guys can correct me if I am recalling incorrectly from memory, but I thought we averaged 6400 a game during the 1998 Wally World sweet 16 season. Likely the only time we averaged over 6000 in the last 35 years.
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Good memory, it was 6401, #83 in the country.
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I think 7000 would be a good seating capacity. I believe we topped 7000 last year on one of the ticket giveaway games.
I would prefer a much smaller arena. Certainly no bigger than 5000. Why have a half (or more) empty arena for 98% of games on the possibility we might need more seats once a decade? Unfortunately the problem is if we tear down Millett, there are other campus lectures and concerts that would need a bigger space.
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Too small, and then no concert ticket revenue. It’s a tough equation.
And moved Wally’s post season team dinner from The Shriver Center to the floor of Millet!!
Many Hundreds attended.
We had 5 season tickets in the UPPER LEVEL. Don’t think that’s happening recently.
The more important point is nor would it ever happen again. Wally would have certainly left Miami after his junior year for large dollars- maybe after his freshman year
So you can build the new arena with 2 known facts. 1) the non- conference schedule will not have home games against name programs except maybe the first game ever and 2) it is unlikely there will ever be meaningful pre- season buzz. It might happen organically in a season but you wouldnt need season tickets in the upper deck.
Again I would be excited for a new arena or a rebuild of Millet- I am not against it at all- just things are different than 25 years ago
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I think you’re right on point. The mid-majors are going to be developmental programs for the blue bloods and other power conference teams with deep NIL pockets.
Maybe, or maybe not - there has been speculation that universities/athletic departments will be legally able to sign athletes to employment contracts.
To the extent that you could sign under-appreciated players, the contracts possibly could contain buy-out provisions that would discourage power conference teams, or at least provide cash for future NIL.
Obviously a system something like how pro soccer leagues work, where the current team is paid, would benefit schools like Miami. However, it means Miami would still lose anyone who develops to the level that draws interest from programs who have 100x what Miami would be able to spend. So while Miami would lose the Harpers, Sczcerbiaks, and Roethlisbergers, they might be able to retain the Dae Dae Grants, Gage Larvadains, and Caiden Woullards.
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