That brings to mind this question… assuming a 5500 seat arena, how many seats are set aside as assigned/purchased, versus open student seating. Wasn’t ever a concern with Millett. Gotta think somewhere around half?
Won’t quibble too much about where the students are but I don’t think SW campus location is necessarily better than Cook in that regard.
My expectation is that this Arena and Hotel will be showcase buildings, and the Cook location is much more prominent than sticking it back in that SW quad location. I like the idea of it being something memorable when you visit the campus, either as a prospective or current student, or an alum.
So, I do prefer the Cook location, but if they go w the SW quad location, I won’t be that bummed out but think they will missing out on the opportunity to make more of a statement w the new building.
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This is very true, my senior year I lived in the apartment building directly across south campus ave from the parking structure next to goggin and it was the best. 2 mins at most to get in and out of the stadium is the best especially for a sport played in the winter. There is only a couple of dorms near the cook field area and even in nearby north quad or western, it can still be close to 10 minutes to walk
The Cook Field location is easier to get to for students living in those dorms, but as someone who lived a year in one of the Western Campus dorms, I bet most living there would still prefer the SW quad location.
The SW quad location isn’t a bad walk at all (much easier than Millett), you’d only have to make it once a week for a couple months per year, and losing Cook Field would be a major minus. One of the biggest perks of living in that part of campus is having easy access to Cook Field for hanging out in fresh air or playing casual pick up softball/soccer (in addition to all the organized intramurals that are played there).
I lived in Stanton Hall my freshman year, which is slightly more than a one mile walk from Millett Hall. I only missed one home game that year. Now get the hell off my lawn!
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I was in Morris at far south end of campus…long way to Millet but also went to every home game. (of course, we had a team and a home schedule worth going to!).
The SW campus location would have been very close for me that year, but not so much for north quad and probably equal (to Cook) for fraternity row and the rental homes closer to Millet. Many of my classes were of course right near Cook Field (Upham, Laws Hall, etc.), which was an easy walk for me throughout my time at Miami.
Bottom line to me: neither location has a huge advantage over the other in terms of overall student population proximity. And there are obviously other important considerations which are the ones likely to determine final choice.
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Yup. Senior year I lived at Candlewood Terrace (over by McDonald’s). I didn’t attend every home game, but went to most, and would typically walk to Millett. I may or may not have stopped by Bash Riprock’s on my way home after the game.
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No idea what the combined student/townie population is within a 5-10 minute walk of either location, but I’d be willing to bet it’s significantly more at Williams. I favor that site more than Cook based on that (along with minimizing disruption to intramurals and green space), though I’m good with either. Having lived within a stone’s throw of Goggin my sophomore and senior years (Heritage Commons and off campus on Oberlin Court) I will say the easy distance made it a no-brainer to attend most games given how strong the program was at the time.
On the locations, here’s a map with a half mile radius around Millett and the two proposed sites:
I think it’s clear either site is better than Millett but the SW Quad is the best. Yes, for residents of North Quad or Western, Cook would be better, but with the SW Quad site, they’re about as far as Armstrong to Millett today and I think that’s a fine tradeoff.
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Exactly. It’s a good way to get in some of your steps for the day.
The SW quad is the right choice unless the donor is also the one who wants to be the hotel franchisee and isolate it to their amenities. Going to uptown before or after a game should be better for the community overall. And remember, this arena is supposed to be used by the whole community.
Slant was the far superior choice. Some people got mad that it was going to be too close to a historic site, so we’re now going to land on a site that requires the demolition of multiple buildings, including the first president’s house for the university. But hey, we saved two trees behind Bell Tower.
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If the SW quad is chosen I think there should be a dedicated plaza in front of the new arena called the JohnnyMac Plaza to commemorate the JohnnyMac Plan.
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I’m thinking statue.
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I’m thinking something more modest and esoteric, like a fountain fashioned from a beer keg with actual beer instead of water.
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Draft beer inside JohnnyMac Arena will be forever capped at $5.
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I prefer Cook if only because it avoids the traffic flow issues to get to Oxford and then the arena. Millett and Yager cause traffic issues on High St and Talawanda. Traffic into the campus would be a negative that some may not want to deal with. Easy in and out at Cook is a positive for those who come from east, north or south of campus. I have attended numerous athletic events in Oxford, away games, Detroit pro teams, etc. Traffic is often a pain in the ass! Why not avoid it if we are able to–and we are!
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Trees > Buildings
The student experience and convenience is far more important than traffic or parking considerations.
It being slightly inconvenient for folks driving into Oxford should not be a deal breaker, so long as there’s a plan to ensure there’s sufficient parking (which I think is perfectly doable in the SW Quad site).
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At the risk of getting ahead of things, I think the new arena should feature “Darrell Hedric Court.”
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As long as it isnt Darrel “coach” Hedric court I am good
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