60 million in updates to Carver

I live in Nebraska and am envious of the arenas here. Both Creighton and Bugeaters have top notch, modern basketball arenas. Hell, even UNO plays in a really nice, newer arena. They are big and designed very well for the modern fan experience. I sure hope that Beth gets bang for her buck for that 60 mil in her pocket, but my fear is that it could be putting lipstick on a pig. I too have nostalgia for Carver, but a new arena was probably the better move. That said, 250 mil doesn't grow on trees....
 
NorthKCHawk said:
I live in Nebraska and am envious of the arenas here. Both Creighton and Bugeaters have top notch, modern basketball arenas. Hell, even UNO plays in a really nice, newer arena. They are big and designed very well for the modern fan experience. I sure hope that Beth gets bang for her buck for that 60 mil in her pocket, but my fear is that it could be putting lipstick on a pig. I too have nostalgia for Carver, but a new arena was probably the better move. That said, 250 mil doesn't grow on trees....
Click to expand...
I agree with "lipstick on a pig".
 
hawkdrummer1 said:
Getting up and down the steps a chore? Live sports may not be your thing.

As for the rehab. I'll be impressed if they can pull off anything significant without dropping the floor 5-10 feet to bring the seats closer. That's the biggest flaw of the arena by far. Has been since the day it opened.

Boxes or premium seats for big donors does NOTHING to enhance the intensity of the space. That's a waste of money. Bring the fans closer. Period.
Click to expand...
I'll echo other's observations....to have to hoof it up to the top from the bottom areas to go to the bathroom, get food, exit the facility...it's a chore. Not a good design at all.
 
NorthKCHawk said:
I live in Nebraska and am envious of the arenas here. Both Creighton and Bugeaters have top notch, modern basketball arenas. Hell, even UNO plays in a really nice, newer arena. They are big and designed very well for the modern fan experience. I sure hope that Beth gets bang for her buck for that 60 mil in her pocket, but my fear is that it could be putting lipstick on a pig. I too have nostalgia for Carver, but a new arena was probably the better move. That said, 250 mil doesn't grow on trees....
Click to expand...
Time to just blow that place up. I would be super hesitant to drop any more money into it. You can either have a modern, multi-purpose, 15,000 to 18,000 seat arena with all the amenities, or you can have an intimate, smaller venue designed as an ideal basketball arena (some of these vintages ones still exist, other ones in this style are being built today).

What you don't want is Carver.

If I'm Goetz, I'd be really tempted to keep my powder dry for the next year or two. Iowa City is becoming an absolute mecca for women's basketball, and Jan is taking recruiting to an elite level. There are only a handful of programs above Iowa right now (at most), and when Gino retires, there may be one less.

And the men very well may hit a new "goldern era" over the next few years, with the program enjoying a honeymoon with fans. The likes of which hasn't been seen in decades.

I think I'd be tempted to let both programs breathe for the next season or two, and then leverage the presumed success to go all out for a new facility. Just keep doing the cheap, low hanging fruit for now. More ice cream machines...hell, bring in some food trucks and let people order from their seats and have it delivered down to them, throw in a few porta potties down low, and jam in a few more students around the court.

And then go with a 10,000 or so throwback fieldhouse style arena that wouldn't require an enormous footprint. Not a bad seat in the house. Close to at least a few bars and restaurants. Honor the past. Celebrate the present. We deserve it.

And fill in that pit in the ground for good.
 
SwirlinLingerie said:
Time to just blow that place up. I would be super hesitant to drop any more money into it. You can either have a modern, multi-purpose, 15,000 to 18,000 seat arena with all the amenities, or you can have an intimate, smaller venue designed as an ideal basketball arena (some of these vintages ones still exist, other ones in this style are being built today).

What you don't want is Carver.

If I'm Goetz, I'd be really tempted to keep my powder dry for the next year or two. Iowa City is becoming an absolute mecca for women's basketball, and Jan is taking recruiting to an elite level. There are only a handful of programs above Iowa right now (at most), and when Gino retires, there may be one less.

And the men very well may hit a new "goldern era" over the next few years, with the program enjoying a honeymoon with fans. The likes of which hasn't been seen in decades.

I think I'd be tempted to let both programs breathe for the next season or two, and then leverage the presumed success to go all out for a new facility. Just keep doing the cheap, low hanging fruit for now. More ice cream machines...hell, bring in some food trucks and let people order from their seats and have it delivered down to them, throw in a few porta potties down low, and jam in a few more students around the court.

And then go with a 10,000 or so throwback fieldhouse style arena that wouldn't require an enormous footprint. Not a bad seat in the house. Close to at least a few bars and restaurants. Honor the past. Celebrate the present. We deserve it.

And fill in that pit in the ground for good.
Click to expand...
Interesting take. One plan floated way back was to build a basketball-only arena on the footprint of the Old Capitol Center, which could have been really cool. There are too many University offices in that space now. Certain departments would go apoplectic if they got kicked out of that space for a sports facility. Wouldn't it be cool to go to the ped mall before and after a big game? I'm sure the city would hate it too because of the traffic and parking chaos it would create.
 
Seth53 said:
I'll echo other's observations....to have to hoof it up to the top from the bottom areas to go to the bathroom, get food, exit the facility...it's a chore. Not a good design at all.
Click to expand...
No argument on the design. Just saying going to a live sporting event isn't supposed to be as easy as watching it at home on the tube
 
SwirlinLingerie said:
Time to just blow that place up. I would be super hesitant to drop any more money into it. You can either have a modern, multi-purpose, 15,000 to 18,000 seat arena with all the amenities, or you can have an intimate, smaller venue designed as an ideal basketball arena (some of these vintages ones still exist, other ones in this style are being built today).

What you don't want is Carver.

If I'm Goetz, I'd be really tempted to keep my powder dry for the next year or two. Iowa City is becoming an absolute mecca for women's basketball, and Jan is taking recruiting to an elite level. There are only a handful of programs above Iowa right now (at most), and when Gino retires, there may be one less.

And the men very well may hit a new "goldern era" over the next few years, with the program enjoying a honeymoon with fans. The likes of which hasn't been seen in decades.

I think I'd be tempted to let both programs breathe for the next season or two, and then leverage the presumed success to go all out for a new facility. Just keep doing the cheap, low hanging fruit for now. More ice cream machines...hell, bring in some food trucks and let people order from their seats and have it delivered down to them, throw in a few porta potties down low, and jam in a few more students around the court.

And then go with a 10,000 or so throwback fieldhouse style arena that wouldn't require an enormous footprint. Not a bad seat in the house. Close to at least a few bars and restaurants. Honor the past. Celebrate the present. We deserve it.

And fill in that pit in the ground for good.
Click to expand...
I like where your head is at, and I do not disagree that a new BB arena closer to campus would be ideal.

That said, donor money is not a limitless thing. Yes, factors such as success on the court can loosen the purse strings, but at schools such as Iowa, there is only so much donor money. And, you have to keep some of that donor money for NIL expenditures every year. Iowa doesn't have oil, Nike, or Shark Tank wealth.

I suspect that Beth and her finance team shook the trees on enough funding for a new arena and it was out of reach. Gotta be 250 mil to build a new arena these days. That's nearly 4 times what they need for just the renovation.

Because I suspect that the money is just not there for a new arena, I would rather put some lipstick on the pig. It is way overdue. Carver deserves a make-over/reset, even if it does not solve all the problems.
 
I know, I wasn't necessarily being all that realistic.

That said, I think Baylor's smallish basketball arena was in that $200-225M price range, and included funding from both the city and university.

I wish the university would seek out something similar. A facility that could also be used for concerts and host high school events - literally an arena to bridge the gap between the university and the city. Both parties benefit.

Of course, I'd expect the university to be the main cash behind the venture.

If only they had something crazy, like a projected billion dollars from TV money over the next decade, flowing in. It'd be like the land of milk and honey. I doubt they'd even know what to with all the money at that point.
 
USBHawk said:
Interesting take. One plan floated way back was to build a basketball-only arena on the footprint of the Old Capitol Center, which could have been really cool. There are too many University offices in that space now. Certain departments would go apoplectic if they got kicked out of that space for a sports facility. Wouldn't it be cool to go to the ped mall before and after a big game? I'm sure the city would hate it too because of the traffic and parking chaos it would create.
Click to expand...
I would love this. It's been a long time since I've lived in IC, but people being able to walk around the downtown area and spend money at restaurants and bars would be a great thing. Great for the economy.
 
Gander Hawk said:
If the premium seating moves the blue hairs away from the court that's a plus.
Click to expand...
I officially retired and considered a senior, but get me into a sports arena it’s on.

I understand what you are saying as I have seen some of those people sitting at games like they are in a nursing home in a wheelchair.
 
hawkdrummer1 said:
This would be the bomb. a 12,000 seat arena where they're packed in like Kinnick. Lots of student tickets.
Click to expand...
They have already said that capacity is going to shrink. When they convert some of the seating to suites and hospitality areas, it will decrease total seats. No concerns there. We have had like 3 sellouts in the last few years for the men. If Iowa had unlimited dollars, a new arena would be great, but we already bought a new floor and are starting renovations soon. Hopefully, there are visible and noticeable upgrades for the fans.
 
I don't know. They've already asked for up to $70M. These things never end up being less than you think. I just don't see much change in the overall experience for the average fan - including those watching on tv - for $70M. Does the new floor do anything for anyone?
 
NorthKCHawk said:
They have already said that capacity is going to shrink. When they convert some of the seating to suites and hospitality areas, it will decrease total seats. No concerns there. We have had like 3 sellouts in the last few years for the men. If Iowa had unlimited dollars, a new arena would be great, but we already bought a new floor and are starting renovations soon. Hopefully, there are visible and noticeable upgrades for the fans.
Click to expand...
Technically we bought a used floor. :)
 
SwirlinLingerie said:
I don't know. They've already asked for up to $70M. These things never end up being less than you think. I just don't see much change in the overall experience for the average fan - including those watching on tv - for $70M. Does the new floor do anything for anyone?
Click to expand...
The TV experience will only change if the fan engagement improves. Beth has already started that with getting the kids closer to the floor. We need more of that so that the arena has energy again.

I think the fans attending will see marginal improvements. They are planning more restrooms and concessions. I am sure some money will go towards freshening up the overall look (paint, signage, decor, TVs, etc). There will be some upgrades, but it will not be a radical change with that sort of money, and I am sure a decent chunk of that is earmarked for suites and hospitality additions.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.


Latest posts

Share this page



Top