Carver Arena is BORING

[Hawk5656]

Crowd looked particularly bad tonight. Of course a 6:30 start on a Sunday certainly doesn't help.

I feel like this excuse gets used every night game. 6:00 start and the excuse is it's too early. 8:00 is too late. 6:30 on a weekend should not be a reason not to go. We're a top 5 team, it's crazy to me there isn't a great crowd for every game

 

[tm3308]

I feel like this excuse gets used every night game. 6:00 start and the excuse is it's too early. 8:00 is too late. 6:30 on a weekend should not be a reason not to go. We're a top 5 team, it's crazy to me there isn't a great crowd for every game

6:00pm on a weeknight is early. 6:30 on a Sunday night is late, especially given the weather yesterday. I'll buy that for people deciding not to make the trip from out of town. But that doesn't excuse the people who do show up and then sit on their hands.

 

[IOWuh]

I'll never understand why they have SO many columns of stairs. They could get rid of at least 1/2 of the stairs, I would create a large section for the students and get keep one row of stairs on the outside of each. See Carver seating compared to Illini. Packing students together is what creates the noise and atmosphere. Most college arenas do this far better than Carver.

I agree with this. All of the stairs wind up making the first ten rows look very sparse. It's not that people aren't in the seats, it's that there are 6-8 people and then a big walk way and then 6-8 more people.

The students need better seats. Let them in for free. Give them signs, Fat Heads, and free hot dogs. Problem solved. Either that or let one of the sports management classes at Iowa take the lead. Make it their final exam to find a way to flood the student section. It would be solved in three seconds flat.

 

[bcl20]

I feel like this excuse gets used every night game. 6:00 start and the excuse is it's too early. 8:00 is too late. 6:30 on a weekend should not be a reason not to go. We're a top 5 team, it's crazy to me there isn't a great crowd for every game

Every game the start time is used as an excuse. We just don't have a big basketball following anymore.

 

[ClintonIAfan]

Today I was thinking about the best location for the new arena in the 2030s. I say put next to where the recreation building is now. By then it is likely that the University will be ready to replace that facility if not sooner. It is across the street from Kinnick Stadium so all the Kinnick parking is convenient for the location. It has enough room for a 17,000 seat arena. I like having football and basketball next to each other.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Good lord, how many times are we going to do this thread? The Carver atmosphere isnt ideal, but there is no immediate fix...Unless Iowa becomes a blue blood it may never get "fixed".

On a side note, they really need to badly paint the "city owned water tower"!!

 

[Sirhouseman]

I had crappy tickets, but moved down over into the half-full student section (lame) and my wife and I laughed at how many of them were on their phones most of the time. The hard core students were, of course loud and raucous down by the court, but those in front of us and every row we could actually see were just lit up with phones.

Ah youth and their gadgets.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

I'm so freaking sick of hearing this complaint. I had student tickets when Carver first opened and I thought the atmosphere was fantastic. The students showed up then, and the seating, as far as I know, was the same as it is now. We didn't have to be promised front row seats to go to a game, but we never would have voted in droves for a Socialist to be President of the United States, either. No idea why they don't go to the games, but it's not because of Kinnick. The students haven't even been going to the football games... I suppose that's Kinnick's fault.

I gave you a thumbs up for that one line in there. No crap.

 

[HawkeyeWalker]

This team is just going through the motions now.

Cmon tweeter. Geez man.

 

[Bigtenchamp]

really these carver threads...

It's just B****** and beating a dead horse. It's such an overblown and vague argument.

Teams don't win national championships because "their crowd is loud."

There is no "Hilton Magic" in the NCAA tourney.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

I had crappy tickets, but moved down over into the half-full student section (lame) and my wife and I laughed at how many of them were on their phones most of the time. The hard core students were, of course loud and raucous down by the court, but those in front of us and every row we could actually see were just lit up with phones.

Ah youth and their gadgets.

Figures. Ok, so whoever is in charge of the student section (if anyone?) needs to say "no phones - come and cheer!"

I never understood why you would bother going to a game or something if you're just going to sit there and d!ck around on your phone all night and ignore what's going on around you. Can anyone peel themselves away from their phones for 5 fricken minutes anymore?

Must be an Iowa thing, then, because other student sections seem to, you know, actually pay attention to the game and make noise.

 

[Stanzi]

I don't think the students need to be all around the court, but at least put them directly behind both baskets like at ISU. Also, give them something, anything, to wave like crazy such as fatheads, posters, etc.

 

[BigD]

Maybe we need to screen ticket-buyers to who even know the Iowa Fight Song? Make 'em scream the words as the top of their lungs before they can purchase game seats, even the season tix holders.

Lol, now that would be funny. "Nope that was a terrible rendition of the fight song. Now get your Azz out of here."

 

[Knight78]

I'll never understand why they have SO many columns of stairs. They could get rid of at least 1/2 of the stairs, I would create a large section for the students and get keep one row of stairs on the outside of each. See Carver seating compared to Illini. Packing students together is what creates the noise and atmosphere. Most college arenas do this far better than Carver.

I disagree. When you are at the top there are more seats, thus farther to go (and more people to bother) when you have to get up and get concessions, use the head, etc.

What I think should happen is that the students should get the bottom rows that are the pull-out, temporary bleacher seats. Take out the last row or two so there are like 10 rows or so for the students, yet the "sit on your hands" crowd can still see while the students are on their feet and jumping around. Other arenas across the country are doing this and students are showing up in droves. Put the pep band behind the visitor bench. Do all these things and you won't lose much for seating capacity but you will gain a LOT of student noise and the band can play during timeouts to distract the visiting team.

 

[Knight78]

Maybe we need to screen ticket-buyers to who even know the Iowa Fight Song? Make 'em scream the words as the top of their lungs before they can purchase game seats, even the season tix holders.

Hey, I went to Wartburg and I know the CORRECT words to the Iowa Fight Song. I have several friends who went to Iowa and STILL don't know the correct words to the Iowa Fight Song.

 

[Knight78]

For the 400th time, name all of the BT schools that actually seat their students around the court, or shut up.

Michigan State, Michigan, Purdue, Indiana, Maryland, Illinois, Ohio State, Wisconsin. Not sure of the others as my memory is faulty.

 

[Cardinals54]

I enjoy Carver Hawkeye Arena, and I don't find it boring at all. In fact Iowa has not lost there since last season! One thing though I did hear on a podcast about planning a replacement arena. CHA is now 33 years old, roughly 50 is a good lifespan. That would be over 20 since the last renovation. With how long these things take to plan the beginning phases might be starting soon propelled by Iowa's success. It is a good time to fund raise, and the demand is higher for tickets.

A few major things need to be considered. First a good location. It should be easy walking distance for students, and be close to the campus parking areas. So space may be limited. The solution is to build up, rather than out. This will make increase the noise level inside by bringing fans closer to the court. Make it 2 tier, make it loud. Get 17,000 plus inside too. Make it a place that opposing teams hate to play at. Make the opposing team's locker rooms pink! Build it of red brick so it has that classic feel to it too. Do not build it in Coralville or by I-80 in a wide not intimate expanse. Have it ready for 2033 and let's rock it!

Is this freeking serious. You mean to tell me that nobody can design a structure / building / arena that will last longer than 50 f**k**g years anymore?? No wonder the nation is broke. What the hell is wrong with this picture?? "Our arena was built in 1985. It's ANCIENT! We MUST have a brand new one before someone notices." Are engineers that worthless in the modern era?

 

[ClintonIAfan]

Watch your language, posts such as that have no place on this forum. Many of our children read this forum. Also, 1985 is wrong. Public funds need not be used either as donations are often times raised for these projects. Let us just look at the reality of how long the team has used facilities.

Close Hall 2 years (1902-1904).
The Armory 14 years ( 1905-1919).
The "new" Armory (later ajoined to fieldhouse) 6 years (1920-1926)
The Fieldhouse 55 years (1927-1982)

Plans to replace the field house were first proposed by Ralph Miller in the late 1960s. Approximately 15 years before it was completed. So yes it might be time to start planning.

 

[tm3308]

Michigan State, Michigan, Purdue, Indiana, Maryland, Illinois, Ohio State, Wisconsin. Not sure of the others as my memory is faulty.

Not according to their arena seating charts. They're either behind the baskets or in the corner like Iowa's.

MSU, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio State all do it. After them and the schools you incorrectly listed, there really aren't any atmospheres in the B1G worth bragging about, whether they put students courtside or not.

 

[IndianaHawk]

I know I have mentioned it before, but we have dead areas behind both hoops(ground level). Why don't we offer students standing room only behind both hoops? Is there something I am missing, but there is nothing there. On TV you just see empty floor space.