"IF" The Hawks Built A New Arena

[HawkIowa44]

Where are possible sites to put one?

How about just west of Carver going down the hill? You could still utilize parts of the Carver expansion with a walkway to it. Still be close to the parking areas as well.

The wooded area by Finkbine? It would be close to parking as well.

Downtown where Hubbard Park is? Somewhere else downtown?

The west side of Hwy 6 in Coralville?

Seems like a lot of people want a potential new arena somewhere downtown, but there are plenty of options.

 

[Fryowa]

 

[HawkIowa44]

How much land does the university own and how much of that is sitting empty or with little use?

 

[Fryowa]

How much land does the university own and how much of that is sitting empty or with little use?

You can go on the Johnson county assessor's website and search all their listings, they own of metric shitload of land and buildings in and around Iowa City.

I think they should put it where I screen grabbed because they already own it, the sports it would be displacing are cheap comparatively and would be easy to relocate, and it's right off Melrose. Could easily put it there and still keep the Hall of Fame where it is.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

You can go on the Johnson county assessor's website and search all their listings, they own of metric shitload of land and buildings in and around Iowa City.

I think they should put it where I screen grabbed because they already own it, the sports it would be displacing are cheap comparatively and would be easy to relocate, and it's right off Melrose. Could easily put it there and still keep the Hall of Fame where it is.

The only problem I see is that they already have an issue getting students to cross the river to go to Carver and that has always been a complaint. Now to push it out west near Morman Trek & the Interstate would add to the issue, IMO. Now selfishly, as a 50+ yr old fan, I would luv that area as is plenty of space with options, easy in and easy out, fairly flat, etc.. Students aren't going to walk there in the dead of winter and they may not want to ride the Cambus. Maybe they would. I dunno.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

The only problem I see is that they already have an issue getting students to cross the river to go to Carver and that has always been a complaint. Now to push it out west near Morman Trek & the Interstate would add to the issue, IMO. Now selfishly, as a 50+ yr old fan, I would luv that area as is plenty of space with options, easy in and easy out, fairly flat, etc.. Students aren't going to walk there in the dead of winter and they may not want to ride the Cambus. Maybe they would. I dunno.

But, to add, Iowa may not have a choice to go out there at this point, unless they were able to buy enough land downtown, raze some buildings and have enough room for parking, but, that would take a lot of space and most likely will not happen. Also, this point is pretty much moot as they just completed the entire new wrestling complex in Carver.

 

[Fryowa]

But, to add, Iowa may not have a choice to go out there at this point, unless they were able to buy enough land downtown, raze some buildings and have enough room for parking, but, that would take a lot of space and most likely will not happen. Also, this point is pretty much moot as they just completed the entire new wrestling complex in Carver.

5 years ago I would've said wrestling could support being the sole occupant of CHA. They fill it better than (men's) basketball. But with NIL and Penn State wrestling Iowa's not a contender in the sport anymore and you're going to see attendance start to bomb.

I'd still love to see a new sports complex go out where I showed on the map. I think it would work. But I also know it's not going to happen. If they do anything it will be to move Hawks basketball to Cedar Rapids for a couple years and renovate CHA. Woof.

 

[Chickenlounge]

Selfishly I would love a downtown arena where the mall is now, because as long as it's not crazy cold, I could walk that 1.5 miles from my front door to the new arena easily.

Also, if they would start hosting concerts again, having a big-ish venue for larger bands right in downtown would be pretty fun.

 

[Fryowa]

Selfishly I would love a downtown arena where the mall is now, because as long as it's not crazy cold, I could walk that 1.5 miles from my front door to the new arena easily.

Also, if they would start hosting concerts again, having a big-ish venue for larger bands right in downtown would be pretty fun.

I think parking and leaving would be too much of a nightmare if they put it downtown. Yeah you could build more parking or make the existing ramps bigger, but you’re still going to have deadlock for an hour after games with everyone trying to get to 80/380 via Riverside. There’s only one way out of town from there and having a single bottleneck at Riverside is going to be standstill traffic no matter how much parking you add.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

I think parking and leaving would be too much of a nightmare if they put it downtown. Yeah you could build more parking or make the existing ramps bigger, but you’re still going to have deadlock for an hour after games with everyone trying to get to 80/380 via Riverside. There’s only one way out of town from there and having a single bottleneck at Riverside is going to be standstill traffic no matter how much parking you add.

Iowa City is the worst town to drive through. Stop and go all the way out from any direction. It's an old city so doesn't have any major highway going thru it to access. I wish they would do a 4 lane from S of town I-380 around the east side up to I-80. That would be nice.

Agree, the navigation to and from would be a huge issue if it was downtown.

 

[Fryowa]

Iowa City is the worst town to drive through. Stop and go all the way out from any direction. It's an old city so doesn't have any major highway going thru it to access. I wish they would do a 4 lane from S of town I-380 around the east side up to I-80. That would be nice.

Agree, the navigation to and from would be a huge issue if it was downtown.

We tailgate in the Myrtle neighborhood and after the short walk back post game which takes about 10 minutes we wait at least an hour and a half before we even attempt to get out. I love Kinnick and always will, but it's the worst stadium in the world to leave from.

I could either sit in the tailgate in my comfy lawn chair for an hour, or sit on Riverside idling my car and burning gas shifting in and out of park for an hour. Saturday even when we finally got on 380 to Cedar Rapids it was still 0-15 MPH for about 10 miles north. I don't think we ever hit the speed limit once from IC to CR.

Hancher is an option obviously, but the time spent still is about the same when you factor in the shuttles, etc. My son and his girlfriend got to Hancher last Saturday about 10:00 planning on parking there and walking to our tailgate to join us (we only have one spot). It was full by then so they had to go to the Mennonite lot for $30.

I've been to 17 MLB ballparks, I don't know how many college, NFL football stadiums, and 3 NBA arenas. Huge concerts at some of the biggest venues in the country. None of them is even close to the pain in the ass in Iowa City after a game.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

We tailgate in the Myrtle neighborhood and after the short walk back post game which takes about 10 minutes we wait at least an hour and a half before we even attempt to get out. I love Kinnick and always will, but it's the worst stadium in the world to leave from.

I could either sit in the tailgate in my comfy lawn chair for an hour, or sit on Riverside idling my car and burning gas shifting in and out of park for an hour. Saturday even when we finally got on 380 to Cedar Rapids it was still 0-15 MPH for about 10 miles north. I don't think we ever hit the speed limit once from IC to CR.

Hancher is an option obviously, but the time spent still is about the same when you factor in the shuttles, etc. My son and his girlfriend got to Hancher last Saturday about 10:00 planning on parking there and walking to our tailgate to join us (we only have one spot). It was full by then so they had to go to the Mennonite lot for $30.

I've been to 17 MLB ballparks, I don't know how many college, NFL football stadiums, and 3 NBA arenas. Huge concerts at some of the biggest venues in the country. None of them is even close to the pain in the ass in Iowa City after a game.

I live down here and even on non-game days, it takes at least 20 min to go anywhere. I'm talking mid week mid day. Stop & go, stop and go. It's mind numbing!

 

[Chickenlounge]

I think parking and leaving would be too much of a nightmare if they put it downtown. Yeah you could build more parking or make the existing ramps bigger, but you’re still going to have deadlock for an hour after games with everyone trying to get to 80/380 via Riverside. There’s only one way out of town from there and having a single bottleneck at Riverside is going to be standstill traffic no matter how much parking you add.

Totally agree. That's why it was only my selfish wish.

 

[hawkdrummer1]

They should have rebuilt on the original Field House site. It was perfect. As it stands a good location isn't available and CHA is a dump

 

[Fryowa]

They should have rebuilt on the original Field House site. It was perfect. As it stands a good location isn't available and CHA is a dump

I think the location I screenshotted above would be perfect.

- The U already owns every bit of it. Don't have to pay someone $50M for land.

- Plenty of parking room.

- Iowa HOF right there and could stay there.

- Could probably even be done without moving tennis and XC facilities.

- Mormon Trek connects to 218/380 both north and southbound, and Hwy 6/2nd St. main drag to the north which also connects to 218/380/Riverside.

-Melrose connects to 218/380 north and southbound.

-PLENTY of room for nightlife/hotel/food/shopping development.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

We tailgate in the Myrtle neighborhood and after the short walk back post game which takes about 10 minutes we wait at least an hour and a half before we even attempt to get out. I love Kinnick and always will, but it's the worst stadium in the world to leave from.

I could either sit in the tailgate in my comfy lawn chair for an hour, or sit on Riverside idling my car and burning gas shifting in and out of park for an hour. Saturday even when we finally got on 380 to Cedar Rapids it was still 0-15 MPH for about 10 miles north. I don't think we ever hit the speed limit once from IC to CR.

Hancher is an option obviously, but the time spent still is about the same when you factor in the shuttles, etc. My son and his girlfriend got to Hancher last Saturday about 10:00 planning on parking there and walking to our tailgate to join us (we only have one spot). It was full by then so they had to go to the Mennonite lot for $30.

I've been to 17 MLB ballparks, I don't know how many college, NFL football stadiums, and 3 NBA arenas. Huge concerts at some of the biggest venues in the country. None of them is even close to the pain in the ass in Iowa City after a game.

I can't drive like that... I just can't... I don't have a lead foot but the worst driving around I have anymore is when I go through St Louis and that can be a shit show at the wrong times for about 20 miles or so.