I still hear donors run the show. They aren't giving up their seats. Sucks, but true.
It is a hard situation. While it is a good time with respect to attendence to make changes, it is a bad time to upset your existing paying customers. Even though they might not show up for games, they still buy the duckets. Are you going to tell them you are taking their seats so students, who haven't shown much interest have the possibility of getting courtside seats for a fraction of the price the donors are paying - particularly when these donors are paying for the Carver renovation?
While I don't have a perfect solution, my first move would be to get rid of the huge press section. Those are prime seats. I would move the donors from the South? Side of the arena across to the press section and give that whole part of the arena access to club concessions and restrooms in the new wing. That might placate the moved donors. Then move the print print press up the stadium and put a television table in front of a student section on SRO risers on the Southside. The print guys would have access to the club area, which would placate them. And the TV guys would just be able to walk across the floor to get there.
It is a hard situation. While it is a good time with respect to attendence to make changes, it is a bad time to upset your existing paying customers. Even though they might not show up for games, they still buy the duckets. Are you going to tell them you are taking their seats so students, who haven't shown much interest have the possibility of getting courtside seats for a fraction of the price the donors are paying - particularly when these donors are paying for the Carver renovation?
While I don't have a perfect solution, my first move would be to get rid of the huge press section. Those are prime seats. I would move the donors from the South? Side of the arena across to the press section and give that whole part of the arena access to club concessions and restrooms in the new wing. That might placate the moved donors. Then move the print print press up the stadium and put a television table in front of a student section on SRO risers on the Southside. The print guys would have access to the club area, which would placate them. And the TV guys would just be able to walk across the floor to get there.