attendance at Drake game

[SaintLouBrave22]

Personally, I like cherry picking things from all the places I've been to over the years...


Scoreboard at Scottrade Center

Open area inside arena part (setup) from NIU Convocation Center

Outer concourse from Qwest Center in Omaha



Well, thats just to name a few...


I really liked the backdrop from All-State when we went there as well...closeness of the action would have to favor Drake, UNI, and NIU, but like was previously said...you can do that when you're not trying to pack 10k+ in there...

[thefish7]

Personally, I like cherry picking things from all the places I've been to over the years...

I'm with you. Except for the hockey issue (ice and scheduling), I like Carver fine, but I don't see why we shouldn't be thinking of how to improve our next vnue for that day that necessity sees us moving out of there.

[SaintLouBrave22]

I'm with you. Except for the hockey issue (ice and scheduling), I like Carver fine, but I don't see why we shouldn't be thinking of how to improve our next vnue for that day that necessity sees us moving out of there.

I agree there...


Really need to think about how they can handle things financially and get somewhere that they will be the real only attraction during that time of year...(ie no hockey)


I would still try to get some money by hosting some concerts and small events in the new establishment, but something more concrete like hockey and football would be out...

I would imagine its a much harder sell to bring a player in on a visit when there is ice on the floor or goalposts up. (and yes, I know the Pirates are gone)

Real hard for a player to envision playing here based on that outlook.

[Chico]

Agree SFP-- though in my own fantasies for such a thing, we're talking more like 15K attendance-- that we can then fill because of the recent success we will have been having in the pervious years. Carver is a decent enough place for us to play some basketball, and seeing a game at the Knapp Center showed me just how different it can be... There was just a huge difference to the atmosphere in the place. Knapp Center was fun to watch from because it's small and you're much closer to the floor, but in every other way it just highlighted the huge differences-- from services, to presentation, to the crowd.

Anyway, Carver being a decent place for a basketball game doesn't mean you take your eyes off of what you want down the road. I want a purpose-built basketball facility with enough seating that we can host NCAA regionals (and a program successful enough to justify that level of seating). If possible, I think it's better if such a facility is closer to campus rather than farther. I think it's best if it's just off campus, personally, because of the beer factor. I see no long-term reason that the hilltop is an impossible location for such a facility given time to develop the area. No reason why parking is an issue, no reason why space is an issue. Campustown (showing it's age these days, btw) was built on top of a slum, and there are plenty other slums around Bradley on which you could build a stadium and a parking deck. Doesn't have to be next week, doesn't have to be in the next 5-10 years, but if you keep your sights on the prize, there's no reason why you can't work towards what would be a better solution, ultimately.

The Fieldhouse didn't have beer and the Braves always drew great crowds there. They do sell beer other places before and after all games. Building an arena in a slum area doesn't do away with the slum area. Carver is just fine.

[thefish7]

The Fieldhouse didn't have beer and the Braves always drew great crowds there. They do sell beer other places before and after all games. Building an arena in a slum area doesn't do away with the slum area. Carver is just fine.

As I said, Carver IS just fine. It just won't always be so, and so it is better to go into a change with some idea of what you'd like to accomplish.

[DUBrave5]

I also like playing at Carver, but as a few on here have said, there may be a time that we can no longer play there and we will have to explore other options.

I think we have a good chance at an experimental run next season with the new Fieldhouse being finished. If we can schedule a couple exhibition games for the Men's team there and advertise it well to the students along with getting help from some of the local watering holes to promote the game for before and after alcohol sales, we can see what kind of crowd we may be able to draw. I know the problem is the fact that it would have to be an exhibition game and attendance is usually poor for those games, but given the right advertising, it could make for an interesting experiment.

When the time comes that we do have to move, I don't have a problem with an arena on the hilltop, but how far from campus would it have to be for it not to be considered "on-campus" so that we could sell alcohol. I know that is just a small portion but for some people that is a major draw to going to the games. If we are talking across the street or a block or two over, then maybe we could get more students out there since we do have 5000+ students but only a small portion that go to the games.

It would be nice to have arena here on the hilltop and I could sit here all day and dream up what I would want in a basketball stadium, but that just isn't going to happen. Until we need to move, Carver will continue to be a great place to play.

[thefish7]

I think the only thing needed to dodge NCAA restrictions on the serving of alcohol is probably just that it is not owned by the school or located on school grounds. As far as I'm concerned it can therefore be *very* close to Bradley. In fact, I can't help but think that the current location of Campustown wouldn't be a good spot a few years down the road. You could locate parking across Main Street (perhaps on top of a new shopping center/restaurants). A stadium there along with the improving conditions in the Uplands neighborhood and on Moss Ave, as well as the medical tech district corridor along Main St, you could really see a very revitalized hilltop.

[Chico]

I also like playing at Carver, but as a few on here have said, there may be a time that we can no longer play there and we will have to explore other options.

I think we have a good chance at an experimental run next season with the new Fieldhouse being finished. If we can schedule a couple exhibition games for the Men's team there and advertise it well to the students along with getting help from some of the local watering holes to promote the game for before and after alcohol sales, we can see what kind of crowd we may be able to draw. I know the problem is the fact that it would have to be an exhibition game and attendance is usually poor for those games, but given the right advertising, it could make for an interesting experiment.

When the time comes that we do have to move, I don't have a problem with an arena on the hilltop, but how far from campus would it have to be for it not to be considered "on-campus" so that we could sell alcohol. I know that is just a small portion but for some people that is a major draw to going to the games. If we are talking across the street or a block or two over, then maybe we could get more students out there since we do have 5000+ students but only a small portion that go to the games.

It would be nice to have arena here on the hilltop and I could sit here all day and dream up what I would want in a basketball stadium, but that just isn't going to happen. Until we need to move, Carver will continue to be a great place to play.

No one loves a cool brew more than I do, and I do have my share at Carver. By the way, thanks for the Bud Light OOB at my last game. But I can get by without one for 2 hours if need be. IMO that's a poor excuse for not supporting your team if you are a basketball fan.

[Out of Balance]

No one loves a cool brew more than I do, and I do have my share at Carver. By the way, thanks for the Bud Light OOB at my last game. But I can get by without one for 2 hours if need be. IMO that's a poor excuse for not supporting your team if you are a basketball fan.

Ha Chico, having a good time out there? We cold here! Just Sh** Hows the golf game friend? We're dreaming of golf here but we do have BU BB When you get back, we'll have a couple more You take care and don't get bit by any of those two legged rattle snakes out there

[Chico]

Ha Chico, having a good time out there? We cold here! Just Sh** Hows the golf game friend? We're dreaming of golf here but we do have BU BB When you get back, we'll have a couple more You take care and don't get bit by any of those two legged rattle snakes out there

Golf up and down as usual. Been kinda of chilly for the 9:00 tee times, but nice for the noon ones. Played 7 times since I left, but like I always say you never know how much you'll miss watching the young men representing Bradley U until you have to listen to the games on the radio, nothing against Dave of course. You guys all stay warm back there. See it's going down to below 0.HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY.