Dave Reynolds 5/25/10

[Da Coach]

Yes, there was competetion for every available street spot for many blocks in every direction. I would get to the Fieldhoue a hour before games and still ended up a couple blocks away. I didn't mind the walk, except when it was raining or extremely cold. I remember that there were always a lot of people who never seemed to shovel their sidewalks. Now it is illegal for non-residents to park in those neighborhoods, so all those people who would have parked on the streets now would have to try to fit into a parking deck that was designed for only a few hundred cars.
Then there were the massive traffic jams on every street leading away from the Fieldhouse after every game as everyone headed for Main St. or University St. I recall those days fondly, because it gave us a chance to sit in our car for a long time and listen to the postgame show with Dave Snell and the coach.

[BradleyJD]

So is it better to have 11,000 people trying to find parking or the fact that half of the season ticket holders won't be allowed to attend a home game because they can't afford another $1,000 for 1 game?

[jeffsu]

Oh, and you don't have to pay an extra $1,000 just to see one more game. That is for just the best (closest) 500 seats in the arena. The other 3,700 seats will be up for grabs. Plus, its a 4,200 seat arena - it isn't like you are going to be in the nose bleeds.

So is it better to have 11,000 people trying to find parking or the fact that half of the season ticket holders won't be allowed to attend a home game because they can't afford another $1,000 for 1 game?

Already covered.

So are we upset about this because it's a change or because we think there's a legit gripe? Cross explanation that the # of games people will get in their season package will be virtually the same as past years have had...

I'm guessing the same people that don't like this are the ones that hated the black jerseys, too...

[houstontxbrave]

Just curious but would it have or could it be possible to build a large "near" on campus arena where Shea stadium now sits?

Seems like it would be a large enough land area to build an arena and a parking structure.

[BradleyJD]

Already covered.

So are we upset about this because it's a change or because we think there's a legit gripe? Cross explanation that the # of games people will get in their season package will be virtually the same as past years have had...

I'm guessing the same people that don't like this are the ones that hated the black jerseys, too...

Wikipedia defines season tickets as such: In sport, a season ticket grants the holder access to all regular-season home games for one season without additional charges.

The number of home games does fluctuate from year to year, agreed. However, season ticket holders should get tickets to every home game, not just some of them.

For the record, I liked the black uniforms and want them to be permanent.

...and I still think this off-site home game is wrong.

[tornado]

Really? I saw quite a few contradictory statements.....

"We don’t want to limit people’s ability to see games."

Then keep all games at the Civic Center.


"For a particular opponent, a smaller venue might make sense."

"There are some practical reasons for doing this, and scheduling is No. 1"

Sounds to me like all games are an option, not just a "particular opponent" where "a smaller venue might make sense".


The PSO press release says this.....

"In addition, the men's basketball team will host one of its two preseason exhibition games and all potential home games in campus-site postseason tournaments on campus."

Michael Cross says this regarding postseason tournament games.....

"We’re not locked into the perspective that it’s one place or the other."

Which is it?

but sg
-- keeping them downtown limits all the students' ability to see the games, right?
--and what if Gonzaga, Michigan State, or UC-Davis would come to Peoria but only on Dec. 24, a date that the Civic Center is booked....wouldn't it be nice to at least have one alternate option?
--lastly - almost all the NIT, CBI, etc games were very costly for BU as we didn't come close to filling the Civic Center....had those games been held in the proposed new arena, BU would have made a bundle, and isn't that part of the whole business of operating an athletic dept??

[shaunguth]

but sg
-- keeping them downtown limits all the students' ability to see the games, right?
--and what if Gonzaga, Michigan State, or UC-Davis would come to Peoria but only on Dec. 24, a date that the Civic Center is booked....wouldn't it be nice to at least have one alternate option?
--lastly - almost all the NIT, CBI, etc games were very costly for BU as we didn't come close to filling the Civic Center....had those games been held in the proposed new arena, BU would have made a bundle, and isn't that part of the whole business of operating an athletic dept??

First of all, I don't believe anyone's ability to see the games is limited until you decide to play them in a smaller venue than the PCC.

I'm just wondering why these statements seem to contradict previous statements. I fail to see the "solid logic" in the statements that I quoted previously.

Clearly, the very first statement defies "solid logic". If you "don't want to limit people's ability to see games", then don't do it.

First, it's stated that "a smaller venue might make sense" for a particular opponent. Maybe I'm taking that wrong, but I take that as meaning teams like Wofford, Presbyterian, East Tennessee State, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Florida Gulf Coast, etc. Then it's stated that it would make sense to use it for scheduling other schools in cases when the PCC isn't available. The combination of these two statements leads me to believe that most games would be an option.

The statements regarding postseason games in the PSO press release and the statement made by Michael Cross are completely contradictory. Either "all potential home games" will be played on campus or "we're not locked into one place or the other".

As far as not filling the PCC, how many times has that EVER happened? Not a very large percentage of the time. I've posted the exact numbers before, but the average attendance of the last eight postseason home games is over 6,500. That means an average of 36% of those people would be left without a ticket at the smaller venue. In some cases, it would be around 50% of the people left without a ticket. Just doesn't make sense to me to "reward" the people that come to every regular season game by stating that all campus-site postseason games will be played at the new arena.

[BradleyBrave]

Unfortunately I think it's another example of a combination of poor planning on BU's part, and a poor relationship between BU, the neighborhood, and the City of Peoria. The relationship with the City and neighborhood I think is what led to the poor planning. While I think BU is posturing like it has improved its position with the PCC, in reality I don't think much has changed. They (The PCC) know as well as we do that 4,200 just doesn't get the job done unless BU is dropping down to Division III.

[shaunguth]

Unfortunately I think it's another example of a combination of poor planning on BU's part, and a poor relationship between BU, the neighborhood, and the City of Peoria. The relationship with the City and neighborhood I think is what led to the poor planning. While I think BU is posturing like it has improved its position with the PCC, in reality I don't think much has changed. They (The PCC) know as well as we do that 4,200 just doesn't get the job done unless BU is dropping down to Division III.

Exactly......the whole "leverage" argument doesn't make much sense to me either. If they had even 6,500 seats, maybe......but definitely not 4,200.

[SFP]

If BU still has problems with City Hall then it is time for BU to start spending its money on political clout. The Supreme Court has ruled that Corporations/organization have the right to spend as much money as they like on political causes. When is the next big election in Peoria?

[BradleyBrave]

If BU still has problems with City Hall then it is time for BU to start spending its money on political clout. The Supreme Court has ruled that Corporations/organization have the right to spend as much money as they like on political causes. When is the next big election in Peoria?

I would hope that the Chicago-style corruption doesn't infect the BU and Peoria landscape. There's enough in Cook County and Springfield for the entire midwest. Plus, I am not sure if that's really the best way to spend BU's limited amounts of money. Keeping Caterpillar happy is a lot more important to the university than keeping some idealistic self-righteous councilmen happy. Besides, the facility has been already built. It's too late to try and fix it at this point.

[Chico]

but sg
-- keeping them downtown limits all the students' ability to see the games, right?
--and what if Gonzaga, Michigan State, or UC-Davis would come to Peoria but only on Dec. 24, a date that the Civic Center is booked....wouldn't it be nice to at least have one alternate option?
--lastly - almost all the NIT, CBI, etc games were very costly for BU as we didn't come close to filling the Civic Center....had those games been held in the proposed new arena, BU would have made a bundle, and isn't that part of the whole business of operating an athletic dept??

Playing games downtown doesn't limit the students ability to see the games. They know where it's at and how to get there. I doubt very much if Bradley would schedule the likes of the opponents you mentioned on a date they couldn't get use of the CC.
I have no problem with using the new arena for the likes of the CBI, etc. However the NIT might be a different story.

[shaunguth]

I have no problem with using the new arena for the likes of the CBI, etc. However the NIT might be a different story.

You are still shutting people out. Besides, the last CBI game in 2008 drew 9,000 while the NIT game in 2007 drew 8,300. I really don't see any need for the men to play anything other than exhibition games at the new arena.

[Chico]

You are still shutting people out. Besides, the last CBI game in 2008 drew 9,000 while the NIT game in 2007 drew 8,300. I really don't see any need for the men to play anything other than exhibition games at the new arena.

I stand corrected. I'm gone that time of the season and didn't realize they had such good attendance. Just exibition games at the new arena.

[AZ BU Fan]

Win, and they(fans/students) will come, even at Carver...

Everyone makes decisions as to how they will spend their discretionary time/money. If the product is interesting/appealing, people will choose it vs other options they have.