news from the hoopla

[theBUer]

Disappointed in the low turnout, but the campus overall does not have a lot of athletic school spirit. Greek life is only about a third of the student body, but their presence is well-known. When the athletic department had that golf cart parked outside of Bradley Hall, quite a few kids just walked past it and snickered.

If Bradley did not have the support of the community or the alums, BU would not be D-I.

[tornado]

...Tell me again why they couldn't add 1,500-2,000 seats above the lower bowl? ....

I will try, and I am not just targeting you, BB, but all those who comment without knowing that Bradley was limited by many, many powers that be outside of the university...but prior explanations seem to all fall on deaf ears..

there is basically one reason...
that if you go to build such a thing as BU did, you HAVE TO approach the city and the numerous committees, legal representatives, and governing bodies,
as well as the represntatives of other people in the region who might oppose your plans...then...submit them and request approval.
The city decides things based on what they deem best for the applicant AND the city and especially the surrounding neighbors, infrastructure, facilities, roads, homes, etc...

And then when you've done the best you can do, and gotten approval to build an arena with 4,200 permanent seats (and 4500 total seats maximum - see legal approval links below) and enough room to maybe even fit an extra 1000 in there, then you do the best you can do.

But if you forge right ahead and build an arena for 6,000 when you only have permits and approval for 4,200, then you are not only being stupid, you are violating laws and ordinances, and setting yourself up for fines and lawsuits. It continues to be patently absurd that people keep asking why we didn't do it since we didn't have permission nor legal right to do it!!

Here's another example, maybe it'll be understandable...
if the city approves you a permit to build a theater with a seating caopacity of 1000, and a maximum occupancy on 1200, but you decide eggheadedly to ignore the advice of lawyers, builders, and city officials, and forge right ahead and build a theater with 2500 seats, wouldn't that be about the absolute dumbest thing you could do??
Then all the people over on the message boards would be ripping into you for doing such a really stupid thing.

Here are just a few of the proceedings by the city that have limited what BU could do -- so BU did everything they could -- they should be applauded for getting the project done given the limitations and restrictions...

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:b-4iLUpIAcIJ:www.ci.peoria.il.us/officials/clerk/Agenda/MG49764/AS49768/AS49775/AI49915/DO49936/DO_49936.pdf+%22www.ci.peoria.il.us%22+and+%224500+seat+arena%22&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShd36Pyuf3djpBJsL1xfusDFX3PQyr5VUuaeUW9epfoWvTE1N_xIhjY-zcnOACv08eloLSWZq2XZz-azxOmpqPZeeOahXzZgXxCCLpS5bscHW4qgn7uJXIa5OCh1hb9vrUMXfwE&sig=AHIEtbRIFpcrh2xkbb9wPX_GKEPw2YBYtg

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:H9fANoYY98IJ:www.ci.peoria.il.us/officials/clerk/Agenda/MG57070/AS57074/AS57081/AI57119/DO57127/DO_57127.pdf+%22bradley%22+and+%22arena%22+and+%22peoria%22+and+%22approval%22&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjo-OVTbfF7CeA_pnZpnlqL6oJp6Q68i_xim8K1bLgUWBIQEMmZTYlr8MLdXJ1X4NHcaS0DFSi2dwCnbgeYuBwAsyrRJxi0Fcayx8-uZCwPXbl_w_mkh24fv2mEMb0bhHrxaG2y&sig=AHIEtbTHfd3r4v50UKe9zjmqGZGXLlwbjQ

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:fGRQXArA7RgJ:www.ci.peoria.il.us/resourcesmodule/download_resource/id/2575/src/%40random477cfc5f338a1/+%22bradley%22+and+%22arena%22+and+%22peoria%22+and+%22approval%22&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShYcdKERrXrNlPJk1obd4rGNsxXkZkBoD7nS7RmDCkgw60AMnKiotohvhxP18SWPtjMUL9So7VgGsNzia_Ja5osZ58MFkAPs_TYNuv280W8faex71bdMH7uJB1f_2u2zi_29pla&sig=AHIEtbTWHK9_tv5jN2HSe9WYMWlx7oDIUg

http://www.ci.peoria.il.us/city-clerk-minutes

http://www.ci.peoria.il.us/2006

Quoting the 1st link above...here is exactly what BU had permission to build, and nothing bigger could have possibly been built...
"130,000 square foot facility"
"4,500 seat arena" (4200 seats are permanent seats)
"parking deck - five story, 620 parking spaces - not to exceed height 66 feet"
..then the document goes on to describe the changes required and limits to the traffic patterns, traffic signals, lighting, lane additions, pedestrian lighting, fences, screens, sidewalks, lighting improvements, landscaping, and other safety, neighborhood concerns, etc., etc., etc.....

Disappointed in the low turnout..

The late start time, the area FB games and other events, the prior announcement that it would be mostly just player intros and not much basketball, and the fact that wasn't all that widely publicized outside of this message board and the BU web site..played a part in the low turnout, but frankly I am pleased we still had over 1600!

[BradleyBrave]

I will try, but it seems all the explanations fall on deaf ears..

there is basically one reason...
that if you go to build such a thing as BU did, you HAVE TO approach the city and the numerous committees, legal representatives, and governing bodies,
as well as the represntatives of other people in the region who might oppose your plans...then...submit them and request approval.
The city decides things based on what they deem best for the applicant AND the city and especially the surrounding neighbors, infrastructure, facilities, roads, homes, etc...

And then when you've done the best you can do, and gotten approval to build an arena with 4,200 permanent seats (and 4500 total seats maximum - see legal approval links below) and enough room to maybe even fit an extra 1000 in there, then you do the best you can do.

But if you forge right ahead and build an arena for 6,000 when you only have permits and approval for 4,200, then you are not only being stupid, you are violating laws and ordinances, and setting yourself up for fines and lawsuits. It continues to be patently absurd that people keep asking why we didn't do it since we didn't have permission nor legal right to do it!!

Here's another example, maybe it'll be understandable...
if the city approves you a permit to build a theater with a seating caopacity of 1000, and a maximum occupancy on 1200, but you decide eggheadedly to ignore the advice of lawyers, builders, and city officials, and forge right ahead and build a theater with 2500 seats, wouldn't that be about the absolute dumbest thing you could do??
Then all the people over on the message boards would be ripping into you for doing such a really stupid thing.

Here are just a few of the proceedings by the city that have limited what BU could do -- so BU did everything they could -- they should be applauded for getting the project done given the limitations and restrictions...
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=...PX_GKEPw2YBYtg

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:H9fANoYY98IJ:www.ci.peoria.il.us/officials/clerk/Agenda/MG57070/AS57074/AS57081/AI57119/DO57127/DO_57127.pdf+%22bradley%22+and+%22arena%22+and+%22peoria%22+and+%22approval%22&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjo-OVTbfF7CeA_pnZpnlqL6oJp6Q68i_xim8K1bLgUWBIQEMmZTYlr8MLdXJ1X4NHcaS0DFSi2dwCnbgeYuBwAsyrRJxi0Fcayx8-uZCwPXbl_w_mkh24fv2mEMb0bhHrxaG2y&sig=AHIEtbTHfd3r4v50UKe9zjmqGZGXLlwbjQ

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:fGRQXArA7RgJ:www.ci.peoria.il.us/resourcesmodule/download_resource/id/2575/src/%40random477cfc5f338a1/+%22bradley%22+and+%22arena%22+and+%22peoria%22+and+%22approval%22&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShYcdKERrXrNlPJk1obd4rGNsxXkZkBoD7nS7RmDCkgw60AMnKiotohvhxP18SWPtjMUL9So7VgGsNzia_Ja5osZ58MFkAPs_TYNuv280W8faex71bdMH7uJB1f_2u2zi_29pla&sig=AHIEtbTWHK9_tv5jN2HSe9WYMWlx7oDIUg

http://www.ci.peoria.il.us/city-clerk-minutes

http://www.ci.peoria.il.us/2006

Quoting the 1st link above...here is exactly what BU had permission to build, and nothing bigger could have possibly been built...
"130,000 square foot facility"
"4,500 seat arena" (4200 seats are permanent seats)
"parking deck - five story, 620 parking spaces - not to exceed height 66 feet"
..then the document goes on to describe the changes required and limits to the traffic patterns, traffic signals, lighting, lane additions, pedestrian lighting, fences, screens, sidewalks, lighting improvements, landscaping, and other safety, neighborhood concerns, etc., etc., etc.....

That was kind of my point...a point that silly, short-sighted, small-town politics once again held back the university.

[tornado]

yes, an no -- there are people in the area that didn't want this built at all... and one of them writes for the local newspaper...
Many, many properties had to be rezoned, and property owners with adjacent properties have some say in all this...and there were a lot of opposing voices and obstacles to overcome...
...all the rezoning was contingent on Bradley's ability to "resolve technical inconsistencies" and "pursue positive ongoing communication strategy with surrounding neighborhood associations"...so getting all this done was like fitting an ocean liner into a phone booth with a shoehorn...but BU got it done!
Asking for anything bigger just wouldn't have flown...so it is as it is......but could conceivably be expanded at some time in the future if the "environment" allows...

[Beninator]

When the athletic department had that golf cart parked outside of Bradley Hall, quite a few kids just walked past it and snickered.

Having not seen the golf cart in question and based solely on your remark, it seems that the athletic department tried a promotion that is out of touch with the student body. It will take more than a golf cart promotion to win back the students. Representatives from the athletic department need to reach out and talk to the students directly through their organizations etc if they want to have any success. jmho

[tornado]

Here's one good reason why BU's idea to have only a light event with no real scrimmaging or hard practicing turned out to be a pretty good idea..

http://www.parantar.com/2010/10/robbie-hummel-injury-gained-from-a-practice-will-cost-him-a-season/3581

[theBUer]

Having not seen the golf cart in question and based solely on your remark, it seems that the athletic department tried a promotion that is out of touch with the student body. It will take more than a golf cart promotion to win back the students. Representatives from the athletic department need to reach out and talk to the students directly through their organizations etc if they want to have any success. jmho

Thank you! One of the posters here had pictures of the golf cart, it had some posters and workers (students) from the athletic department yelling into a megaphone. They kept saying, "Are you guys coming to the game??" I mean, it's one thing to go because of a new arena (now the RenCo), but it's another if there is no other hook to get folks interested. Quite a few students did go to the golf cart, but others just passed by and wondered what the heck they just saw...

True story. I went up to one of them one day, and asked who volleyball was playing (being genuine). There were two people in the cart, one promoting soccer and the other promoting volleyball. I asked the person who the volleyball team was playing, since I knew then that it was the regular season.

He tells me "Kansas." My curiosity peaked, you mean KU? He then said, I dunno and the other person in charge of volleyball corrected the person and said that it was Wichita State.

And in the dining halls/SC cafeteria, they have little things set up that have the schedule for upcoming athletic events, notably volleyball and soccer. They have the tag line, "I am a Brave," and highlights special promotions. But I am not sure if these are anymore effective than the golf cart in front of BH.

[Da Coach]

It is a very unfortunate injury. But It sounds like maybe his original repair was not completely successful, and the ACL never healed right for it to be reinjured again. If that's the case, this 2nd injury was just waiting to happen, and would have probably occurred whenever he put full stress on it.

[BradleyBrave]

Here's one good reason why BU's idea to have only a light event with no real scrimmaging or hard practicing turned out to be a pretty good idea..
http://www.parantar.com/2010/10/robb...-a-season/3581

So are they going to just take it easy until the Javelinas come to town? I don't need a 3 hour bloodbath, but last night was pretty lame. As several have said, work-in-progress.

[theBUer]

So are they going to just take it easy until the Javelinas come to town? I don't need a 3 hour bloodbath, but last night was pretty lame. As several have said, work-in-progress.

But there was the allure of $10,000!

[Beninator]

Thank you! One of the posters here had pictures of the golf cart, it had some posters and workers (students) from the athletic department yelling into a megaphone. They kept saying, "Are you guys coming to the game??" I mean, it's one thing to go because of a new arena (now the RenCo), but it's another if there is no other hook to get folks interested. Quite a few students did go to the golf cart, but others just passed by and wondered what the heck they just saw...

True story. I went up to one of them one day, and asked who volleyball was playing (being genuine). There were two people in the cart, one promoting soccer and the other promoting volleyball. I asked the person who the volleyball team was playing, since I knew then that it was the regular season.

He tells me "Kansas." My curiosity peaked, you mean KU? He then said, I dunno and the other person in charge of volleyball corrected the person and said that it was Wichita State.

And in the dining halls/SC cafeteria, they have little things set up that have the schedule for upcoming athletic events, notably volleyball and soccer. They have the tag line, "I am a Brave," and highlights special promotions. But I am not sure if these are anymore effective than the golf cart in front of BH.

It sounds as if the disconnect between the student body and the athletic department that I experienced is still alive at BU. To date the best attempt to coordinate activities with the students that resembled anything that I have seen elsewhere was the Molinarmy. I hope that the athletic department is reviewing this thread.

[theBUer]

It sounds as if the disconnect between the student body and the athletic department that I experienced is still alive at BU. To date the best attempt to coordinate activities with the students that resembled anything that I have seen elsewhere was the Molinarmy. I hope that the athletic department is reviewing this thread.

Was the Molinarmy the student group when he was still coach like the Red Sea?

If they want to reach out to the students, golf carts and small placards on the tables do not. You're right that they should reach out to the organizations in some way. Greek life dominates the social scene, and during Rush if you show current members at a Bradley athletic event cheering the team on then potential members of that said fraternity/sorority will want to come along too.

They could always sponsor Late Night BU, like raffling a pair of season tickets to basketball games...

[Da Coach]

Here is a recap from BradleyBraves.com with pictures and video-

http://www.bradleybraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=205013341

[AZ BU Fan]

We are always our own worst critics.

Lets call it a first year success, and, look forward to building it year after year.

Lots of good ideas on this Forum. Perhaps BU Athletic Dept could form a steering committee with fans, students, admin, press, and city to harvest these ideas for next year's Hoopla...

Don't want to keep harping on this, but success breeds success.

I would have to believe the 'Hoopla' the year AFTER BU wins the MVC, or the MVC Tournament, and gets to the NCAA/NIT, will be SOLD OUT.

If BU could win the MVC/MVC Tourney TWO years in a row, you could sell out the Civic Center for the 'Hoopla' the following year.

No success on the court makes it hard to generate a lot of 'hoop' for a "Hoopla"!

[theBUer]

We are always our own worst critics.

Lets call it a first year success, and, look forward to building it year after year.

Lots of good ideas on this Forum. Perhaps BU Athletic Dept could form a steering committee with fans, students, admin, press, and city to harvest these ideas for next year's Hoopla...

Don't want to keep harping on this, but success breeds success.

I would have to believe the 'Hoopla' the year AFTER BU wins the MVC, or the MVC Tournament, and gets to the NCAA/NIT, will be SOLD OUT.

If BU could win the MVC/MVC Tourney TWO years in a row, you could sell out the Civic Center for the 'Hoopla' the following year.

No success on the court makes it hard to generate a lot of 'hoop' for a "Hoopla"!

Nail, meet head!