New Facilities

[Beninator]

Since this is a new facilities thread......it seems like a lot of people on here are magically expecting 4 star recruits to flock to Peoria as soon as we get a new practice facility. People keep saying "Give JL time to work with the new facility". Has anyone seen the basketball facilities at SIU? Not impressive....great recruiting class. I think we're putting too much weight on this. UNI recruited fine when they were in the dome now they have a great building and they suck (also could have to do with the coaching change). I think this may play less of a part than people think.

I disagree... I am not expecting 4 star recruits with the new facilities. An occasional 4 star recruit would be nice. What I do expect is for us to be in contention with and land more 3 star and upper 3 star recruits. The new facilites take away a major arguement away from our compeititors who are trying to lure the same players to their program. From what I have read on this board and heard on the streat, people want BU to be a consistant winner. Being a consistant winner isnt going to happen with the current facilities.

[squirrel]

We lost one recruit (Courtney "Facilities" Lee) specifically because of facilities (his exact word).

It is becoming increasingly standard for DI men's basketball programs to have a dedicated practice facility.

I also think the new arena will be a tremendous asset for our volleyball and women's hoops programs to have a facility that will essentially be exclusive to them. Not many schools can say that. . .

I think these are modest, overdue, yet necessary progressions for Bradley.

I imagine once we get about halfway through this 15-year expansion, it will become time for the university to figure out the next move for men's basketball.

[Beninator]

I imagine once we get about halfway through this 15-year expansion, it will become time for the university to figure out the next move for men's basketball.

If you are talking about an arena on campus or fairly close to the campus, then I like your thinking. Politically it would be difficult though.

[squirrel]

I doubt it will be in the campus area.

At some point, a larger arena will be necessary for Bradley.

Carver is adequate, but in the last 5 years, it will have gone from the 2nd largest arena in the league to potentially 5th.

Qwest Center (17560)
Roberts Arena (12500)
JQH Arena (11500)
Carver Arena (11442)
Koch Arena (10500)
Redbird Arena (10200)
Hulmann Center (10200)
SIU Arena (9628 )
McLeod Center (7050)
Knapp Center (7002)

While Drake has the Knapp Center, they could potentially play games at Wells-Fargo (16110).

[thefish7]

I always look at Campustown and think-- man I wish that was a dedicated Bradley basketball arena. I know it's just a dream

[Beninator]

I doubt it will be in the campus area.

Just dreaming out loud about the campus arena squirrel.

[squirrel]

I always look at Campustown and think-- man I wish that was a dedicated Bradley basketball arena. I know it's just a dream

It would certainly be a better deal for the Bradley Renaissance project.

One of the projects Glasser was involved with at Towson was this, which is credited for generating billions for the Baltimore area:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Towson_Town_Center

I've always thought Bradley should use this model (from Boston U) for their Renaissance project:

http://www.bu.edu/studentvillage2/

[Da Coach]

I don't see a private facility ever happening.
Towson is a state university with 20,000 students in a much larger city, and Boston University has well over 30,000 students with endowments that dwarf a school like Bradley. Realistically, the future lies with the Civic Center. Bradley sees that as adequate for their needs for the next couple decades.

[Beninator]

I don't see a private facility ever happening.
Towson is a state university with 20,000 students in a much larger city, and Boston University has well over 30,000 students with endowments that dwarf a school like Bradley. Realistically, the future lies with the Civic Center. Bradley sees that as adequate for their needs for the next couple decades.

a little off topic...
The endowments for some of those eastern schools is truly amazing. A family member of mine graduated from a small eastern school in which any contribution under one million dollars is put into a slush fund.

[2bradleyfans]

I doubt it will be in the campus area.

At some point, a larger arena will be necessary for Bradley.

Carver is adequate, but in the last 5 years, it will have gone from the 2nd largest arena in the league to potentially 5th.

Qwest Center (17560)
Roberts Arena (12500)
JQH Arena (11500)
Carver Arena (11442)
Koch Arena (10500)
Redbird Arena (10200)
Hulmann Center (10200)
SIU Arena (9628 )
McLeod Center (7050)
Knapp Center (7002)

While Drake has the Knapp Center, they could potentially play games at Wells-Fargo (16110).

Where did you see that JQH Arena's capacity is 11,500?

[Fundamentals]

Where did you see that JQH Arena's capacity is 11,500?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JQH_Arena

I could only find 11,000. Close enough..

[squirrel]

The initial release from MSU from 2006 I have stated 11,500. I see now the more current information in their media guide and official project site say 11K seats. . .

But I have been told there will also be room for as many as 500 SRO. . .so perhaps that's where the two numbers are coming from.

[Peoria Lion '77]

Don't know if this has ever been considered by BU, but I would like BU and the Civic Center to consider going in together to build a true basketball arena (12,000+) attached to its existing complex. This would allow the hockey team to still have their arena while bringing BU & the PCC a state of the art basketball arena for years to come. It also could help keep the boy's basketball tournaments here in Peoria instead of going somewhere else with newer facilities. I would see this as a win/win both both parties ... shared cost, more dedicated scheduling of games for BU, a true basketball arena, etc.

[mike radigan]

Don't know if this has ever been considered by BU, but I would like BU and the Civic Center to consider going in together to build a true basketball arena (12,000+) attached to its existing complex. This would allow the hockey team to still have their arena while bringing BU & the PCC a state of the art basketball arena for years to come. It also could help keep the boy's basketball tournaments here in Peoria instead of going somewhere else with newer facilities. I would see this as a win/win both both parties ... shared cost, more dedicated scheduling of games for BU, a true basketball arena, etc.

You forgot one other interested party; i.e. the taxpayer. We're being stuck with too many white elephants as it is. It will NEVER happen!

[squirrel]

This was something in the conversation oh about 8 years ago when they began talking about Civic Center expansion. . .I believe that the entire facility is now completely (or at least very close to it) entirely paid off, so it's essentially all profit.

Ideally, they wanted to have an arena that meets NCAA host site requirements (I think 17.5-18K minimum I believe). I believe it's important to do it right, so its ok to take their time, pick the right place and the right size.

In so doing, you could actually make a play at possibly even hosting the BXII or Big Ten tourney in one arena and continue hosting the IHSA tourneys or something like the Summit League or Horizon League tourney in the other. . .

Would do wonders for this basketball-mad town.