(10-29-2019 05:32 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  It seems like a solid sports discussion IMO. I see it as pointing out good opportunities to get better, not as complaining.
Maybe it comes down to if people really believe Homecourt advantage matters in college basketball. There is a lot of data out there to show that it does indeed matter and it is statistically significant in college hoops even moreso than other sports.

So far, I have seen some examples given where JMU's one baseline student seating configuration matches others in the country like ODU and Richmond. I agree. But I am saying those are examples of the worst student seating configurations. So if JMU is building a $103 million Taj Mahal wouldn't we want to have the best student seating configuration to maximize homecourt advantage? Why would we elect to have the worst student seating configuration?

Easy Fix - release a new diagram that puts student seats on both baselines and let them in 30 minutes before the public. Then allow General admission tickets to sit in the endzones only if there are any remaining seats in the upper rows, otherwise up to the 2nd deck you go. Also take the first 5 rows of the sideline opposite the benches and dedicate that to student seating. This would leave the club section alone and it would still allow for courtside foldout chairs on the hardwood like many arenas have.
JMU can max out its premium seating dollars and also have student seating on 3 sides for maximum homecourt advantage.

Here are 2 recently built arenas at Auburn and Ole Miss that have 3 sides for student seating. What would be the reason that JMU could not and should not do this?

Come on man, you asked for examples and literally the first 3 I looked at. And to that point Richmond (Robbins Center) and ODU (Constant Center) are newer arenas which are also local to the state of Virginia and peer type institutions for basketball.

George Mason is similar - student seating behind both baskets.
VCU similar - student seating behind both baskets
VT - student seating is all on one end; there are like 3 rows in one section that connect to the student seating on that end, but very limited (similar to very limited availability at UVA).

I also picked a random SEC schools since those seem to be the example you provided:
LSU - Student seating being one basket

The new arena is going to be very nice and the sight lines will be excellent from almost everywhere. There is no need to make it seem like an epic fail b/c you don't like the student seating layout. It is not at all uncommon, sure some larger schools and those with a rich bball history may do it different and that is ok.