(01-04-2022 02:37 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  I don't see Akron getting a new arena anytime soon. There was some talks about getting a taxpayer downtown arena 5 or so years ago where Akron basketball would be the main tenent, but it had so much backlash that it didn't even make it to the ballot.

That wonderful football stadium is not helping the case for a new basketball arena, sadly. (Unless there is a way to put an MLS team in there or something and give it more use.)

(01-04-2022 05:52 PM)Schadenfreude Wrote:  

(01-04-2022 02:37 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  I don't see Akron getting a new arena anytime soon. There was some talks about getting a taxpayer downtown arena 5 or so years ago where Akron basketball would be the main tenent, but it had so much backlash that it didn't even make it to the ballot.

That wonderful football stadium is not helping the case for a new basketball arena, sadly. (Unless there is a way to put an MLS team in there or something and give it more use.)

You can get a lot more use out of an arena than a football stadium. A new downtown Akron arena would definitely attract some events given the population in the vicinity and lack of venues in the area. That said it's still not worth spending ~$70 million tax dollars on. Akron has bigger problems it needs to spend money on.

1. NIU Convo: not being a homer, love the bowl style layout, all-chair back seating, new scoreboards and revamped luxury club+suites.
2. Savage Arena (UT), nice premium areas, unique layout
3. Stroh Center (BG), nice look, could have been bigger
4. George Gervin GameAbove Center (EMU)
5. Worthen Arena (BSU)
6. Alumni Arena (UB)
7. Convocation Center (Athens), not a fan of the dated arena-in-the-round look
8. University Arena (WMU)
9. Millett Hall (Miami)
10. James A Rhodes Arena (Akron)
11. Memorial Athletic & Convocation Center (Kent)
12. McGirk Arena (CMU)

(01-04-2022 02:24 PM)OhioBobcatJohn Wrote:  The Convo in Athens when full is as good as it gets. I went to OU during the Gary Trent era and the MAC overall was much stronger. 10,000 plus on a Saturday was the norm those days. Mid 90's MAC had several schools ranked top 25 in nation at different times. 1995 Had Ohio, Miami, Ball State and EMU each with strong at-large bid credentials. Miami and Ohio had an epic battle with Devin Davis vs Gary Trent. Both teams were ranked or getting votes in top 25 at the time along with EMU that year. 12000 fans that day at the Convo.

Weekend crowds of 10,000 to 12,000 were common place prior to the Solich era, then even for a while afterwards when Ozone was at its peak.

Saul Phillips, Smartphones and COVID I'm sure have hurt numbers.

(01-06-2022 10:15 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(01-04-2022 02:24 PM)OhioBobcatJohn Wrote:  The Convo in Athens when full is as good as it gets. I went to OU during the Gary Trent era and the MAC overall was much stronger. 10,000 plus on a Saturday was the norm those days. Mid 90's MAC had several schools ranked top 25 in nation at different times. 1995 Had Ohio, Miami, Ball State and EMU each with strong at-large bid credentials. Miami and Ohio had an epic battle with Devin Davis vs Gary Trent. Both teams were ranked or getting votes in top 25 at the time along with EMU that year. 12000 fans that day at the Convo.

Weekend crowds of 10,000 to 12,000 were common place prior to the Solich era, then even for a while afterwards when Ozone was at its peak.

Saul Phillips, Smartphones and COVID I'm sure have hurt numbers.

i wholeheartedly agree with this.

(01-06-2022 10:48 AM)bobcat_backer Wrote:  

(01-06-2022 10:15 AM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  

(01-04-2022 02:24 PM)OhioBobcatJohn Wrote:  The Convo in Athens when full is as good as it gets. I went to OU during the Gary Trent era and the MAC overall was much stronger. 10,000 plus on a Saturday was the norm those days. Mid 90's MAC had several schools ranked top 25 in nation at different times. 1995 Had Ohio, Miami, Ball State and EMU each with strong at-large bid credentials. Miami and Ohio had an epic battle with Devin Davis vs Gary Trent. Both teams were ranked or getting votes in top 25 at the time along with EMU that year. 12000 fans that day at the Convo.

Weekend crowds of 10,000 to 12,000 were common place prior to the Solich era, then even for a while afterwards when Ozone was at its peak.

Saul Phillips, Smartphones and COVID I'm sure have hurt numbers.

i wholeheartedly agree with this.

I'd add enrollment declines (seen by just about every MAC school) and the declining interest in sports across all student bodies (seen by just about every mid-major university).

(01-04-2022 06:40 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(01-04-2022 05:52 PM)Schadenfreude Wrote:  

(01-04-2022 02:37 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  I don't see Akron getting a new arena anytime soon. There was some talks about getting a taxpayer downtown arena 5 or so years ago where Akron basketball would be the main tenent, but it had so much backlash that it didn't even make it to the ballot.

That wonderful football stadium is not helping the case for a new basketball arena, sadly. (Unless there is a way to put an MLS team in there or something and give it more use.)

You can get a lot more use out of an arena than a football stadium. A new downtown Akron arena would definitely attract some events given the population in the vicinity and lack of venues in the area. That said it's still not worth spending ~$70 million tax dollars on. Akron has bigger problems it needs to spend money on.

Kreed you hit the nail on the head. The large George Gervin Arena does give EMU expanded capabilities to host events. That said, those opportunities have not been realized in a meaningful way. If we had a do-over it would be on campus and much smaller.