Facilities and Arena discussion

[MasonSAE4]

Latest update from the BOV minutes from the upcoming meeting:

Construct Basketball Training, Wrestling, and Athlete Academic Support (RAC Addition) – Commonwealth has approved project for $15.5M of fundraising. We believe that this project will have a budget of $30M, with approximately $25M of which will be allotted to this addition and $5M for improvements at EagleBank that will follow after the basketball office space is vacated in Eagle Bank Arena. Work has begun by Capital Strategies and Planning on the detailed planning program. Mason would like to use Design-Build as the delivery method for this building, which will require permission from DEB.

 

[mkaufman1]

Latest update from the BOF minutes from the upcoming meeting:

Construct Basketball Training, Wrestling, and Athlete Academic Support (RAC Addition) – Commonwealth has approved project for $15.5M of fundraising. We believe that this project will have a budget of $30M, with approximately $25M of which will be allotted to this addition and $5M for improvements at EagleBank that will follow after the basketball office space is vacated in Eagle Bank Arena. Work has begun by Capital Strategies and Planning on the detailed planning program. Mason would like to use Design-Build as the delivery method for this building, which will require permission from DEB.

Excellent find. Good work!

 

[Dawgs99]

I wonder what the plan is for EBA once the offices are vacated....more hospitality areas I hope!

 

[EXpatriot13]

I wonder what the plan is for EBA once the offices are vacated....more hospitality areas I hope!

This would be awesome! A true hospitality space with lounges, full bar, tv’s, etc. Very curious as to what this project entails.

Really glad to see, officially, that there’s been solid movement on the basketball facility. A $25M addition is no joke + the existing practice court space there now.

 

[HoopsAdmin]

Does this mean that there is still $14.5M to raise?

 

[EXpatriot13]

Does this mean that there is still $14.5M to raise?

This is my biggest question as well. I've heard they have all the funding in place but no idea if that's accurate; hopefully what they got from the state satisfied the remaining budget needs.

 

[mkaufman1]

Does this mean that there is still $14.5M to raise?

This is my biggest question as well. I've heard they have all the funding in place but no idea if that's accurate; hopefully what they got from the state satisfied the remaining budget needs.

My understanding is that it is fully funded, but of course all the plans and logistics are still a mystery.

Hopefully by the end of the summer once Marvin is here and settled a little, we'll have more answers.

 

[mkaufman1]

I wonder what the plan is for EBA once the offices are vacated....more hospitality areas I hope!

It would be interesting to see how this would be designed. Right now, Green room is downstairs and folks have to be on the floor to get there. If you add additional hospitality space or have EVERYONE go downstairs, that means you are adding a ton of people logistically.

Not saying they shouldn't do it, they should if this is the best they can do to upgrade our hospitality, but to get a lot more people downstairs would be interesting.

 

[MasonSAE4]

Well if anyone wants answers that bad, it's a public meeting. Go and ask.

 

[MasonFanatic]

It would be interesting to see how this would be designed. Right now, Green room is downstairs and folks have to be on the floor to get there. If you add additional hospitality space or have EVERYONE go downstairs, that means you are adding a ton of people logistically.

Not saying they shouldn't do it, they should if this is the best they can do to upgrade our hospitality, but to get a lot more people downstairs would be interesting.

I imagine they would have to build a new staircase somewhere. The one elevator from the concourse to the lower level won't cut it. Haha.

 

[Verdad]

Watch, they are going to end up expanding the Green room and leaving the pleebs in the gold room crammed as is, haha. Come on Mason - don't Mason this up!

 

[mkaufman1]

I imagine they would have to build a new staircase somewhere. The one elevator from the concourse to the lower level won't cut it. Haha.

Lol, yeah I don't know how or where they'd build a new staircase. Even so, having that many folks try to get to gold room especially at halftime would be a nightmare if everyone has to get downstairs.

That elevator, to my knowledge, was old, small, and pretty slow. No idea if they have replaced it in recent years (possibly, since its been a good 15+ since I was in it).

 

[ProfessorCFK]

Lol, yeah I don't know how or where they'd build a new staircase. Even so, having that many folks try to get to gold room especially at halftime would be a nightmare if everyone has to get downstairs.

That elevator, to my knowledge, was old, small, and pretty slow. No idea if they have replaced it in recent years (possibly, since its been a good 15+ since I was in it).

The elevator is still old and slow - I use it frequently when my dad with mobility difficulty comes to games.

 

[EXpatriot13]

I’m very curious what this project at EBA will entail because $5M is a good chunk of change. They spent about $1.6M on the new locker rooms and media/press areas, so whatever these new improvements are it appears they’ll be rather significant.

 

[mkaufman1]

The elevator is still old and slow - I use it frequently when my dad with mobility difficulty comes to games.

Thats crazy they haven't updated it.

I’m very curious what this project at EBA will entail because $5M is a good chunk of change. They spent about $1.6M on the new locker rooms and media/press areas, so whatever these new improvements are it appears they’ll be rather significant.

We have the answer...a new elevator!!!

 

[GMUgemini]

I’m very curious what this project at EBA will entail because $5M is a good chunk of change. They spent about $1.6M on the new locker rooms and media/press areas, so whatever these new improvements are it appears they’ll be rather significant.

It also says any discussion of a new arena in the next 10-15 years is probably off the table if they’re sinking this much money into renovation.

I’m also not so down on EBA as some are on here. It has its faults, but it has good bones (even if the skin is slightly ugly).

 

[gmubrian]

Since this thread has devolved into discussions of elevators, it is my understanding that in buildings that are 3 stories less (about), they typically use hydraulic elevators as they are cheaper and more reliable (cheaper to maintain) but slower versus the faster cable based elevators. Hydraulic may even be safer, overall.

So, even if they did something to the elevator, I would be very surprised if they it involved speeding it up.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Since this thread has devolved into discussions of elevators, it is my understanding that in buildings that are 3 stories less (about), they typically use hydraulic elevators as they are cheaper and more reliable (cheaper to maintain) but slower versus the faster cable based elevators. Hydraulic may even be safer, overall.

So, even if they did something to the elevator, I would be very surprised if they it involved speeding it up.

Regardless of the type of elevator - if you only have three floors - elevators cannot move that fast as they cannot stop immediately. All elevators will accelerate to a terminal speed and then at midpoint start slowing down. Hence on tall buildings elevators move quickly because they have time to slow down safely. In three stories - its a slow ride regardless.

 

[mkaufman1]

It also says any discussion of a new arena in the next 10-15 years is probably off the table if they’re sinking this much money into renovation.

I’m also not so down on EBA as some are on here. It has its faults, but it has good bones (even if the skin is slightly ugly).

I have no crystal ball or idea, but my hope is that they keep EBA open for all the other events and think about opening some sort of 6-7k state of the art facility somewhere.

I have to think EBA probably won't be gone, but I'm not so sure any renovation prevents a new building being created especially if its not necessarily a replacement.

 

[gmujim92]

I have no crystal ball or idea, but my hope is that they keep EBA open for all the other events and think about opening some sort of 6-7k state of the art facility somewhere.

I have to think EBA probably won't be gone, but I'm not so sure any renovation prevents a new building being created especially if its not necessarily a replacement.

I’ve always thought this approach made by far the most sense. You can keep EBA open and generating revenue, avoid the huge cost of demolishing the arena, while building a new one elsewhere on campus with all the bells and whistles and a capacity that creates a true homecourt advantage.