Facilities and Arena discussion

[JimP]

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.

Are there any cases of other universities building a new arena and keeping the old one?

Are there any cases of other universities building a new arena and keeping the old one?

JMU? Syracuse kept Manley Field House after Carrier Dome was built. A little bit apples and oranges.

 

[GMUgemini]

JMU? Syracuse kept Manley Field House after Carrier Dome was built. A little bit apples and oranges.

Looks like JMU's old Convocation Center is being converted into their version of our RAC?

It could be done, but I'm not sure how worth it would be for Mason overall to have two arenas on campus.

 

[mkaufman1]

Monmouth built a new arena and kept their old gym as a recreation space as well.

Obviously a different animal with EBA, but I'm sure you could build a new arena with bells and whistles and have it host community events/conventions in addition to EBA. The peak season for indoor events is October-May which I'm sure EBA has juggle event scheduling because of basketball. Having it become an arena for everything but basketball could open up new opportunities.

Nothing more than offseason dreaming at this point, guess we couldnt' save this topic for August.

 

[gmujim92]

Looks like JMU's old Convocation Center is being converted into their version of our RAC?

It could be done, but I'm not sure how worth it would be for Mason overall to have two arenas on campus.

One dedicated solely to men’s and women’s basketball, the other for everything else. We’d have a lot fewer scheduling conflicts that way.

 

[MasonFanatic]

Duquense doesn't own PPG Paints arena, but it's literally 2 blocks from campus, and that didn't stop them from completely overhauling and modernizing their on campus arena.

 

[tblack33]

Concert Hall Proposed for Heart of Fairfax

What's proposed for University Drive and Chain Bridge roads in Fairfax? The Ox Fairfax would include a concert venue and hotel.

northernvirginiamag.com

If this gets built it will certainly change the dynamics of the number of concerts that happen at EBA. Obviously some things wouldn’t transfer over, but I imagine this would eat a large chunk of the business that comes into EBA.

 

[mkaufman1]

Concert Hall Proposed for Heart of Fairfax

What's proposed for University Drive and Chain Bridge roads in Fairfax? The Ox Fairfax would include a concert venue and hotel.

northernvirginiamag.com

If this gets built it will certainly change the dynamics of the number of concerts that happen at EBA. Obviously some things wouldn’t transfer over, but I imagine this would eat a large chunk of the business that comes into EBA.

Interesting. I wonder if they’ll be more of the concert hall crowd or it’ll be interchangeable for family shows that EBA always gets.

 

[jessej]

Concert Hall Proposed for Heart of Fairfax

What's proposed for University Drive and Chain Bridge roads in Fairfax? The Ox Fairfax would include a concert venue and hotel.

northernvirginiamag.com

If this gets built it will certainly change the dynamics of the number of concerts that happen at EBA. Obviously some things wouldn’t transfer over, but I imagine this would eat a large chunk of the business that comes into EBA.

No public transit. I can imagine how bad the traffic will be.

 

[Jack Strop]

Concert Hall Proposed for Heart of Fairfax

What's proposed for University Drive and Chain Bridge roads in Fairfax? The Ox Fairfax would include a concert venue and hotel.

northernvirginiamag.com

If this gets built it will certainly change the dynamics of the number of concerts that happen at EBA. Obviously some things wouldn’t transfer over, but I imagine this would eat a large chunk of the business that comes into EBA.

Also in direct competition with Mason's Center for the Arts. What's next for Old Town Fairfax... a casino? Talk about your NIL possibilities.

 

[GMU79]

Also in direct competition with Mason's Center for the Arts. What's next for Old Town Fairfax... a casino? Talk about your NIL possibilities.

They should never have started messing with Old Town. Anyone remember Fairfax Hay and Grain? Smack dab in the center.

 

[GMUSSTN]

EBA does a lot of concerts but they also do some wrestling and the bullriding stuff that you won't be able to put on a concert stage. I would assume a performing arts venue in downtown 'fax would compete mostly with the CVPA, which doesn't really pull in popular music acts or anything as it's more high brow.

 

[tblack33]

EBA does a lot of concerts but they also do some wrestling and the bullriding stuff that you won't be able to put on a concert stage. I would assume a performing arts venue in downtown 'fax would compete mostly with the CVPA, which doesn't really pull in popular music acts or anything as it's more high brow.

At a planned 6.5-7k seats it will absolutely compete with EBA on the concert circuit, and probably beat it out for a lot because people prefer to see concerts in an actual theatre vs an arena with obstructed sight lines. Agree on the more niche stuff that is better suited for an arena though.

 

[GMUSSTN]

At a planned 6.5-7k seats it will absolutely compete with EBA on the concert circuit, and probably beat it out for a lot because people prefer to see concerts in an actual theatre vs an arena with obstructed sight lines. Agree on the more niche stuff that is better suited for an arena though.

Yeah I was looking through EBA's event schedule and it seems to be a must-stop for the Latin American musical artist community. That looks like the bulk of the concerts there now anyway. I could see it beating a traditional concert hall out if you wanted to have a pit, though. I saw Muse there in like 2004 (Cold War Kids opened...good show) and that was definitely better because there was actual floor GA space.

Still, don't we want a new basketball arena anyway? If EBA loses all its side-event revenue then we can get the 6,000 seat basketball arena we deserve.

 

[MasonSAE4]

Still, don't we want a new basketball arena anyway? If EBA loses all its side-event revenue then we can get the 6,000 seat basketball arena we deserve.

Wouldn't be so certain on that. Still need a place for graduation ceremonies for both us and local high schools. Space can be pretty tight in there for Mason graduations. Between that and the annual run of Disney on Ice, I wouldn't be shocked if we end up with either both, or a new arena right around the current capacity.

 

[GMUgemini]

Wouldn't be so certain on that. Still need a place for graduation ceremonies for both us and local high schools. Space can be pretty tight in there for Mason graduations. Between that and the annual run of Disney on Ice, I wouldn't be shocked if we end up with either both, or a new arena right around the current capacity.

Was just going to say that. JMU’s new arena is 8,500 for that same reason and they have 6,000 fewer undergrads than we do.

Honestly think we would have to go at least 9k for a new arena.

If we went 6k the only thing that would happen is the price of season tickets will go way up. We’ve sold out EBA before (had three near sellouts in a row at the end of 2011) just need to start winning again and get the community excited to see good basketball.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

Was just going to say that. JMU’s new arena is 8,500 for that same reason and they have 6,000 fewer undergrads than we do.

Honestly think we would have to go at least 9k for a new arena.

If we went 6k the only thing that would happen is the price of season tickets will go way up. We’ve sold out EBA before (had three near sellouts in a row at the end of 2011) just need to start winning again and get the community excited to see good basketball.

Then you are close to the size we have now and we cannot fill. I think 8500 is a good size with box suites for sale.

 

[Patriotsince81]

Season attendance averages over the past 8 seasons. I skipped the 20-21 season with Covid. Keep in mind it's announced attendance, no way it reflects actual bodies in seats.

22-23. 3,584
21-22. 3,558
20-21. Covid - doesn't count
19-20. 4,037
18-19. 4,335
17-18. 4,088
16-17. 4,235
15-16. 4,300

If memory serves me correctly our best average was around 6,800 in the Coach L days. An arena of 6,500 is the best we can ever hope to fill. Just have nice areas for the Gold and Green rooms, good sight lines, and great concessions. If it gets to the point people are fighting for tickets all the better. I'm tired of empty seats and apathetic crowds. I do miss Andy Ruge calling me at work telling me to calm down because the people around me didn't like the noise.

 

[gmujim92]

7,500 seats would allow for growth in the fan base and as @Patriotsince81 noted there are worse problems than having a hot ticket for once. Just not sure I ever see Mason being able to consistently create an environment thaf gives us a tangible homecourt advantage in a 10,000-seat arena.

Smaller and packed >>>>>> bigger and half empty

 

[Pikapppatri8]

7,500 seats would allow for growth in the fan base and as @Patriotsince81 noted there are worse problems than having a hot ticket for once. Just not sure I ever see Mason being able to consistently create an environment thaf gives us a tangible homecourt advantage in a 10,000-seat arena.

Smaller and packed >>>>>> bigger and half empty

How about 8,000 with box seats.

 

[tblack33]

How about 8,000 with box seats.

Still too big, we’ve had ranked teams come in and we didn’t sniff 8k attendance.