Facilities and Arena discussion

[Patriot8]

Decided to look something up today. Don't know if it means anything.

Attendance from 21/22, 22/23, 23/24. Crowds of 4,000+

KE

21/22:
- Stony Brook (4,558)
- Penn (4,053)
- vcu (6,333) Homecoming*
- GW (4,022)

22/23:
- Longwood (5,185)
- Richmond (4,014)
- St. Joe's (4,011)
- La Salle (7,860) Homecoming*

TS

23/24:
- Austin Peay (4,295)
- NC A&T (4,554)
- vcu (4,000)
- St. Bona (4,615)
- Rhody (6,756) Homecoming*
- Dayton (5,286)
- Duquesne (5,508)
- Richmond (5,576)

 

[mkaufman1]

This leads me to believe that attendance will improve in conference play. Hopefully less snooze fest and more energy.

Interesting that we had 7800 at Lasalle in KE year 2 at Homecoming.

 

[EXpatriot13]

Gotta love this fairytale paragraph on the EBA page within the facilities section on GoMason.com.

Considering the stats on that page haven’t been updated since ~2018 it’s safe to assume whatever the plan was here, is never happening.

 

[Pablo]

This leads me to believe that attendance will improve in conference play. Hopefully less snooze fest and more energy.

Interesting that we had 7800 at Lasalle in KE year 2 at Homecoming.

Attendance - 6,513: https://gomason.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2022-23/la-salle/boxscore/11952

View attachment 2497

Gotta love this fairytale paragraph on the EBA page within the facilities section on GoMason.com.

Considering the stats on that page haven’t been updated since ~2018 it’s safe to assume whatever the plan was here, is never happening.

EagleBank Arena - Facilities - George Mason University Athletics

The official facilities page for the George Mason University Patriots

gomason.com

"EagleBank Arena serves as the home of George Mason University men's and women's basketball and is one of the finest on-campus facilities on the East Coast. The arena, which opened in 1985, continues to be a gem on the scenic Mason campus, but on basketball game nights, an avid George Mason following transforms the elegant edifice into a raucous and intimidating home court advantage.

EagleBank Arena offers fans excellent sight lines and has a basketball capacity of 7,860, yet retains an intimate home court atmosphere. The facility has attracted basketball fans from the entire Washington metropolitan area since it opened on October 4, 1985."

 

[GMU79]

Attendance - 6,513: https://gomason.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2022-23/la-salle/boxscore/11952

EagleBank Arena - Facilities - George Mason University Athletics

The official facilities page for the George Mason University Patriots

gomason.com

"EagleBank Arena serves as the home of George Mason University men's and women's basketball and is one of the finest on-campus facilities on the East Coast. The arena, which opened in 1985, continues to be a gem on the scenic Mason campus, but on basketball game nights, an avid George Mason following transforms the elegant edifice into a raucous and intimidating home court advantage.

EagleBank Arena offers fans excellent sight lines and has a basketball capacity of 7,860, yet retains an intimate home court atmosphere. The facility has attracted basketball fans from the entire Washington metropolitan area since it opened on October 4, 1985."

Liar liar pants on fire!

 

[mkaufman1]

Attendance - 6,513: https://gomason.com/sports/mens-basketball/stats/2022-23/la-salle/boxscore/11952

EagleBank Arena - Facilities - George Mason University Athletics

The official facilities page for the George Mason University Patriots

gomason.com

"EagleBank Arena serves as the home of George Mason University men's and women's basketball and is one of the finest on-campus facilities on the East Coast. The arena, which opened in 1985, continues to be a gem on the scenic Mason campus, but on basketball game nights, an avid George Mason following transforms the elegant edifice into a raucous and intimidating home court advantage.

EagleBank Arena offers fans excellent sight lines and has a basketball capacity of 7,860, yet retains an intimate home court atmosphere. The facility has attracted basketball fans from the entire Washington metropolitan area since it opened on October 4, 1985."

Raucous atmosphere where folks knit and look bored

 

[Pablo]

George Mason University Partners with Perkins&Will on a New Basketball and Academic Performance Center - George Mason University Athletics

George Mason University Partners with Perkins&Will on a New Basketball and Academic Performance Center

gomason.com

"FAIRFAX, VA—George Mason University has selected architecture and design firm Perkins&Will to create a new hub for student-athletes on campus.

The proposed 30,000 square-foot Basketball and Academic Performance Center is an addition to the existing Recreation Athletic Complex. The facility will be the new home for men's and women's basketball and will accommodate practice courts, player performance, training, support spaces, and staff offices for both programs. In addition, it will serve as the new academic services center, supporting over 500 student-athletes. Currently in preliminary design phases, the project is scheduled to open in early 2027.

'The Basketball and Academic Performance Center will truly stand as the "Crown Jewel" of George Mason Athletics," said Marvin Lewis, Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics. 'This cutting-edge facility reflects the exceptional achievements of our student-athletes, both in competition and in the classroom. It also showcases the University's dedication to supporting our basketball programs for sustained national success.'

The new facility creates a center of excellence for athletics, providing a welcoming experience for recruits, students, staff, and alumni, and showcasing George Mason's athletics community and achievements. For the student-athletes who will use the space daily, the building will go beyond physical health and performance to include mental health and academic support.

Preliminary designs for the Basketball and Academic Performance Center incorporate strategies aimed at benefiting the health and well-being of student-athletes and staff while being mindful of environmental impacts. Perkins&Will's early plans include a 'Living Design' framework that considers energy and water efficiencies, embodied and operational carbon reduction, accessibility, and spaces for personal wellness and regeneration. The project is currently targeting LEED Silver certification."

 

[mkaufman1]

Very good news. Marvin said in an interview at halftime of the Tulane game that shovels will be in the ground in Summer 2025 with the target opening early 2027 as the article states.

 

[Pablo]

Hopefully, there will be sufficient room in the proposed 30,000 square-foot addition for the George Mason Athletic Hall of Fame, whose re-launch should include the Final Four team including current head coach Tony Skinn.

 

[MasonSAE4]

Next we will get a field house and Mason Stadium that isn't embarrassing to look at while driving by, inshallah.

 

[mkaufman1]

Hopefully, there will be sufficient room in the proposed 30,000 square-foot addition for the George Mason Athletic Hall of Fame, whose re-launch should include the Final Four team including current head coach Tony Skinn.

I was told 2 years ago that there would be room in the new facility for a Hall of Fame, and the write up makes me believe that is still the case.

 

[gmubrian]

Raucous atmosphere where folks knit and look bored

Those knitting needles could be quite intimidating

 

[EXpatriot13]

Does Mason just not care about folks who pay to get access to Gold Room? 20 minutes after it opened and people were scrounging for whatever food was left and it wasn’t that crowded, multiple empty food trays.

A hospitality space that only serves food for 1 hour should never run out, it just shows a lack of effort or care by those in charge. An unnecessary problem created by Mason.

 

[p8triotfan4life]

Does Mason just not care about folks who pay to get access to Gold Room? 20 minutes after it opened and people were scrounging for whatever food was left and it wasn’t that crowded, multiple empty food trays.

A hospitality space that only serves food for 1 hour should never run out, it just shows a lack of effort or care by those in charge. An unnecessary problem created by Mason.

yea, I'm not too pleased about this either.

 

[mkaufman1]

George Mason lays out facility, mixed-use vision

George Mason president Gregory Washington laid out his plan for how to shape the university's campus around a new mixed-use development in the West Campus that would include significant investment in existing and new athletic facilities.

www.sportsbusinessjournal.com

Renovation of EagleBank Arena (cost: $7M to $10M) - renovation of the 40-year-old, 10,000-seat arena, which is located in GMU’s main campus, would improve team facilities for the university’s athletes, while adding new premium areas and improve facilities for performers. The arena, managed by Monumental Sports & Entertainment, hosts Disney On Ice, for example.

 

[ProfessorCFK]

George Mason lays out facility, mixed-use vision

George Mason president Gregory Washington laid out his plan for how to shape the university's campus around a new mixed-use development in the West Campus that would include significant investment in existing and new athletic facilities.

www.sportsbusinessjournal.com

Renovation of EagleBank Arena (cost: $7M to $10M) - renovation of the 40-year-old, 10,000-seat arena, which is located in GMU’s main campus, would improve team facilities for the university’s athletes, while adding new premium areas and improve facilities for performers. The arena, managed by Monumental Sports & Entertainment, hosts Disney On Ice, for example.

Ah yes, the perennial powerhouse "Disney on Ice"

 

[mkaufman1]

Ah yes, the perennial powerhouse "Disney on Ice"

Tbf those shows make a killing. But yeah I get the comment here haha

 

[GMUgemini]

Tbf those shows make a killing. But yeah I get the comment here haha

Yes. I have taken my kids to the one at the Phoenix Suns arena before. At least 12k people there. And the merch. Oh the merch they sell.

$10 million seems low ball to me. The last big one was $20 million after the Final Four. Sounds like it is mostly stuff we will not see, other than maybe the “premium areas” whatever that means. Can’t imagine suites being built with that price tag.

 

[mkaufman1]

Yes. I have taken my kids to the one at the Phoenix Suns arena before. At least 12k people there. And the merch. Oh the merch they sell.

$10 million seems low ball to me. The last big one was $20 million after the Final Four. Sounds like it is mostly stuff we will not see, other than maybe the “premium areas” whatever that means. Can’t imagine suites being built with that price tag.

Im not sure why it would have cost 20m back in 07. I mean there was a lot of concourse work done and entrance so maybe thats Why.

sounds like the 10m would focus on locker room and premium space. Not sure what exactly but I am looking forward to investment especially if it means better hospitality areas.

 

[Falco]

Yes. I have taken my kids to the one at the Phoenix Suns arena before. At least 12k people there. And the merch. Oh the merch they sell.

$10 million seems low ball to me. The last big one was $20 million after the Final Four. Sounds like it is mostly stuff we will not see, other than maybe the “premium areas” whatever that means. Can’t imagine suites being built with that price tag.

Build a new arena already lol