I know the idea of renovating Carver has been discussed ad nauseam here, but I wanted to make a post to illustrate a practical example of what a newer/smaller stadium could do for a program.
I give you, the Texas Longhorn Moody Center.
Opened this year, the Moody Center is a public-privately funded all-purpose arena that is the new home for the Texas Basketball program. Importantly, the basketball capacity for the arena is almost 6,000 LESS than the prior stadium. The Frank Erwin Center, could hold 16,540 while the Moody Center had a sell-out against Gonzaga with about 11,000 in attendance. The Moody Center can get over 15,000 but they intentionally limit it for the basketball games.
And for those who didn't watch Texas dismantle Gonzaga, the place was ABSOLUTELY ROCKING.
Moreover, Coach Beard made the move that Fran wants so dearly: he pushed administration to allow students to sit behind the benches and both baskets. He also requested a DJ be put in the house to provide a more enjoyable atmosphere for the students (but not necessarily the old geezers). They retained student ambassadors to pass out flyers around campus and get students jazzed up and motivated to come to the games. Said the first opposing coach who had to play in the stadium: "That’s a real college arena. You can’t hear anything. You got to tell Chris to turn the music down a little bit. I’ve got a headache."
And Texas hasn't been a benchmark program for the last decade. Before last year, they hadn't made it out of the first round of the NCAA tournament since 2014! And anyone who has watched a Texas basketball game in the last decade should know that their home atmosphere was absolutely atrocious. It's amazing what a coach and new stadium can do. . . .
Look, I know Iowa doesn't have nearly the type of money that Texas has. Iowa can't just plop a new state-of-the-art arena into Iowa City at the drop of a hat. But alot of the changes Texas made can EASILY be accomplished at Iowa: moving student sections, using student ambassadors around campus, using a DJ at every game, playing more music during timeouts and less burrito lifts.
I get a little tired of people targeting Fran as the reason the home atmosphere stinks. The product he puts out is more than enough of an excuse to have a good atmosphere. Moreover, Texas isn't a premier basketball program nor is Texas a proverbial basketball state. But the Texas Athletics Department made strong decisions that looks to turn the program into a premier program in the near future. If the Iowa Athletics department actually cares about elevating (both) basketball programs, they start with Carver.
I give you, the Texas Longhorn Moody Center.
Opened this year, the Moody Center is a public-privately funded all-purpose arena that is the new home for the Texas Basketball program. Importantly, the basketball capacity for the arena is almost 6,000 LESS than the prior stadium. The Frank Erwin Center, could hold 16,540 while the Moody Center had a sell-out against Gonzaga with about 11,000 in attendance. The Moody Center can get over 15,000 but they intentionally limit it for the basketball games.
And for those who didn't watch Texas dismantle Gonzaga, the place was ABSOLUTELY ROCKING.
Moreover, Coach Beard made the move that Fran wants so dearly: he pushed administration to allow students to sit behind the benches and both baskets. He also requested a DJ be put in the house to provide a more enjoyable atmosphere for the students (but not necessarily the old geezers). They retained student ambassadors to pass out flyers around campus and get students jazzed up and motivated to come to the games. Said the first opposing coach who had to play in the stadium: "That’s a real college arena. You can’t hear anything. You got to tell Chris to turn the music down a little bit. I’ve got a headache."
And Texas hasn't been a benchmark program for the last decade. Before last year, they hadn't made it out of the first round of the NCAA tournament since 2014! And anyone who has watched a Texas basketball game in the last decade should know that their home atmosphere was absolutely atrocious. It's amazing what a coach and new stadium can do. . . .
Look, I know Iowa doesn't have nearly the type of money that Texas has. Iowa can't just plop a new state-of-the-art arena into Iowa City at the drop of a hat. But alot of the changes Texas made can EASILY be accomplished at Iowa: moving student sections, using student ambassadors around campus, using a DJ at every game, playing more music during timeouts and less burrito lifts.
I get a little tired of people targeting Fran as the reason the home atmosphere stinks. The product he puts out is more than enough of an excuse to have a good atmosphere. Moreover, Texas isn't a premier basketball program nor is Texas a proverbial basketball state. But the Texas Athletics Department made strong decisions that looks to turn the program into a premier program in the near future. If the Iowa Athletics department actually cares about elevating (both) basketball programs, they start with Carver.
