Tarheel Impressions of Carver Hawkeye Arena: "Imagine if this place was full. It would be special."
- Thread starter Franisdaman
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Carver was designed to be a multi use facility. Basketball, Wresting, Volleyball, and concerts. The acoustics do not allow it to be as loud as say Wisconsin's or Nebraska's arenas.
If I was to rate the Big Ten arenas I'd put Carver somewhere in the middle of the pack, not that Carver can't become loud for a few Iowa basketball games or Wresting matches.
Wisconsin, Nebraska, Purdue, Rutgers, Indiana, Michigan St, and Michigan would be considered louder then Carver if a poll was taken by Big Ten fans. The worst arena is in Happy Valley but who knows if their new coach can turn that around....
If I was to rate the Big Ten arenas I'd put Carver somewhere in the middle of the pack, not that Carver can't become loud for a few Iowa basketball games or Wresting matches.
Wisconsin, Nebraska, Purdue, Rutgers, Indiana, Michigan St, and Michigan would be considered louder then Carver if a poll was taken by Big Ten fans. The worst arena is in Happy Valley but who knows if their new coach can turn that around....
Carver has always been incredible when at full capacity, and even when not if it’s the right fan group. That Dayton NIT game is the loudest stadium/game I’ve ever been present for.
Carver was designed as a multipurpose facility, so as a result it's somewhat imperfect for every one of those purposes,... Regarding basketball, even though the seating is somewhat distant from the floor it can be a very loud venue when it's full,... Unfortunately it's seldom full.
Yeah, if Carver is the greatest venue for wrestling, but is nothing special for basketball..........that tells me it's a fan issue (and perhaps having a national title-contending team helps).
Fans could make a game against Cal Poly sound like it was being played in a championship-hosting venue, if they wanted.....................but they don't.
That's on them. Always will be.
I've seen average teams and small schools with amazing raucous fans. It's all about effort.
You're welcome.
I've always enjoyed CHA as a fan.
When I was a kid, I didn't care if I was sitting on bleachers crammed in like a sardine. Now, however, relative comfort is a significant consideration. I'm not talking about the bitching that goes on as to the sitters vs the standers. I'm referring to having a specifically assigned seat available with decent leg room, good sight lines and the ability to get in and out of your seat with minimal difficulty.
I also appreciate how the bowl shape allows for a good view of the game from many more seats than in multiple other arenas I've been in.
And, yes, it can get plenty loud.
When I was a kid, I didn't care if I was sitting on bleachers crammed in like a sardine. Now, however, relative comfort is a significant consideration. I'm not talking about the bitching that goes on as to the sitters vs the standers. I'm referring to having a specifically assigned seat available with decent leg room, good sight lines and the ability to get in and out of your seat with minimal difficulty.
I also appreciate how the bowl shape allows for a good view of the game from many more seats than in multiple other arenas I've been in.
And, yes, it can get plenty loud.
I meant to say what about football players. How finished that sentence the way I did is beyond me.Footballs can't catch Covid-19, silly!
Another reason why 2020 sucks. This is almost certainly Iowa's best team in decades, and if it were any other year, the fans would be going nuts.
I would have loved to have seen Carver packed to the brim for the UI-UNC game. Would have been a totally electric environment.
Iowa wrestling fans laugh at Iowa basketball fans who complain about CHA.
Need a rowdier crowd. But CHA is very loud when its full and fans are excited.
Having security tell people to sit down, or not use profanity (witnessed both) is not conducive to student attendance. I want an arena that reminds visitors and officials of the snake pit that killed Ragnar Lothbrok.
Having security tell people to sit down, or not use profanity (witnessed both) is not conducive to student attendance. I want an arena that reminds visitors and officials of the snake pit that killed Ragnar Lothbrok.
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anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba
Guest
Actually, head examinations aside, many of us have attended games at Carver for years and have also visited other arenas around the country, and some of us can even claim to have seen games at the old Field House, the home of the Hawkeyes until 1983. And Carver CAN be a great venue given certain specific situations, like an NIT game when you don't have to give a fortune to the U to get a seat, or a few other occasions. But overall, compared to other arenas around the Big Ten and the country, Carver never has matched up well. That's just a fact. You don't have to like it, but I think my experience in Carver and other venues is better evidence than a hypothetical from a UNC fan site. But that could just be me. LOL
If anyone wants to hear Carver's maximum potential, go see the Hawks wrestle Penn State when they come to town. I've never heard an athletic venue that loud before. A big time wrestling meet in Iowa City blows away the volume of basketball games. It blows away Kinnick too.
As an Illini fan who’s been to games there, I can attest as an outsider that your arena gets super loud. I REALLY found that out during the 2005 season. The Iowa/Illinois game was on a Saturday in late February and sold out, and we brought 4,000-5,000 fans, plus the Orange Krush. It seriously seemed like on every single play, the crowd was going crazy.
The only problem with Carver is that the students are lined up in a very dumb way.
The only problem with Carver is that the students are lined up in a very dumb way.
That Dayton game was one of my favorites of the McCaffery era. Wearing road uniforms at home, White had a monster game with a lot of thunderous dunks and Zach McCabe, of all people, was en fuego the entire game.
Would love to see it again. Where are you able to watch it?
I understand some people don't like Carver. I do and like you, have been to many other arenas including the old fieldhouse, several times. Carver, like a lot of things, is what you make of it. It compares extremely well to me. Truly sorry, if head examined, bothered you, I probably should have used a different tact.
And while they are at it they should put tv screens on the back of every seat. Anything to help recruiting like Oregon...
