[guest forever]

Since this started out as comments about a possible new arena does anyone with legitimate info know what the timetable is for the project?

[Hold My Own]

I never share info that's not legit...coming from those who makes the decisions ....anyways, there's no timetable they are just talking right now...but something will have to be done soon....i think the main concern right now is when to be able to do it...summer wont be enough time and the vines will be needed for convo and athletic events...we'll see

[SuperJon]

I think the whole parking issue can be settled by a couple buses like I mentioned Coastal has. They contract through Lymo which is the bus service around Myrtle Beach. Then you won't have kids driving from the circle to class. We were behind a freshman looking for a parking spot today and wanted to punch him in the face. This is just my opinion and opinions are like buttholes...

[absturgill]

If Liberty does build a new arena, it would be nice to see a 18,000 seat + one that you could block off with curtains for how much you need. I like FSN's opinion of it being at the David's place site. You have plenty of parking and have created a "athletic center" with Williams Stadium, the track and the ice arena. With enrollmetn booming, the amount of major events coming to campus and the rise of our athletic programs it seems like a good move.

[Hold My Own]

I dont think we'll see a new arena but raising the roof is the best option at this point...UNLESS someone steps up and wants to pay for it!

[PAmedic]

We were behind a freshman looking for a parking spot today and wanted to punch him in the face. This is just my opinion and opinions are like buttholes...

very classy, SJ.

[SuperJon]

I'm assuming that's sarcastic...

[PAmedic]

nooooooo, not me. Have you forgotten about my charming personality ALREADY? its only been 2 weeks- I'm disappointed.

(yes- more sarcasm. don't want to confuse anyone)

[TIMSCAR20]

I think it would be nice if they had a building other than the Vines for Chapel and really just used it for Volleyball and basketball. That way you could maintain the court better and use the other storage areas for more office space or even build more office space if needed on the outer part in the back where the offices are. Maybe add a level to that part. Maybe they will have chapel in the new Thomas Road which i think will hold 2 times what the current TRBC holds. If that is true then it should hold 20K. Just my opinion.

[TallyW]

The Old TRBC holds under 4k. It's closer to 3800. The new one is only supposed to hold a little over 6k. It's not a solution.

Jerry and Jonathan know that unless a new cuttting edge leader emerges at TRBC, they will not continue attracting 20,000 worshippers each weekend (baptist numbers). They will still have a large church there, but not to the point that they need a much larger worship center.

The Vines idea appears to be the most promising although I do know the seats are falling apart and they don't have true replacements... If they do that, they'd basically have to do a mass renovation anyway... seems like building one would be just as good IF they can get the capital. I'm believing that they can and will. That said, the David's place Idea sounds good. Being near the stadium and campus North gives it better traffic flow as well. We'll see... should be interesting no matter what they decide.

I'm all for someone coming in and saying "Okay, lets build up Williams stadium to D1 standards and throw a dome over it. They can get it up to football code and then have a big enough venue to do what they need to do with sports for the forseeable future. Lots more cash, but it would be a solution for both bball and fball. Think Alamo Dome SLY.

(the above is a pipe dream and I'm aware... but figured I'd press the conversation a little)

[LUconn]

While I really have no clue about this, I'm not so sure the Vines in expandable. From my obvservations it was build in a terrible place. Water builds under it causing it to flood on occasion. I can't imagine whatever it's built on would handle all of the extra weight of a new teir. Also, I would think to build up, you'd also be required to build out as well unless you're planning on people getting to the top level via ladders. The whole idea just seems kind of impracticle. But then again I'm no engineerologist.







Edit: what's that junk in my signature?

[bigsmooth]

it would take some work to make the vines better. ie suites. if anyone has been to alexander memorial coliseum at ga. tech, it is a similar design, except when they renovated it, they reduced capacity and built box suites at the top around the coliseum. i would make it cozier, and as the program grows make it have a cameron indoor atmosphere, so students would need to get a seat by lottery. then have the new center as a backup of sorts for growth.

[Hold My Own]

The vines was built to be able to expand...luckily someone had the foresight that we may just need to do it

[prototype]

I remember when the topics around campus were about not being able to watch TV's in the dorms, how bad it stuck to put a tie on to eat when I had no class on that day, how it was hard to find a seat in the old 500 seat caf, not being able to wear shorts anywhere on campus, how packed the one floor library was when you couldn't find a seat, about getting reprimanded for listening to secular music. Everyone has their opinions, but the truth is LU does nothing like they used to. They actually run the University like a business now. It's a small town and no one will ever be happy. They could add 40,000 Parking spots and people would still complain that they are in the wrong parts on campus. A parking garage Vines Center would do little to nothing to help parking. The Vines Center is big enough for sporting events - until we get all the students and community to fill it up - it's not an issue. I actually would like a smaller venue around 5-6K. The University needs to build a large Convo Center and then get a removable court put into the vines, which will allow selected BIG Basketball Games to be held in the proposed Convo Center.

To complain that Liberty is not doing enough to get ready for more students is absurd - what else can they do - they have built in 19 new dorms, added an unbelievable Student Center, an Ice Arena, Indoor Track Facility, North Campus w/ state-of-the art Law Center and Library, New Football Ops Building, new intramural fields, The Hanger, an additional floor to Demos – 2 more coming, A school of Government, Big Screens in the Vines, paved most parking lots on campus, added overflow parking lots on East Campus, added full-time Alumni Director, built an Alumni Center, Renovated Shilling to house Practice courts for Men's and Women's Basketball Teams and indoor Tennis, Built new Baseball Complex, Increased Athletic Budget over 50% the past 5 years to try and compete, Increased size of the Bookstore, wired every room on campus with Broadband, added on ramp to 460 off circle with their own money, agreed to build 19 more dorms on East Campus, reached agreement for Lynchburg to build pedestrian walk over Wards road for Students to be able to walk to Target/Wal-Mart, Built Tunnel to allow students to cross 460 with out walking over bridge, built East Campus rec center w/ swimming pool, do I have to go on?

What else do you want to see that will prove to you that the administration is committed to make this the best University. We have built more than most State Universities.

[LUconn]

, reached agreement for Lynchburg to build pedestrian walk over Wards road for Students to be able to walk to Target/Wal-Mart,

hadnt heard that. That's a good idea.

[prototype]

Can't remember where I heard that - I think it was from someone from Economic Development.

[El Scorcho]

I can confirm the walkway to Wards Road over the railway, however I think it's going to actually be landing on the closer side of the road, at Montview Commons.

[prototype]

That makes more sense. I still wish they would make it over the road too.

[guest forever]

I'm all for the growth that's going on at LU but I wish they would improve the baseball facility before building an 18,000 seat convo/arena. Winthrop's new baseball stadium looks great. Liberty's facility is starting to look worn out and that building down the third baseline is a real eyesore. I'm not sure who approved the design but it looks cheap (brick and siding)...that's fine if you are building a house but not a sports facility. The blue press shack also needs to go. Tear it down and give baseball a real stadium.

[TallyW]

Good job prototype!

It's great to see all of that in one paragraph.

Every freshman should be given a set of timelines. One line can be the growth of ____(PICK YOUR UNIVERSITY)___ and the other timeline should be of Liberty. On that timeline should be every milestone of each school. The timeline should stop at 40 years. This way, students can see exactly how fast this school has grown and the perspective with which they should view a University. So many kids come in trying to compare us to the biggest state schools without appreciating truly what has been done.

Another couple of lines should be that of the other Christian Colleges. This way they can see that LU (for all it's flaws) is not attempting to be just 'another Christian college'. Perspective would be good for young LU friends.

[El Scorcho]

I'm all for the growth that's going on at LU but I wish they would improve the baseball facility before building an 18,000 seat convo/arena. Winthrop's new baseball stadium looks great. Liberty's facility is starting to look worn out and that building down the third baseline is a real eyesore. I'm not sure who approved the design but it looks cheap (brick and siding)...that's fine if you are building a house but not a sports facility. The blue press shack also needs to go. Tear it down and give baseball a real stadium.

I think the baseball team was responsible for raising their own funds and handling the construction of that building. I may be wrong on that, but I do know that it took foooooorever to be completed.

[bigsmooth]

proto has it nailed perfectly!

[ATrain]

Proto...LU did expand the bookstore, but after working there for almost 2 years, its still way too small. We've had to open up another one on Campus North and we got a storage room under the stairs and yet space is still not adequate enough (It was designed to handle about $2 Million a year, and we did over $1 million last week...and do about $8 millions a year). B&N would be MORE than happy to build the University a building on campus, but the best area for it to go IS in upper P1, so that won't work. As far as the new dorms, they're falling down...I live in them right now, and already there are cracks in the wall, and doors not closing all the way and getting stuck. The Cafeteria now is overcrowded, as is the computer lab during the day (just try and find one open before classes or after they let out).

At least they did renovate the senior dorms (aka quads), those look really nice.

And for all you circle people complaining about parking in the Pit next to Dorm 33...I'm sorry, I have no sympathy for yall. Try walking from the end of the pit on East to the dorms furthest away from it (E5-E6)-thats the distance from the Prayer Chapel/Mansion/Hancock Building to the Circle. Granted, we do have more spots closer to our dorms than yall do, but still...AND IF THE STUPID FRESHMEN WOULD ONLY PARK WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TOO, THAT'D MAKE LIFE GREAT.

*breathes in, breathes out*-Ok, I'm done venting. I know that with any university, there are growing pains, and its just something those of us now will have to live with.

As far as a new arena on campus, I'm sure it'll look very nice...and I agree, jumbotrons and scoreboard over the center of the floor would be great.

Oh yeah, there's also a new soccer stadium on the drawing boards as well, placed right behind the press box at Williams Stadium. The concept looks pretty nice, if I do say so myself (and I do).

[TallyW]

ATrain... when will you be posting a picture of this soccer stadium? What are you waiting for?

Also, get yourself a Segway xt

[Hold My Own]

It's hard to argue for a new baseball facility when they are not bringing in any money, while it may appear neither is basketball by the attendance aspect you have to equal in season tickets and sponsors......if someone is to step up who loves baseball and say here's what I'm willing to give to LU but it can only go towards baseball, then it may happen (williams football)...but I dont see the university putting any money towards baseball anytime soon...as they shouldn't