[bigsmooth]

i thought i would start a thread about our facility that is falling apart and will hopefully be barber-proofed soon. it is very embarrassing that we have seats that are broke and roped off with yellow caution tape, it is also equally as bad that we have the seat "graveyard" above the tunnel, where they get replacements seats. it is also horrible that we have one concession open at games, and that one is at the far end of the arena!! btw, i asked mickey guridy about this and he said it has something to do with sodexho, so who knows. even some ceiling tiles above the floor are out of place and the restrooms are not as clean as they should be. and we are still using the old scoreboards from liberty gym! though functional, we need new ones.the only positives are the locker rooms which were re-done. all of this stuff takes away from the atmosphere of the arena. with all of this said, what upgrades would you want?? her is what i would want:

1. 2 functional concession stands..one at each end of the arena with a better selection of items
2. have domino's, chick-fil-a or other eateries rent one of the empty stands on the sides of the arena. heck you could split them in half. LU could charge rent if necessary.
3. have a flames club dining room in the other empty stand....you would have to bring it out onto the concourse, but it would look better than putting up those cheesy curtains.
4. use those video screens for time-out contests. at many arenas they play that find the item game with three balls labeled 1,2,3 and it gets jumbled up,and you have to guess where the item is...it's my best explanation, and other various contests.
5. utilize the flames name and have the fire machines out there for starting line-ups...anyone who has not been to JPJ at UVA, their pre-game and things they do for time-outs are awesome.

it just has to be more fan friendly, and a place that you want to be. even if you have a team that is not a good, the amenities can make a better experience. pay me a salary LU and i will be your facility manager.

[SuperJon]

There's that SMGT degree coming to use.

[El Scorcho]

I think that what's most unfortunate about the Vines Center is just how long it's been that bad, given that it's really not that old. Some of the problems are the result of bad planning, but too many of them are from neglect. It's poor stewardship at best.

[LUconn]

my main problems with it have been fixed. I was a big advocate of court painting and changing the hidious color that surrounded the court. Seat fixing is a must. The upper level walls were painted during my 4 years but they should have gone with something more school colorish instead of tope, or whatever that is. I guess they're trying to keep it somewhat multipurpose looking though. I've got a whole list for improvements to the outside that I'm going to photoshop into existance when I get a good picture of the place on my computer at home.

[thepostman]

I remember the first time i drove onto campus and saw the vines center...i was like wow, we have a pretty nice arena...then I went inside and needless to say i was quite the opposite of impressed...with all these sport management majors around here you guys should just start a planning board on your own, i am sure you guys would have some good ideas....the Vines Center has such potential...its a shame that potential is a waste...

if we ever do revamp it we should bring in the WWE or something, haha...kidding, kidding

[LU'sbestmanager]

i think they are supposed to be putting in those covers for the lights this week. for the black out at starting lineups. that should be a nice improvement. i know that they will be changing the sound system also

[TDDance234]

i think they are supposed to be putting in those covers for the lights this week. for the black out at starting lineups. that should be a nice improvement. i know that they will be changing the sound system also

Am I the only one who thinks using the old Bulls theme is a tad bit overplayed and maybe a little drastic for our team?

[hurricane fan]

The light changes will start tomorrow after Christmas Convo. I agree with everyone upgrades except for the flame machines. I thought that was the most "brokeback" thing i have ever seen at a sporting event.

[LU'sbestmanager]

great, so we should have some nice intros for sat. then right?

[thesportscritic]

i have been to JPJA in Charlottesville and i love that place. Smoothie has a good point as the rest of you. The Vines needs some major TLC.

[SuperJon]

I can see it now:

SMGT 205-005 - Sport Facility Practicum - Facility Management at the Vines Center.

[LU'sbestmanager]

HF, is that what JB said?

[bigsmooth]

well excuse me hurricane fan for thowing out an idea. it would certianly be better than what we are doing now. go to a UVA game at JPJ and watch the pre-game...i think it is pretty cool, plus it provides an NBA type atmosphere.

[hurricane fan]

smooth----i have been to JPJ and watched the opening with the flames. i thought it looked pretty cheap. i liked the flames on the screens between the twoo levels but we all know that will not be part of any "upgrades" in the vines.

lubm---if you are talaking about the lights, no JB didn't tell me that, but i do know that it is happening

[TDDance234]

I'm interested to see what Barber has up his sleeve in the future for the Vines center.

I'm in agreement with the majority of you guys, it needs some serious love. The first thing I'd like to see is a new sound system for sure. I'd like to see something done to add a little color, maybe something like replacing the student section seats with red chairs instead of the blue, to make it look a little more full? (Of course, maybe not roping off the top 10 rows in the middle of the student section for the non-exisiting student flames club would help as well..). I miss the running box score on the big screens as well. Was good way to keep track of individual players without keeping a score sheet (yes, I am a nerd and do that sometimes).

[LU'sbestmanager]

i know that the sound system is coming this year

[LU'sbestmanager]

high point had that really nice scorers table that i saw at OU. i was wondering how they can offord that, and we have tables with pads falling off of them, and actual tables with LU cloths over them

[Purple Haize]

Two words about the VINES CENTER improvement: Insurance Fire. (it would fit with our logo) It has been a disaster from day one (sort of a theme with LU Buildings but we already had that thread) Horrible practice alignment, horrible office configuration, lack of storage, overused (Convo) improper equipment to mantain, lights that go off suddenly for no apparent reason with the reset switch located across campus, although it is afun water slide when it rains!!!
TORCH IT!

[thepostman]

yeah, i really hope that they one day down the road build a new arena...sooner rather then later would be my preference....they can build 3 or 4 six story dorms over on east campus, tear down those building on the circle...and build it there...and then build new dorms in the place of the Vines Center...I don't know...just an idea....anybody with any other ideas about where a new arena could be built shoot away

[El Scorcho]

I say build it into the mountain. Half in the mountain, half out.

[A.G.]

Two words about the VINES CENTER improvement: Insurance Fire. (it would fit with our logo) It has been a disaster from day one (sort of a theme with LU Buildings but we already had that thread) Horrible practice alignment, horrible office configuration, lack of storage, overused (Convo) improper equipment to mantain, lights that go off suddenly for no apparent reason with the reset switch located across campus, although it is afun water slide when it rains!!!
TORCH IT!

Well said. As much of a dysfunctional arena as I have seen.

[Hold My Own]

I want to meet the person who decided to put the extra yellow row at the top of the all blue section...I just wish I could have been a fly on the wall for that convo...."Hey we have 15 extra seats" "ahh just throw them up somewhere it doesn't matter"


To me...that sums the Vines up


*But we do need to keep in mind the age of the arena and it's served its purpose and was the premiere arena in the BS for quite some time

[Fumblerooskies]

Coming into the Vines as a visitor for the night before the game practices, I always was intrigued that it was something like 55 degrees in there...
...as it seemed to me like it was a blatant attempt at a home court advantage.

[TDDance234]

I would imagine sometime in the near future, they've got to rework convocation. If we keep growing at the current rate, even by next year the Vines Center is going to be maxed out. I would imagine that soon convo is going to be held in the TRBC Sanctuary with it broken up by freshman/sophmores and juniors/seniors.

I'd love to see a specific arena built just for basketball with a practice facility. Let it hold about 9-10k with the fans right over the court, ala Duke's Cameron Indoor.

[Hold My Own]

they already have it there on the screens for staff and there are a lot of people there (on wed)...so that seems the most logical, just have Freshman go in there and watch it on the screens