- October 3rd, 2019, 2:08 pm
#585384
Ian stated in an interview a while back that there is no plan to host ANY BB games in the Vines no matter the opponent or anticipated crowd size.
Moderators: jcmanson, Sly Fox, BuryYourDuke, Class of 20Something
flamehunter wrote: ↑October 3rd, 2019, 2:08 pm Ian stated in an interview a while back that there is no plan to host ANY BB games in the Vines no matter the opponent or anticipated crowd size.Hadn't heard that, but I'm not really surprised. Looks like Ritchie won him over. He had made it pretty clear he would rather not go back and forth.
tyndal23 wrote: ↑October 3rd, 2019, 11:15 am 4K - 4500 is with floor seating.4000 would be 600 more than the nicest small arena in the world.
ballcoach15 wrote: ↑October 3rd, 2019, 5:39 pm I predict a lot of fans will buy season tickets.That will pretty much be the only way you will be able to assure you can get admission to the games you want to see. For season ticket holders who don't go to every game, it will become a sellers market for the unused tickets.
LUOrange wrote: ↑October 3rd, 2019, 9:18 pm They're better off leaving the Men in the Vines Center and letting the Women and the Volleyball team have the Arena.Who is "better off" and why? The #1 reason for building the arena has nothing to do with basketball. Setting up and tearing down the Vines for convo/basketball is a huge hassle and expense. A LOT of people will be "better off" for having 2 separate facilities. The Vines Center is dated, and it's design does not lend itself to a major renovation. Believe me, it's been looked at...... Hard. Game experience, aesthetics and amenities at the new arena will be on a whole other level.
oldflame wrote: ↑October 3rd, 2019, 9:59 pmSo much truth to this. Alot of those "casual fans" could very well be old head "get off my lawn" types who like to maintain the status quo. Imagine a Liberty MBB ticket being a hot item on a Saturday night, especially when UVa and VT are on the road or not playing.LUOrange wrote: ↑October 3rd, 2019, 9:18 pm They're better off leaving the Men in the Vines Center and letting the Women and the Volleyball team have the Arena.Who is "better off" and why? The #1 reason for building the arena has nothing to do with basketball. Setting up and tearing down the Vines for convo/basketball is a huge hassle and expense. A LOT of people will be "better off" for having 2 separate facilities. The Vines Center is dated, and it's design does not lend itself to a major renovation. Believe me, it's been looked at...... Hard. Game experience, aesthetics and amenities at the new arena will be on a whole other level.
It requires a crowd of well over 6000 in the Vines to produce an atmosphere anywhere near what you would get with a sellout of 4000 plus SRO in the new arena, and even then, there really is nothing that can match the aura of a packed house. That's not even mentioning games played during Winter break, where small crowds make the big building even worse. Most important of all, the biggest advocate for downsizing was Ritchie McKay. Why? Because he believes overall it will make us tougher to beat at home. As far as I'm concerned that's being "better off".
The only ones who would benefit from MBB staying in the Vines are casual fans who will no longer be able to just show up when they feel like it and know there will be a seat for them.
oldflame wrote: ↑October 3rd, 2019, 9:59 pmObviously, this discussion is moot as their building the new Arena with their minds made up. And as I said before, it will be nice. Heck, it'll be really nice. That said, in my opinion, the new arena is a waste of money and land. But, maybe I'm just nastalgic towards my college days when we had 6-7K regularly for games, and I've seen it packed for VA Tech and the Big South Championship. The Vines Center back then was an awesome basketball environment.LUOrange wrote: ↑October 3rd, 2019, 9:18 pm They're better off leaving the Men in the Vines Center and letting the Women and the Volleyball team have the Arena.Who is "better off" and why? The #1 reason for building the arena has nothing to do with basketball. Setting up and tearing down the Vines for convo/basketball is a huge hassle and expense. A LOT of people will be "better off" for having 2 separate facilities. The Vines Center is dated, and it's design does not lend itself to a major renovation. Believe me, it's been looked at...... Hard. Game experience, aesthetics and amenities at the new arena will be on a whole other level.
It requires a crowd of well over 6000 in the Vines to produce an atmosphere anywhere near what you would get with a sellout of 4000 plus SRO in the new arena, and even then, there really is nothing that can match the aura of a packed house. That's not even mentioning games played during Winter break, where small crowds make the big building even worse. Most important of all, the biggest advocate for downsizing was Ritchie McKay. Why? Because he believes overall it will make us tougher to beat at home. As far as I'm concerned that's being "better off".
The only ones who would benefit from MBB staying in the Vines are casual fans who will no longer be able to just show up when they feel like it and know there will be a seat for them.
LUOrange wrote: ↑October 4th, 2019, 9:45 pm I've seen it packed for VA Tech and the Big South Championship. The Vines Center back then was an awesome basketball environment.I agree, but I also think the change is needed for the health of the program. If the time comes when we need a bigger stadium on a regular basis, we can build it.
oldflame wrote: ↑October 4th, 2019, 11:30 pm In almost 30 years, we have never "packed out" the Vines Center. Not once. The last time Liberty had a basketball game where people were turned away was against Tennessee Temple in Liberty Gym.I guess you didn't make it to the Tech game in the mid-90's that was packed out? Or the Big South Tourney Championship game that was pretty darn full- not as much as Tech, but pretty full.
LUOrange wrote: ↑October 4th, 2019, 11:42 pmActually, yes, I was. For almost 40 years I rarely missed a Liberty home basketball game and always traveled to at least a few road games every year. Big crowd for that VT game, but there were still seats available, and at least half the crowd were Hokie fans.oldflame wrote: ↑October 4th, 2019, 11:30 pm In almost 30 years, we have never "packed out" the Vines Center. Not once. The last time Liberty had a basketball game where people were turned away was against Tennessee Temple in Liberty Gym.I guess you didn't make it to the Tech game in the mid-90's that was packed out? Or the Big South Tourney Championship game that was pretty darn full- not as much as Tech, but pretty full.
LUOrange wrote: ↑October 4th, 2019, 11:42 pmIf it was 92 I was there and it was packed - or at least seemed like it. Bottom line - colleges are trying to duplicate the Duke feel - there might be only 10 teams filling a big arena every game - Oklahoma having a big problem as well as most P5 teams. The far away seats with dark lighting isn’t team friendly. I would make the student section front level and bleacher only - no individual seatsoldflame wrote: ↑October 4th, 2019, 11:30 pm In almost 30 years, we have never "packed out" the Vines Center. Not once. The last time Liberty had a basketball game where people were turned away was against Tennessee Temple in Liberty Gym.I guess you didn't make it to the Tech game in the mid-90's that was packed out? Or the Big South Tourney Championship game that was pretty darn full- not as much as Tech, but pretty full.
tyndal23 wrote: ↑October 5th, 2019, 12:03 amThe attendance at the 92 VT game was 8,650.LUOrange wrote: ↑October 4th, 2019, 11:42 pmIf it was 92 I was there and it was packed - or at least seemed like it. Bottom line - colleges are trying to duplicate the Duke feel - there might be only 10 teams filling a big arena every game - Oklahoma having a big problem as well as most P5 teams. The far away seats with dark lighting isn’t team friendly. I would make the student section front level and bleacher only - no individual seatsoldflame wrote: ↑October 4th, 2019, 11:30 pm In almost 30 years, we have never "packed out" the Vines Center. Not once. The last time Liberty had a basketball game where people were turned away was against Tennessee Temple in Liberty Gym.I guess you didn't make it to the Tech game in the mid-90's that was packed out? Or the Big South Tourney Championship game that was pretty darn full- not as much as Tech, but pretty full.
oldflame wrote: ↑October 4th, 2019, 11:30 pm In almost 30 years, we have never "packed out" the Vines Center. Not once.
oldflame wrote: ↑October 5th, 2019, 12:30 amI was there and I would call that "packed out." However, I agree with the greater point. It was rare and it is better to have a "packed house" at 4k than to have 6k in a stadium for 10k.
Record attendance at the Vines was the VT game in 97 with 9003.
Capacity of the Vine's Center for MBB is 9, 547.
rogers3 wrote: ↑October 5th, 2019, 12:39 am No problem with a small venue...for a small program. I guess dreams of a higher profile conference are just that. By the time something like that happens, we likely won't be too worried about convo. A UVa or Tech game at small venue would be a waste. Meanwhile, JMU is working on their new 8500 seat arena; they must assume that their students are more bored than oursJMU also bid $200,000 for a home playoff game so we could go up there and beat them. Let's do what they do!
oldflame wrote: ↑October 3rd, 2019, 2:32 pmWho ARE you?!tyndal23 wrote: ↑October 3rd, 2019, 11:15 am 4K - 4500 is with floor seating.4000 would be 600 more than the nicest small arena in the world.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Ric ... or_Stadium
Don't take my word for it. That is per JK37, who has literally seen all of them. I get what they are going for. A GREAT game atmosphere every time we set foot on the floor and a culture where a seat for the game is a precious commodity.
JK37 wrote: ↑October 5th, 2019, 4:26 amNot a stalker.oldflame wrote: ↑October 3rd, 2019, 2:32 pmWho ARE you?!tyndal23 wrote: ↑October 3rd, 2019, 11:15 am 4K - 4500 is with floor seating.4000 would be 600 more than the nicest small arena in the world.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Ric ... or_Stadium
Don't take my word for it. That is per JK37, who has literally seen all of them. I get what they are going for. A GREAT game atmosphere every time we set foot on the floor and a culture where a seat for the game is a precious commodity.
Just remember that fine academic institution, Loui[…]