[phoenix]

Let's change the way convo is done. Rather than have everyone show up every day, only a certain group of students goes to convo live. Convo is streamed into the dorms, where everyone else watches live. This way, you can have a smaller arena on campus for basketball without worrying about where to put convo attendees. So take the 2000 seats out of the Vines, modify it however it needs to be, and keep it for basketball.

[flamesfan30]

convocation is something special that defines us as a school. changing it to the point to where we dont all go, its not really convo anymore.

[From the class of 09]

What's a better one?

Putting the "civic center" or "bigger arena" on the edge of campus for convocation and remodel The Vines to take out about 1500-2000 seats. You could make it an awesome basketball/volleyball arena if it didn't have to be multiple purpose.

this +10000000000000

I don't get moving basketball/vollyball to a larger arena. A 6500 seat arena with nicer amenities and a better layout for basketball seems much better then moving them to a larger arena. I don't get that mindset at all.

Because someday we will need 10k+ seats for basketball.

[logic]

convocation is something special that defines us as a school. changing it to the point to where we dont all go, its not really convo anymore.

This. Convo is special, and should be kept as such. IMHO the buildings change for convo, convo doesn't change for the buildings.

[BJWilliams]

http://ninthperiod2.podomatic.com/entry ... 0_57-08_00 part 1 with the chancellor
http://ninthperiod2.podomatic.com/entry ... 3_31-08_00 (they discuss the civic center and the Vines Center)

[alabama24]

Thanks BJ for posting that. It was fun to hear the Chancellor.

[SuperJon]

convocation is something special that defines us as a school. changing it to the point to where we dont all go, its not really convo anymore.

This. Convo is special, and should be kept as such. IMHO the buildings change for convo, convo doesn't change for the buildings.

Thank God churches abandoned that model.

[logic]

convocation is something special that defines us as a school. changing it to the point to where we dont all go, its not really convo anymore.

This. Convo is special, and should be kept as such. IMHO the buildings change for convo, convo doesn't change for the buildings.

Thank God churches abandoned that model.

And thank God football stadiums didn't.

[rogers3]

My guess (I dont think they asked where the would want the civic center to be) is that its going in the land just beyond the intramural fields and behind the Springhill Suites off 29/Wards Road and 460 West. A lot of that is contingent on the civic center project because as I said, convocations would have to temporarily be moved there once its built

I was under the impression that the school filed for their COPN for the medical school based on being at that site (it is in Campbell County). I was wondering if someone wasn't going to cash out on Candler's Station- though the city would raise a stink about the loss of taxable real estate and probably wouldn't want any part of that. I could see the land between Candler's Mtn. Rd. and the new Odd Fellows Rd. interchange being a good option for a civic center, though, especially considering that it would then be within the boundaries of the city that would be owning it.

[BJWilliams]

Thats a possibility. Either way, there are going to be some changes to accomodate convo being at this civic center while Vines was being renovated

[BJWilliams]

One interesting aspect of part of the interview (that hasnt been discussed as of yet) is the change that would create a separate space for women's basketball and volleyball games. There are a few schools that have a separate arena for men's and women's basketball (UNC comes to mind)

[Sly Fox]

Many of the larger programs use their older and smaller arenas and have them updated for volleyball & womens hoops depending on team interest. Having a smaller and more intimate homecourt advantage has some real value. Think Schilling with a nice upgrade. Obviously that is off the table but the new gym built to replace it could be built from the ground up to be a quality venue for vball and womens hoops. And for the bigger contests, the women could still have access to the bigger arena. It makes a great deal of sense. I know how much you guys love my references to Texas, but UT volleyball uses a similar setup and only goes into the Erwin Center for huge showdowns.

[Kolzilla41]

I'll post some pictures of the new Schilling tomorrow. Is there a better way than photo bucket? It doesn't always work for me.

[bluedevilflame]

Being that I was/am an online Liberty student, I acknowledge my knowledge of on campus activities like convo are limited. However, I think the only real way to have this work would be to leave the Vines alone and let men's/women's basketball and volleyball have it, and build something large enough on campus to accomodate the large crowds convo brings as well as special concerts and bigger opponent basketball games.

[JLFJR]

Merry Christmas, everyone.

I spent most of last weekend answering the questions in this interview for the Liberty Champion and thought you guys might enjoy it!

http://www.libertychampion.com/2011/12/ ... hancellor/

[Purple Haize]

Thanks! And Merry Christmas right back at ya!

[thepostman]

So where Tilley is now could possibly be converted to a smaller venue for women's bball/vollyball....hmm interesting idea.

I still don't like the idea of men's basketball being played at a 10,000 seat venue, but I do like the rest of what I read.

As always things are never boring around Liberty

[Purple Haize]

True. I like the conceptual look of the new Vines. IMO, that is really the only way it could be done. I think the new soccer fields and baseball stadium will be awesome.

[From the class of 09]

I still don't like the idea of men's basketball being played at a 10,000 seat venue, but I do like the rest of what I read.

By the time they build a civic center we could be good. It doesn't take much to get people excited about mens bball. Idk how many people were at the Iona game last year but it was rocking pretty good in the vines. Of course everything from then on went down hill. But if we get to the poInt where we have 15k+ on campus and a team challenging for our conference there is no reason we can't get 7k avg attendance and max out on occasion. Of course that still sounds a bit out there right now but that's part of Lib too.

[SuperJon]

I'm glad I saw that picture of where the baseball field is going. I never got a good grip on where that'd be placed. That's going to be awesome over there. I love the soccer field being made bigger and put closer to the stands.

Like Posty, still not the biggest fan of a 10,000 seat arena for basketball but there are ways to get around it. I wonder if we could tarp parts of it like we are now doing in the football stadium.

I love the 2500-3000 seat gym for volleyball and women's basketball. The crowds we get for some of those games would be amazing in a 3000 seat gym.

[Sly Fox]

Most civic center arenas come with flexibility in seating that can have fairly significant variances in seating arrangements to have the proper size for what you need.

[Hold My Own]

Honestly, I'd give my left arm for the corner office in Online. Could you imagine looking out of your window everyday and seeing a diamond? Ohhh that is what heaven will be like for me....in my mind...every Saturday a game would break out like the Field of Dreams. Seriously, that's so awesome.

[logic]

True. I like the conceptual look of the new Vines. IMO, that is really the only way it could be done. I think the new soccer fields and baseball stadium will be awesome.

I won't demad an apology Haize, and I won't say "I told ya so" but I do believe I see an upper deck ring around the Vines!! Who would have thought?

[Hold My Own]

Oh come on logic, Haize is dense...this isnt a news flash

He's obviously missed the last capital campaign renderings and the 1,000 times it was mentioned on here

[Purple Haize]

True. I like the conceptual look of the new Vines. IMO, that is really the only way it could be done. I think the new soccer fields and baseball stadium will be awesome.

I won't demad an apology Haize, and I won't say "I told ya so" but I do believe I see an upper deck ring around the Vines!! Who would have thought?

You can demand all you want. But take a look at the drawings you were looking at and look at the one in the article. They look nothing alike. You also never asked my thoughts on what an expansion would look like. ThE partial overhang would be the only way it would work IMO. Based on past ventures with the land around the Vines I wouldn't be shocked if there was a surprise or two. But a 'floating' deck with lightweight materials would be the best option. Think weight distribution and arches. Further, the Vines is going to have to be basically gutted to implement to new seating configuration.