New Arena?

[valpo95]

Mr. Labarbara:

As you can see in the above thread on the same topic as well as recent media stories, the question about a new arena is generating a lot of interest. There seems to be wide-ranging support for a new facility, including from Coach Drew.

Where do you see this fitting into the bigger picture of VU and VU athletics? Recognizing that either a new arena or a major expansion/renovation of the ARC is a major investment, could you give us some sense of the time line for such changes? Where does this fall in terms of university priority, athletics department priority and the like? Lastly, what can we do to help?

[ml]

The ARC has been a great home for Valpo sports over the past 20+ years but as we enter 2008 there is no doubt that it is in need of significant improvements.

As we look at our needs we must address two areas, intercollegiate athletics and recreational sports. The University community deserves quality in both areas.

When we look at our basketball programs there are three priorities for a facility 1) game day atmosphere, 2) ease of student attendance 3) Athletics Department revenue generation.

Game day atmosphere is largely a function of size. A building needs to be sized so that the most seats are filled for the most games. It is not an accident that Duke's arena seats only 9,300. It is full every game, regardless of opponent and day of the week. When Gonzaga built their new arena two years ago they sized it at 6,000 seats. There is no reason to believe that we would need to play in a facility larger than Gonzaga's.

Students are the largest contributors to the game day atmosphere. They create the most enthusiasm and the most noise, that is why they are behind the baskets and near the opposing team. The basketball teams need to play in a facility that is an easy walk from the dorms. A location too far from the students will result in decreased student attendance.

Two of the Athletics Departments main revenue sources, ticket sales and corporate sponsorships, are dependent on the facility in which basketball plays. Basketball must play in a facility where those revenue sources can grow for the Valpo Athletics Department over time.

When all of the above is taken together the best course of action would seem to be a major renovation of the ARC. This would include new seating in a new configuration, new floor, new scoreboard, and new locker rooms and support areas.

With a new president coming to campus in July 2008 any discussion of University priorities would not be appropriate at this point in time. We also need to see what comes from the City's arena feasibility study. However, I can say that a renovated and expanded ARC would be a top priority for Athletics.

The bottom line is that these types of projects happen at private schools when donors develop a passion for a project and step forward to make it happen.

[crusaderjoe]

Mr. Labarbera:

I have a follow up question relating to the following statement:

When we look at our basketball programs there are three priorities for a facility 1) game day atmosphere, 2) ease of student attendance 3) Athletics Department revenue generation.

Candidly, I was surprised to see the generation of revenue placed at that point in priority, particularly since men’s basketball appears to generate the most public interest of all University sports. Can you explain in greater detail why the Athletic Department has placed revenue generation behind the other items, or any item for that matter, given the fact that men's basketball is its most popular sport?

Thank you again for your previous commentary.

[ml]

The numbering was not intended to show priority. All three are very closely related.

Students help create atmosphere which creates more excitement, which makes your home court a harder place for opponents to play, which puts us in the best position to be successful, which generates more tickets sales, which generates more interest from potential corporate partners.

The Men's Basketball team is our best opportunity to generate revenue for the entire Department. We want to be making decisions that help maximize that revenue without running contrary to our institutional values.

[crusaderjoe]

Thank you for taking the time to reply--it certainly provided clarity.