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Post by wh on Dec 11, 2010 10:39:01 GMT -5
From today's Post Tribune:
Quickly
December 11, 2010
We attended the Valparaiso-Purdue game Tuesday night and sat in the mezzanine section. Anyone sitting in this section cannot see the scoreboard due to the banners that are displayed. Perhaps they could display the banners over the seatback sections so the rest of the fans can see the score. Also, the public-address system needs some work, as no one sitting in the mezzanine section could understand anything that was being announced.
How many times has the crappy sound system been brought up on this board? Fifty? And people in the mezzanine can't see the scoreboard because of the banners. Are you kidding? Amazing lack of attention to detail. If this Athletic Department ever hopes to appeal to the masses in NWI, it had better get its act together and start showing some pride of ownership.
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Post by dcvalpo on Dec 13, 2010 11:31:58 GMT -5
Can definitely confirm both complaints..scoreboard was hidden by banners and the sound was almost impossible to hear
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Post by vuweathernerd on Dec 13, 2010 11:37:11 GMT -5
i was in the student section and had problems hearing at times even when we were quiet
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Post by tommydee46 on Dec 13, 2010 15:06:50 GMT -5
Can't operate a D-I program on a D-III budget!! The "good ole boys" need to let lose of some of that $$.
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Post by rlh on Dec 14, 2010 0:26:44 GMT -5
I thought the athletic department did a great job promoting, advertising and running the promotions for the game.....in addition, they came up with innovative ways to package tickets with another game to give them two attendance blockbusters instead of just one. I say well done....and kudos to those who planned and delivered.....
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Post by valporun on Dec 14, 2010 0:44:43 GMT -5
I recall discussion of the scoreboard and bad speakers from a couple of seasons ago. I don't know that much can be done with the banners blocking the scoreboard, but installing a better sound system would be appropriate for the ARC, or doing something to not make John Bowker sound so "tin"y. If he doesn't have a deeper sound, he doesn't carry well. There are times that I wonder if he is set to a certain level and just left there for the season, never being adjusted for the crowd size or anything like that?
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Post by valpo04 on Dec 14, 2010 8:37:32 GMT -5
I recall discussion of the scoreboard and bad speakers from a couple of seasons ago. I don't know that much can be done with the banners blocking the scoreboard, but installing a better sound system would be appropriate for the ARC, or doing something to not make John Bowker sound so "tin"y. If he doesn't have a deeper sound, he doesn't carry well. There are times that I wonder if he is set to a certain level and just left there for the season, never being adjusted for the crowd size or anything like that? I thought they used to roll up the banners on that side for big games so they wouldn't block views. |
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Post by crusaderjoe on Dec 14, 2010 18:43:21 GMT -5
Until VU is ready to break ground on the "Orville Clarence Redenbacher Center at Valparaiso University", for big time home opponents, VU should play these games at the Gary Genesis Convention Center. What's good for baseball should also be good for basketball.
Valpo would probably be able to draw a much larger name for a "home" game through the use of that facility rather than having to settle for scheduling games against IUN or PNC. Plus, the incidental by product of this is that you can solidify the "NWI hometown team" brand by playing games in Lake County every once in awhile.
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Post by vuweathernerd on Dec 14, 2010 23:24:10 GMT -5
Until VU is ready to break ground on the "Orville Clarence Redenbacher Center at Valparaiso University", for big time home opponents, VU should play these games at the Gary Genesis Convention Center. What's good for baseball should also be good for basketball. Valpo would probably be able to draw a much larger name for a "home" game through the use of that facility rather than having to settle for scheduling games against IUN or PNC. Plus, the incidental by product of this is that you can solidify the "NWI hometown team" brand by playing games in Lake County every once in awhile. the problem with that is the decrease in student attendance that would follow. it would cost the university a chunk of change to bus the students to gary and back just for the game. it's a nice idea, but doesn't seem that practical. |
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Post by valporun on Dec 14, 2010 23:41:54 GMT -5
Until VU is ready to break ground on the "Orville Clarence Redenbacher Center at Valparaiso University", for big time home opponents, VU should play these games at the Gary Genesis Convention Center. What's good for baseball should also be good for basketball. Valpo would probably be able to draw a much larger name for a "home" game through the use of that facility rather than having to settle for scheduling games against IUN or PNC. Plus, the incidental by product of this is that you can solidify the "NWI hometown team" brand by playing games in Lake County every once in awhile. the problem with that is the decrease in student attendance that would follow. it would cost the university a chunk of change to bus the students to gary and back just for the game. it's a nice idea, but doesn't seem that practical. DePaul has this problem too. Student attendance falters for the men's games because the students have to be at a certain spot to meet a bus that will take them from the Lincoln Park campus over to AllState Arena for the home games. This means many students will lose an hour of study because of leaving their living space to walk to wherever they have to meet the bus to go watch the Blue Demons play. I've heard many times they have been trying to get an arena built on campus, but because of the tradition that Ray Meyer built, the administration doesn't want to lose that revenue from the bumper crop of people in Chicago that would go to a DePaul game against UConn, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, and some of the other teams that would draw well. If Valpo did the same thing, they'd lose just about every student and a lot of revenue from having to pay for renting the Genesis Center. Plus, some of the games that fans would want to use the facility in Gary for might not give the sense of an advantage to Valpo, because schools like Purdue, Notre Dame, North Carolina and such may not want to play there, when the people that would follow them would be more than happy to do a 1-game guarantee at their place, rather than a home-at-home, or 2-for-1, if we picked the Genesis Center just to bring in more of the Lake County community. |
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Post by crusaderjoe on Dec 16, 2010 8:31:31 GMT -5
I wasn't suggesting that Valpo play all (or nearly all) of its home games at an off-campus arena like Depaul has done in the past. I'm talking about only a select few where that facility can draw a big named opponent and at the same time handle a crowd that would accompany such a big name opponent. Other that the one in Gary, there is no other facility that can adequately handle an event like that in NWI.
As far a student attendance, I understand what you both are saying and I hope that you do not take my comments the wrong way, but the correct answer in this analysis should be "who gives a damn." Students don't pay for games in the first place, and according to Lazarus, don't show up either. Even if Lazarus is wrong, how many students showed up to those on-campus games against IUN or PNC? Are you telling me that you wouldn't trade either one or both of those games for a big name game in Gary in front of 7K, student attendance notwithstanding? I know that student attendance is important, but we've played "home" games in Chicago too.
Play them in Gary, play them in Chicago, but no more "big time" games at the ARC. It is much to antiquated and lacking as a viable D-I venue IMO.
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Post by valpo10 on Dec 16, 2010 13:34:52 GMT -5
I wasn't suggesting that Valpo play all (or nearly all) of its home games at an off-campus arena like Depaul has done in the past. I'm talking about only a select few where that facility can draw a big named opponent and at the same time handle a crowd that would accompany such a big name opponent. Other that the one in Gary, there is no other facility that can adequately handle an event like that in NWI. As far a student attendance, I understand what you both are saying and I hope that you do not take my comments the wrong way, but the correct answer in this analysis should be "who gives a damn." Students don't pay for games in the first place, and according to Lazarus, don't show up either. Even if Lazarus is wrong, how many students showed up to those on-campus games against IUN or PNC? Are you telling me that you wouldn't trade either one or both of those games for a big name game in Gary in front of 7K, student attendance notwithstanding? I know that student attendance is important, but we've played "home" games in Chicago too. Play them in Gary, play them in Chicago, but no more "big time" games at the ARC. It is much to antiquated and lacking as a viable D-I venue IMO. First off, no student is going to show up against IUN and PNC because ITS IUN and PNC. Not even descent schools that make the game competitive and fun. Secondly, if the team gave some incentive for students to go (LIKE A COMPETITIVE GAME), then for sure more students would good, or if they would win; not lose to a team like Toledo. Also in your laughable idea you want to have Valpo play a "home" game against a team like Purdue, in Gary, with no students. That is a good way to show off to the nation your university. "Hey look they couldn't even get a student section to a "big" game!" We are not like Butler and get a good amount of students to travel because the chances of winning those "big" games are slim to none so why waste your time. Finally what is a college game without students? Might as well call it a terrible D-league game. I do agree with you though that Valpo needs a modern DI arena. The ARC is a joke for big games. |
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Post by drewsaders11 on Dec 16, 2010 14:40:30 GMT -5
Not being able to see the scoreboard, and the sound quality, are unacceptable. I also often think the pregame is kind of a joke, especially when the lights used to be turned off and "loud" music would play, with people spinning the lights on the balcony. Pretty lame.
I think combining the Purdue game with Cleveland State, and making another package, was brilliant.
I think playing big teams on our campus is needed. Playing them elsewhere doesn't create a "Valpo" atmosphere. Playing UNC in Chicago was anything but a Valpo home game, and I feel that playing teams in Gary wouldn't be too much better, and that playing in Gary is just a poor idea, unless you are the baseball team and don't get many people anyways. Playing a mediocre team in Gary would be an okay idea, but not too often.
I would love to see an arena of roughly the same size as the ARC built that is more modern, somewhat like Loyola's. I watched Valpo play there recently, and although it is nearly the same size as the ARC, it is a much better arena. I feel having Valpo play in something like that would be very beneficial.
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Post by rlh on Dec 16, 2010 14:54:54 GMT -5
Not being able to see the scoreboard, and the sound quality, are unacceptable. I also often think the pregame is kind of a joke, especially when the lights used to be turned off and "loud" music would play, with people spinning the lights on the balcony. Pretty lame. I think combining the Purdue game with Cleveland State, and making another package, was brilliant. I think playing big teams on our campus is needed. Playing them elsewhere doesn't create a "Valpo" atmosphere. Playing UNC in Chicago was anything but a Valpo home game, and I feel that playing teams in Gary wouldn't be too much better, and that playing in Gary is just a poor idea, unless you are the baseball team and don't get many people anyways. Playing a mediocre team in Gary would be an okay idea, but not too often. I would love to see an arena of roughly the same size as the ARC built that is more modern, somewhat like Loyola's. I watched Valpo play there recently, and although it is nearly the same size as the ARC, it is a much better arena. I feel having Valpo play in something like that would be very beneficial. You think the Loyola gym is better than the ARC. It's even older and more cramped...you must be kidding.... |
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Post by drewsaders11 on Dec 16, 2010 15:03:15 GMT -5
rlh:
The ARC initially opened in 1939, with the "new" gym being built in 1984. The Gentile Center opened in 1996, and has a much more modern feel to it. I can't attest to the cramped feel, but I doubt it feels extremely cramped. Thus, I am not kidding, and you should check your facts before making assertive claims.
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