BJC or Rec Hall?

[BRETTPSU]

For strictly wrestling: Which do you prefer? Are you a season ticket holder?

As a season ticket holder I'll take Rec every time. Better visibility, closer seating and I think the atmosphere at BJC is lacking compared to Rec. However I understand the want/need to use BJC to showcase a larger meet just don't enjoy it as well.

 

[HOCKEYGOD11]

Rec is so far ahead of BJC for wrestling matches, I don't think it is even close.. Crowd right on top of mat.. clear sight lines from almost every seat and way more intimidating than BJC.. Yes season ticket holder

 

[matter7172]

A season ticket holder for over 15 years here. I was coaching junior high wrestling in NJ before then and couldn't make enough matches to have season tickets.

A packed BJC with a top opponent is pretty amazing. I don't think I've heard a louder crowd than when Jimmy G. knocked off Clark or when Hammond came back to beat Moore that same match. My ears were literally ringing like I'd been at a really loud metal concert.

But after Saturday night, yeah, I was reminded that Rec Hall is a lot more intimate and special. I see Carver half empty for most every match and am so glad the majority of matches are at Rec Hall.

 

[raslen007]

Season ticket holder. While BJC is a little more plush, I'll take Rec Hall any day. Glad here in DIII they still use the old barn for the district tourny. Just something about old venues that keep it real.

 

[JBott]

A season ticket holder for over 15 years here. I was coaching junior high wrestling in NJ before then and couldn't make enough matches to have season tickets.

A packed BJC with a top opponent is pretty amazing. I don't think I've heard a louder crowd than when Jimmy G. knocked off Clark or when Hammond came back to beat Moore that same match. My ears were literally ringing like I'd been at a really loud metal concert.

But after Saturday night, yeah, I was reminded that Rec Hall is a lot more intimate and special. I see Carver half empty for most every match and am so glad the majority of matches are at Rec Hall.

Rec Hall was incredible Saturday night! If I can get tickets I will be there more often!
WE ARE!

 

[86PSUPaul]

I am not a season ticket holder. Rec Hall is amazing, BJC for a really big meet is great, plus I like being able to get tickets easier, but it just is not the same. The meet last year at BJC was not as big and not as fun. I was able to be at tOSU Saturday and I would not trade that experience for anything.
Now, it would be awesome if they could tear down the current Rec Hall gym in early march and have a new facility, designed primarily for wrestling with seats of about 10k, but also able to do other things like volleyball, ready to go in November. The Empire State Building was built in a year, but I doubt it could be done that quickly today. It is all just a factor of time and money, plus regulations!!

 

[a_mshaffer]

I am not a season ticket holder - too far away, but wish I was. I would never take the big places over small. Partly because I like seeing the matches up close (or else watch on tv). I will say that I am jealous of all the silver haired folks in the front rows (I can say that cause I look like that too). I wish I were in those seats because too often some appear too relaxed! I have a buddy in one of them and have already reached out to him stating that if he doesn't start smiling I'll take his tickets!
We should be fired up anytime these talented and dedicated young men take the mat.

 

[pletch5]

Rec hall was electric. Would rather be at BJC just to get some more family in, But wildest crowd ever

 

[tgar]

I dig them both, yes we have season tickets. Without the Program, neither would be all that great. We are damn lucky to have Cael, his staff, vision and the talent they bring in.

Last Saturday evening was insane. This Saturday night will be great as well. Getting psyched already.

 

[psualt]

Rec Hall hands down. The only thing better at the BJC are the chair seats and restrooms.

 

[pointingdogsrule]

Never been to Rec Hall. On TV there seems to be "students"??? sitting on the floor on the one side of the mat which seems pretty cool. Is that correct? I went to Wisconsin and Minnesota last year when the lions visited. Both have venues very similar to Rec Hall and it was a cool experience.

 

[Janddlions]

For strictly wrestling: Which do you prefer? Are you a season ticket holder?

As a season ticket holder I'll take Rec every time. Better visibility, closer seating and I think the atmosphere at BJC is lacking compared to Rec. However I understand the want/need to use BJC to showcase a larger meet just don't enjoy it as well.

I would rather see BJC torn down and build a Arena like Rec Hall with about 8000 to 10,000 capacity. Just make a carbon copy of Rec with a few added seats, but keep the intimacy you got a Rec Hall. plus parking would be so much better,

Lets be real. Neither basketball team fills BJC. Even a big game usually no more than 9 to 10 thousand. Wrestling would pull that even against U of Buffalo. Rarely do you see BJC sell out from the concerts, Unless it's someone huge performing. I think it would great to have a Rec hall right next to Beaver and Pegula Arena. Have all PSU sports in that vicinity. Almost all of them are there already.

 

[BRETTPSU]

Yes the students get a very small section mat side. Just guessing 80-120 spots. Not sure why they can't add twice the amount of students because there is a lot of empty room behind them.

I would like to know how many students couldn't get in. They had a pretty long line waiting to get in and I know half those did not.

 

[86PSUPaul]

Question with regards to building Rec Hall 2 (to coin a phrase) near Beaver Stadium and Pegula, is there an advantage/disadvantage for the teams meets not being attached to Lorenzo wrestling complex.

Also, I was texting a friend on Saturday who's daughter is a student. He said she was at the hockey game and headed over to Rec but student tickets were gone by 5:30. No idea who many they give out.

 

[GOLDBANGER]

A season ticket holder for over 15 years here. I was coaching junior high wrestling in NJ before then and couldn't make enough matches to have season tickets.

A packed BJC with a top opponent is pretty amazing. I don't think I've heard a louder crowd than when Jimmy G. knocked off Clark or when Hammond came back to beat Moore that same match. My ears were literally ringing like I'd been at a really loud metal concert.

But after Saturday night, yeah, I was reminded that Rec Hall is a lot more intimate and special. I see Carver half empty for most every match and am so glad the majority of matches are at Rec Hall.

Rec Hall hands down. It was pretty loud when Conaway came back and beat Tyler Graff.

 

[RoarLions1]

Question with regards to building Rec Hall 2 (to coin a phrase) near Beaver Stadium and Pegula, is there an advantage/disadvantage for the teams meets not being attached to Lorenzo wrestling complex.

Also, I was texting a friend on Saturday who's daughter is a student. He said she was at the hockey game and headed over to Rec but student tickets were gone by 5:30. No idea who many they give out.

Students get 200 at Rec Hall and 350 at the BJC, if I remember correctly.

 

[nitlion6]

BJC will be packed on Saturday and there will be plenty of energy and it will be a fun night of wrestling. If possible the OSU match would have been there also and assuming the plot had played out exactly the same the noise and elecricity would have been amazing. People would be singing the praises of BJC.

It can be quiet in Rec Hall, but when something exciting happens the instant explosion of noise is deafening. Rec is always packed and if it held 10,000 it would always be packed.
A move to BJC for all meets removes the speciality of it. It loosens the demand for tickets which results in night's where we do put 8,000 or 9,000 in the arena and no matter what the noise gets eatten by the vastness of empty space. I have been to matches at the BJC where the crowd size was less than capacity. Hell i was at a OSU match in the BJC where the crowd would not have packed Rec Hall.

I am all for continuing in Rec Hall and special matches occurring in BJC.

Yes I am a season ticket holder and have been since Rich was coaching.

 

[Ranger Dan]

Why can't we build something on or close to campus that takes the spirit of Rec Hall and make it work for wrestling, basketball, and other indoor sports (volleyball, gymnastics, etc.)? Yeah, I know... that will take money and it's not on the facility plan. Well, I think that the facilities plan is basically the plan based upon the current revenue/income from football and other revenue sports. If Penn State would somehow receive special funding for something like that, then I'd bet that the facilities plan could be revised. I'm living paycheck to paycheck, but if there was a donor who would be able to start the momentum with a single large check, like for half of it, then I'd bet that Penn State could get enough money from other donors to make this happen.

 

[Cowbell Man]

I am not a season ticket holder. Rec Hall is amazing, BJC for a really big meet is great, plus I like being able to get tickets easier, but it just is not the same. The meet last year at BJC was not as big and not as fun. I was able to be at tOSU Saturday and I would not trade that experience for anything.
Now, it would be awesome if they could tear down the current Rec Hall gym in early march and have a new facility, designed primarily for wrestling with seats of about 10k, but also able to do other things like volleyball, ready to go in November. The Empire State Building was built in a year, but I doubt it could be done that quickly today. It is all just a factor of time and money, plus regulations!!

I don’t want it torn down. Just whack out the north wall and use the extra 30 feet toward the roadway to add to and update bathrooms and concessions. The old intimate feel is exactly what makes it hard on opponents.

BJC is fun, of course...once a year

 

[86PSUPaul]

I don’t want it torn down either, I just want 2-4,000 more seats with better bathrooms and concessions but exactly the same atmosphere. But I am not in construction, just a garlic bread salesman....

 

[yekrut321]

Rec Hall. I was not a season ticket holder but for several years in a row I was able to get SRO tickets for all home matches. Not a bad rail up in the SRO area! Job took me to the land of the nature nuts! I was able to get to last years dual with the nature nuts in Columbus.

 

[Just another PSU Fan]

Unless it's a BIG match, I sell my tickets to Rec Hall matches ...

As I get older, I'd rather sit in a seat with a chair-back ... so I prefer BJC

I don't really care about the "atmosphere" ... I care about good wrestling, the crowd doesn't do anything for me!