Should PSU Basketball move back to Rec Hall?
- Thread starter dcf4psu
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Use to love going to games at Rec Hall. I remember the Indiana game in the early 90s where Indiana was ranked #1 and PSU got jobbed by the refs! I think most of the fans ended up sweating as much as the players because it was so hot there!
Art or Lar will correct me, but it's my understanding that as acceptance into this God-awful conference, we agreed to build the BJC and attain a certain seating capacity for men's basketball, which Rec Hall didn't meet (go figure).
In other words, the other coaches didn't want to play in a snake pit.
In other words, the other coaches didn't want to play in a snake pit.
No and never. Moving back to Rec Hall (while being a logistical nightmare) would say to the Big Ten "we accept the suck"
If true, then it's time to tell the other big ten coaches to pound sand. Tell Delany that since he hasn't returned our Bowl money we need to downsize. Duke plays in a 'pit' much like Rec Hall and they do pretty well.
. The atmosphere in Rec Hall is light years better than the BJC.
Maybe they could add on to Rec Hall somehow. That would be better than staying in the BJC.
Which BOT crony was given the BJC architecture/building job, anyhow? I'll bet there's a connection.
Which BOT crony was given the BJC architecture/building job, anyhow? I'll bet there's a connection.
Play the non conference games in Rec Hall, and switch to BJC for the Big 10 schedule. Hopefully some of the enthusiasm from the OOC games will carry over into increased attendance at BJC.
That was my understanding. Rec Hall being a "snake pit" had nothing to do with it. Big Ten has a gate sharing agreement for football and basketball. Small venues mean less money in the kitty. Now a large venue that's empty means the same or worse, but you get my drift. How you admit two schools that have football stadia with capacities in the mid-50s is a matter one can take up with the Amoeba.
OK, but what if we start a renovation of the BJC and have to temporarily hold basketball games at Rec Hall? Then, with construction projects being as unpredictable as they are, the project may just get delayed for a couple of years... ;-)
Seriously though, you are correct about seating capacity for basketball was one hurdle to overcome, as was the State College airport... what is the penalty though for not playing in a stadium with X number of seats?
If it was up to me. Which it ain't:
I'd have the pre-conference games in Rec Hall (unless there was a particular "big draw" for a game here or there)
And the B1G games in the BJC
Lots of arguments that could be made one way or the other.......but that's what I would do - without going into all the reasons WHY I would do that.
Once the novelty of playing back at rec hall wears off, people will quickly remember the reason why they couldn't wait to get out of rec hall. If it was such a tough venue and helped the team why did the team only make one appearance from 1965 until they left it in 1996?
If I was in charge I would have renovated Jordan center to be a hockey/events arena and then built a new 10,000 seat field house for basketball. Unfortunately I am sure Pegula would have wanted to do that.
If I was in charge I would have renovated Jordan center to be a hockey/events arena and then built a new 10,000 seat field house for basketball. Unfortunately I am sure Pegula would have wanted to do that.
You couldn't be more wrong. Lets say that you have a 64 Mustang in the garage, it's not new and fancy, but it's got character and it gives you pride and confidence. Why do we allow the Big Ten to tell us that we have to play in a larger, but less enjoyable venue?
Times have changed. And nobody would have been in a hurry to get out of Rec Hall had they known what the alternative was.
There's no room and no reason to expand Rec Hall.
There's no reason to renovate the BJC. It was designed to be a general purpose arena. And it has served that role very well.
Break out your checkbooks, donate $100 million, and you'll get your basketball arena.
In the mean time, I'm guessing the AD will focus on facilities that actually need immediate attention, like Beaver Stadium and the natatorium.
There's no reason to renovate the BJC. It was designed to be a general purpose arena. And it has served that role very well.
Break out your checkbooks, donate $100 million, and you'll get your basketball arena.
In the mean time, I'm guessing the AD will focus on facilities that actually need immediate attention, like Beaver Stadium and the natatorium.
If true, then it's time to tell the other big ten coaches to pound sand. Tell Delany that since he hasn't returned our Bowl money we need to downsize. Duke plays in a 'pit' much like Rec Hall and they do pretty well.
I realize this thread is about Rec Hall and bball (I'm all for it), but out of all this mess and nonsense, how on earth are we not raising hell about this Bowl money extortion? Tens of millions of dollars that is OURS. Sandy can tweet like a teenager and hire 30 new ADs and overspend and underdeliver on new facilities, but this is unforgivable.
If Rec Hall was so enjoyable, there would have been more than 4600 people per game last year when they played two games there.
Plus Rec Hall is in no way a 64 Mustang.
Because in order to do that, the administration has to bring attention to the fact that PSU as an institution never did anything wrong. And for some reason, they refuse to do that.
Having a home court advantage isn't the only contributor to winning games. I just tried researching, but I wonder if you look at the average home vs away record in Rec Hall and compare the average home vs away record at the BJC.
If you are one who thinks that the BJC has a better basketball atmosphere than Rec Hall, then I can't help you. Also, I chose the 64 Mustang specifically because it is nostalgic, but not a muscle car. I guess you don't know classic cars either.
Means nothing, but man did I love my first two years at PSU in Hamilton. Walk across the street and w/ an ID go see Heidi Anderson, Patty Skadeland, Mike Lang, Tommy McClusky, and ALL Rec Hall athletes. Not to mention the concerts. Saw ARS on a whim for $6 two minutes from my dorm room.
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I say play in Rec Hall--a much better BB environment--and harder on the visitors. And if Delaney doesn't like it, let him pound sand.
Nostalgia is nostalgia for a reason. It's something nice to have around for sentimental reasons, but it's not something you want to use all the time.
And yes, I think a full BJC is much better than a full Rec Hall. I've seen both. I've been court side for sellouts for both and a full BJC is much, much louder than Rec Hall.
You could always re-route Rte. 322. Oh, and take another shot at properly re-designing both golf courses. They'd have to buy up a bunch of private and commercial property, but..
Sandy's got this.
If true, then tell Delany the football stadium more than makes up Penn State's share.
Playing in a smaller basketball focused arena will actually be better for the team IMO. Some comparison arenas of D1 teams in smaller arenas-
1. St. Joes- 4,200
2. Villanova- 6,500
3. Stanford- 7,329
4. Miami- 7,972
5. Northwestern- 8,117
6. Georgia Tech- 8,690
7. Boston College- 8,606
8. Butler- 9,100
9. Auburn- 9,121
10. Notre Dame- 9,149
11. Duke- 9,314
12. VA Tech- 9,847
13. UConn 10,167
14. Arizona St- 10,754
A 9000 seat arena would be fine. The schools you list under 9000 aren't much to envy, except Villanova, which of course plays several games per year at the Wells Fargo Center since their arena is too small.
I'm curious, are you under 30 years old? My thought is that maybe someone younger wouldn't appreciate places like Rec Hall. I remember being in Rec Hall to see Penn State play Michigan and the fab five... I think it may have been Stanley Jackson (but my memory fails me often), who had to inbound the ball while standing in between PSU students who's seats were right smack up against the court. There was a student that got ejected, for yanking on his shorts... maybe the shorts is an urban myth, but I remember a student getting ejected. It was a CRAZY atmosphere. Were you around for this? How about the NIT game against Miami that had to be played in Rec Hall because of a conflict at the BJC? Penn State overcame a 20 point deficit with 15 minutes to go... This is mentioned in this article about great moments in rec hall history.
No one will ever say the BJC is a great venue, but when you put a good team on the floor and there are excited fans in the seats the BJC is fine.
If true, then tell Delany the football stadium more than makes up Penn State's share.
Playing in a smaller basketball focused arena will actually be better for the team IMO. Some comparison arenas of D1 teams in smaller arenas-
1. St. Joes- 4,200
2. Villanova- 6,500
3. Stanford- 7,329
4. Miami- 7,972
5. Northwestern- 8,117
6. Georgia Tech- 8,690
7. Boston College- 8,606
8. Butler- 9,100
9. Auburn- 9,121
10. Notre Dame- 9,149
11. Duke- 9,314
12. VA Tech- 9,847
13. UConn 10,167
14. Arizona St- 10,754
I'd tell Delany a lot of things, but, of course I don't have the manners of Screwface or Indiana Fats.
The teams there minus a few (Auburn, ASU, NW, etc) have done pretty well compared to PSU in NCAA appearances and basketball tradition. There's a much longer list of schools with big arenas that 'aren't much to envy'.
In any event, I was just trying to point out D1 programs that don't have NBA type arenas (which aren't necessary for success).
People for get that attendance at Rec hall was not great either. Here are the five best seasons in Rec hall history. That including when it held 8+. Of course people have fond memories but there were many nights that a lot of seats were empty. In fact only one season Penn State averaged less than top Rec Hall attendance which was in 13/14.
- 6,666
- 6,461
- 6,119
- 6,095
- 5,873
Nope, should get a few big bucks alums to build a real 10K seat basketball arena.
Seemed to work out pretty well for hockey........
Seemed to work out pretty well for hockey........
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If true, then tell Delany the football stadium more than makes up Penn State's share.
Playing in a smaller basketball focused arena will actually be better for the team IMO. Some comparison arenas of D1 teams in smaller arenas-
1. St. Joes- 4,200
2. Villanova- 6,500
3. Stanford- 7,329
4. Miami- 7,972
5. Northwestern- 8,117
6. Georgia Tech- 8,690
7. Boston College- 8,606
8. Butler- 9,100
9. Auburn- 9,121
10. Notre Dame- 9,149
11. Duke- 9,314
12. VA Tech- 9,847
13. UConn 10,167
14. Arizona St- 10,754
The only reason why they made the BJC so big was for concerts.... We should be playing in a 8,000 seat field house, with the seats smack up against the court. Also, like Rec Hall has the jogging track around the top of the stands, I would do this for the new field house, with retractable seating that you could roll out when you needed the extra capacity.
Totally agree. I've become more of a fan of UDub's Alaska Airlines Arena. It's a dedicated bball arena a lot like the Palestra but seats around 10,000. I like the idea of a track around the top with retractable seating for games with bigger crowd interest- better than tarping off an upper deck.
Alaska Airlines Arena at Washington-
Sure like they've been coming out of the rafters with their checkbooks for years. Besides, since Screwface has a stadium project on the front burner, she'll have to expand her repertoire beyond ass-licking..
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