Bradley's new on-campus arena is everything and MORE!!

It was not easy to get this done...
Many people simply don't know that talk of rebuilding the on-campus athletic facilities began 20 years ago. The funds weren't there and every effort to explore funding ran into quicksand until the Jim Les era.

Over the past 8 years pledges, campaigns for support, and funding have skyrocketed.
That's not to say they still don't need support -- they definitely DO, and many people are still giving and supporting!

But -- many of the facts are simply not known, and I sure don't even know all of them...but I can say confidently that this was a construction and engineering near-miracle given the difficulty of the project that stalled plans for more than 10 years as it was......

The building of a multi-story parking deck, and a 4500+ seat arena with remarkably top notch training facilities and more, all within inches of MAIN ST., and on the land previously occupied by historic homes whose owners objected vigorously and colluded with the local newspaper to print unfounded, unfair, inaccurate, incorrect, and near-libelous accusations about Bradley and their plans....

is a truly astounding and remarkable accomplishment - especially given the time element...

Recall, the Fieldhouse was torn down and BU redshirt freshman James Robertson made the final basket at the old Fieldhouse in the Spring of 2008.
http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showpost.php?p=75145&postcount=4

Then the first shovel of dirt was turned for the NEW facility just about two years ago...
(August 2008 )
http://www.peoriamagazines.com/ibi/2008/aug/joanne-glasser?page=0,2

This enormous project simply wouldn't have gotten done in the face of the objection that was stirred up by a few who enlisted the help of the local press - without excellent cooperation between the city and the University...and it was mostly in gear already under the outstanding development efforts and leadership of people like Coach Les, Ken Kavanagh, Tom Hammerton, David Broski, Gary Anna, William Engelbrecht, all the Trustees, and Dr. Joanne Glasser.

It was NOT easy -- the logistics & location prevented an arena of any bigger size..unless you're talking taking out all the homes all the way over to Western Ave. and across the other side of Main St., plus spending $150 million more...The project was just the perfect fit and it took some doing to get it done.


Here's acomparison.....
UNI's new on-campus McLeod Center is similar to BU's arena, but seats a little bit more...6750...with some SR also that brings the total to about 7000.
(recall that they do get taxpayer funding and use land that is paid for and owned by the Iowa taxpayers - and they'll tell you otherwise even though it has been proven beyond question that they do get non-private help)

Note that for their home game vs. NIU they drew 4083
For their home game vs. Iowa they drew 6480 - still not a sellout despite playing IOWA!!!
For their home game vs. Wyoming they drew 3102
several other games drew under 5000, and their home average was 5642, in a tremendous, championship year!
Here's a picture of their McLeod Center....but now it is the only place they play their home games, so if they do bring in an opponent and could possibly sell 10,000 tickets, they're out of luck.
http://www.uni.edu/mcleod/images/McLeodCenter_3.JPG

Likewise, ISU has only ONE option - Redbird Arena, and thus at times have to play REGULAR SEASON GAMES in a hollow, 3/4 empty arena against foes like Norfolk State, Indianapolis Univ., Grambling, Lewis, Nicholls State, Winston-Salem State, and Missouri-St. Louis....
where they draw as few as just 3000....and LOTS of empty seats...
Clearly if they had the option of a smaller, cozier arena for use in those games, it would get raucous even with the smaller crowds and would definitely be to their advantage.
Like I say, WE HAVE THAT ADVANTAGE

Another example - DePaul also likes this same idea...
They have the ability to play home games at the AllState Arena (formerly the Rosemont Horizon) and can seat sellouts of over 17,000 but they never draw much more than 10,000, although rarely they've had games approaching 15,000.
For their lesser games against opponents like Albany, they can play in their on-campus arena.

They now have the smaller McGrath Arena on campus -- completely refurbished within the past decade......seating a bit over 3000..
and they WILL PLAY generally all their preseason exhibition games AND one early season non-conference game there!!!
Just exactly like the plans Bradley has. Note this game early in their season when they played Albany - they utilized their smaller, on-campus McGrath Arena...and it was a tremendous success!!
http://www.depaulbluedemons.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/111808aaa.html

Everybody loved it, there WERE NO COMPLAINTS!!! And the profits were all, 100% DePaul's instead of paying a nearly prohibitive fee to the AllState Arena to play a game when the attendance would have been only around 3000, causing them to LOSE money big time on that game and have to make it up on the other games!
There were no gripes from the season ticket holders - many of whom really didn't want to go to the Albany game - and it would be the same here at BU. There's always at least one early season opponent like Idaho State or EIU that the very same people gripe about having to pay for that game with their season ticket package, and now they won't HAVE TO. They can easily OPT to include the on-campus game but they wouldn't have to.
And I don't for a second believe the complaints of those who say "but if only 4500 can get in, then there'll be people who won't be able to see a game they want to see."
Baloney -- everyone who wants to see it will see it...it'll be planned right so whichever opponent will be the perfect draw for a 4500 seat venue...and there won't be folks shut out who want in!
Has Bradley ever sold out the old Fieldhouse for one of those exhibition games?
And when Bradley did host IWU at the Fieldhouse, that one drew relatively poorly as well and wasn't a sellout. And that's exactly how this arrangement will be planned and executed....
the only games at the on-campus arena will be the ones that many people, even the standard season ticket holders, might just want to skip anyway, and they won't then be obligated to pay for that game and let those seats go empty...
BUT -- they'll still be able to enjoy all the action at all the games that are part of the season ticket package, and they can also add the extra game up on campus if they want -- I guarantee it'll be easy and enjoyable!

So, now Bradley, CAN, of course, choose to play any time they want in an 11,500 seat arena, but we also have a 2nd option....
In other words...we're not boxed in to just ONE choice like 95%+ of all D-I schools...
We have two options, and can utilize those two options to the best of our ability to help make Bradley basketball successful. Isn't that exactly what we brought in all the expertise for?? The very people who were applauding like heck when we hired new coaches, new AD, etc....are now the ones griping about the plans those fine new hires are making.
Give it a rest some time, and let the professionals you cheered so loudly run the show.

Like I said -- this whole endeavor, sponsored and paid for by the donations and contributions of many great Bradley fans and supporters (of which I am one) gives Bradley an extra option that no other team in the Valley has.............so we have a tremendous opportunity - a tremendous benefit - a tremendous PLUS for our school and our recruiting. I find it hard to believe that people, a large number who haven't put up a single cent to help build the facility, are complaining about it and don't want games played there.