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Updates to the Joel?

donaldross said:
Most of the athletic department staffers remain from the Wellman regime. They are still recovering from his “shut up and smile” directives.

It’s pretty clear here that folks are wising up. Took 30 years to realize it’s too big but at least many are there now and that’s all that matters. I think there is a unique window here to get a deal done.
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So many people on this board defended the Joel 15+ years ago. It was evident then a smaller arena was needed. There is zero reason if Loyola-Chicago can figure out where to put a 5000 seat arena on its small campus in the middle of a neighborhood (a neighborhood with no parking decks) bordered by Lake Michigan that we can't do the same with an 8K or so sized arena on or very close to our own campus.
 
BeachBumDeac said:
two things:

1) The number of hardcore Wake Forest fans who are willing to go through a hassle to get to a game is drastically lower than an NBA fanbase.
2) People have different expectations for accessing entertainment when they don't live in a dense metro area.

Wake is not competing with United Center and MSG for these fans. They are competing with other entertainment options in Winston-Salem. And those other options allow you to park close and walk right in.
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Yeah, and those other "entertainment" options fucking suck relative to the competition in a city like what the Knicks and Bulls face in bigger cities. Again, people will show up even if they have to walk 10 minutes to get to their car.
 
This is the largest shift I've seen on these board re the Joel. Maybe I'm not remembering correctly, but for years I thought people were arguing that the Joel was great and was sold out all the time when we were good. I remember sitting in an empty row in the upper bowl when we were ranked No. 1 in the country (or really high) against Va Tech.
 
Ball State Deac said:
This is the largest shift I've seen on these board re the Joel. Maybe I'm not remembering correctly, but for years I thought people were arguing that the Joel was great and was sold out all the time when we were good. I remember sitting in an empty row in the upper bowl when we were ranked No. 1 in the country (or really high) against Va Tech.
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In person attendance at everything has changed in the last few years. 15 years ago every game was not on TV somewhere. Today it is a rare game that is not on TV.

People's thoughts and mindset change as circumstances change. I can sit on my couch and watch almost every game. Why drive multiple hours, get home late on a work night/school night when the game is on TV and it's a 10 second trip from couch to bed after?
 
I think seeing the attendance at a big game yesterday when we have a good team is helpful. We should have a very nice arena that seats 8-10k and gets students / those who want to stand and yell as close to the court as possible.
 
And over the past several years I think the consensus has been that the Joel is too big but it's not really a major factor in why our basketball program has struggled that's all about that coaching.

The way to get a nationally relevant program is to win enough to get to the postseason and to do well there and build on it. That's always been our biggest stumbling block that has kept us marginal.
 
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DeacMan said:
For fucks sake, old people go to games in places like the United Center in Chicago, MSG, etc. And some of these people drive 1-2 hours to get to a game. You think they won't walk 10 minutes if needed?
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Apples and oranges
 
ChrisL68 said:
And over the past several years I think the consensus has been that the Joel is too big but it's not really a major factor in why our basketball program has struggled that's all about that coaching.

The way to get a nationally relevant program is to win enough to get to the postseason and to do well there and build on it. That's always been our biggest stumbling block that has kept us marginal.
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And that's a problem for like 300 D1 basketball teams in the country.
 
BiffTannen said:
And that's a problem for like 300 D1 basketball teams in the country.
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but wake has had five or six year periods we've been a regular member of the top 25 and if you had that postseason success you have a real opportunity to build that into a more permanent thing.
 
ChrisL68 said:
but wake has had five or six year periods we've been a regular member of the top 25 and if you had that postseason success you have a real opportunity to build that into a more permanent thing.
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So have lots of other teams. Making the NCAAT every year and making the Sweet Sixteen 25 years out of 30 is not easy, it's historic.
 
DeacMan said:
So many people on this board defended the Joel 15+ years ago. It was evident then a smaller arena was needed. There is zero reason if Loyola-Chicago can figure out where to put a 5000 seat arena on its small campus in the middle of a neighborhood (a neighborhood with no parking decks) bordered by Lake Michigan that we can't do the same with an 8K or so sized arena on or very close to our own campus.
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I’m with you in size and need for something new, but the current location is fine. With the building that has been going on on campus, space is becoming more limited (and I’d hate to see more green space be lost)

The Deactown sports complex is close enough and makes a central sports area. Around it could be developed out more, but location is fine.
 
IamThunderbolt said:
I’m with you in size and need for something new, but the current location is fine. With the building that has been going on on campus, space is becoming more limited (and I’d hate to see more green space be lost)

The Deactown sports complex is close enough and makes a central sports area. Around it could be developed out more, but location is fine.
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Who owns the Joel and the land?
 
BiffTannen said:
So have lots of other teams. Making the NCAAT every year and making the Sweet Sixteen 25 years out of 30 is not easy, it's historic.
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I didn't say it was easy, but we had legitimate opportunities that our terrible post-season performance hurt significantly.
 
Do we have a perfect for our size arena? NO
Does the Joel need changes? Yes
Can it be a good arena? Yes
Should we spend $100-150M to build the DR Dome? Hell No!

Until someone finds 3 more Bob McCrearys($55M Total gifts with all he has done)waiting to step up, just stop this nonsense.
Try the Serenity Prayer.
 
sportsmed86 said:
Do we have a perfect for our size arena? NO
Does the Joel need changes? Yes
Can it be a good arena? Yes
Should we spend $100-150M to build the DR Dome? Hell No!

Until someone finds 3 more Bob McCrearys($55M Total gifts with all he has done)waiting to step up, just stop this nonsense.
Try the Serenity Prayer.
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150M is likely low given the current cost of construction.
 
sportsmed86 said:
Until someone finds 3 more Bob McCrearys($55M Total gifts with all he has done)waiting to step up, just stop this nonsense.
Try the Serenity Prayer.
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You understand that you don't need 100% cash up front to build an arena right? Crazy enough, there are banks and things that lend money so you can build things, especially to large credited institutions.
 
Deacfreak07 said:
150M is likely low given the current cost of construction.
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Georgia State is building a 7500 seat arena at a cost of 82.5M. No one has to buy land here.

GSU-Convocation-5.jpg
 
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