(02-17-2011 01:26 PM)sarasotahuskie Wrote:  

(02-17-2011 11:32 AM)cyberdawg Wrote:  My son's graduation in 1998 was in Evans --- & it did not exactly offer basic creature comforts for the grandparents

my graduation 42 yrs beforehand was in....Evans.

Time marches on. Some things change, some don't change much.

I miss watching games in Evans. It felt like a home game - unlike the convo. It simply lacks in a sense of an identity or character. It's too dark inside. Feels more like being in a cave rather than an arena. All the interior spaces outside the arena are bright and inviting.

BTW: The cheap plastic covering to the arm of my cheap chair in section 116 was missing last Saturday.

Convo is a utilitarian space meeting many needs on campus including vball courts and dept offices. NIU nowadays would be screwed over without it. Size matters. I enjoyed Bill Cosby in Convo with a packed house. Where else would those wanting to attend a service for the slain students gather? Some day it will be also filled for happier events with a winning bball program. The women may be the first to lead the way to making Convo an exciting place to watch NIU bball games.

IHSA state tourney games held in Convo also fill near to capacity.

Goddda wonder how well will MAC Wrestling championships draw given HS wrestling season will be over.
Evans could not have been selected to host the event.
Too bad BT wrestling finals are also same weekend in Evanston and likely to draw well and siphon off from MAC meet for those highly involved in the sport.

Build it and they will come when bball program emulates football's success. I yearn for the days ahead when the next Kenny Battle, Jim Bradley, Bobby Knight and Ray Meyer make the Convo rock.

You graduated in 1956? Wow, you are old...

...or your basic arithmetic is a little suspect...

...or both.

___________________________________
fuzzy witness math is now corrected - 32 yrs beforehand is accurate.

cybes graduated niu in 1966

married June 1969

fathered the son born April 1975

son graduated niu in May 1998

My 1972 graduation was held outdoors at Huskie Stadium. This was before they broke each college out into separate venues. The entire graduating class was included in one ceremony although many did not attend. It was very impersonal since there were too many graduates involved to have each individual walk up to have their name announced and accept their diploma. Each college was announced and stood up as a group. I went only because my parents wanted to attend.

My son's 2004 graduation was in the Convo. Much nicer ceremony.

Watching women's volleyball games at Chick Evans was well worth it.... You were close to the action if you sat on the ends of the court, as opposed to the side.

The view was real, and it was spectacular.

(02-17-2011 08:48 AM)gcd Wrote:  

(02-16-2011 06:02 PM)chihuskie Wrote:  The old field house seated about 6,700 and was pretty much smack in the middle of campus. It was time to do renovations/ upgrades. Many of us loved the old field house, but I'm not sure what happened. We built a student recreation center about 1985 that had been designed and was on the drawing board for about 20 years at that time. We did not have money (apparently) to put up a facility that could sit where the Rec Center is (right at the dorms) and serve as a dual purpose basketball stadium/ campus Recreation facility. Thus the Convo was built a bit further away from the dorms (although it is NOT FAR by any stretch- it's also not on student's way back to the dorms from class as the old field house was).

When the Convo gets about 1/2 full, it's going to be a tremendous place! Not even half full-- just 1/3!

the old fieldhouse held about 5500 packed

Chick Evans held over 6,000.
I was there many times when there was a crowd of over 6,000.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chick_Evans_Field_House

(02-17-2011 01:22 PM)niu79 Wrote:  I graduated in the old Chick Evans. My mother freaked out in the stands when everyone stood up and the bleachers proceeded to sway back and forth.

Imagine that after a dunk with about 35 seconds remaining in the game.

(02-17-2011 01:31 PM)WhiskeyDick Wrote:  The Convocation Center is a $38 million white elephant. The place bleeds money according to what I've been told. It's vision was to be an attractive basketball facility plus an actively used regional mecca for trade shows, concerts, etc. The calendar for the facility is depressingly empty the bulk of the year.

Not to mention it's isolated in a cold unattractive corner of the campus, has cheap plastic pullout seating and has very little atmospheric element. It doesn't help that NIU has a dead basketball program and minimal fan following to begin with.

Joint gets a D minus in my book.

No its not. It was needed. If you want to know what a white elephant is......

(02-17-2011 05:20 PM)gcd Wrote:  

(02-17-2011 01:31 PM)WhiskeyDick Wrote:  The Convocation Center is a $38 million white elephant. The place bleeds money according to what I've been told. It's vision was to be an attractive basketball facility plus an actively used regional mecca for trade shows, concerts, etc. The calendar for the facility is depressingly empty the bulk of the year.

Not to mention it's isolated in a cold unattractive corner of the campus, has cheap plastic pullout seating and has very little atmospheric element. It doesn't help that NIU has a dead basketball program and minimal fan following to begin with.

Joint gets a D minus in my book.

No its not. It was needed. If you want to know what a white elephant is......

================

This coming from a bloated fat cat on the government payroll. Exhibit A for why the State of Illinois is billions of dollars in debt. Why don't you actually do some WORK for the tax dollars we have invested in your fat cat ass.

Can't we all get along?

(02-17-2011 05:42 PM)WhiskeyDick Wrote:  

(02-17-2011 05:20 PM)gcd Wrote:  

(02-17-2011 01:31 PM)WhiskeyDick Wrote:  The Convocation Center is a $38 million white elephant. The place bleeds money according to what I've been told. It's vision was to be an attractive basketball facility plus an actively used regional mecca for trade shows, concerts, etc. The calendar for the facility is depressingly empty the bulk of the year.

Not to mention it's isolated in a cold unattractive corner of the campus, has cheap plastic pullout seating and has very little atmospheric element. It doesn't help that NIU has a dead basketball program and minimal fan following to begin with.

Joint gets a D minus in my book.

No its not. It was needed. If you want to know what a white elephant is......

================

This coming from a bloated fat cat on the government payroll. Exhibit A for why the State of Illinois is billions of dollars in debt. Why don't you actually do some WORK for the tax dollars we have invested in your fat cat ass.

Whiskeydick, you're a "cold, unnatractive" person. The convo is awesome, it feels like you're at a mini NBA venue. There is plenty of interest in the program FYI, just not as long as Patton is in town.

dickwhiskey is at it again....throws out bombs just to get people upset..the poor guy needs help...why can't we all get along..

(02-17-2011 03:56 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  The view was real, and it was spectacular.

Has anyone ever met Nigel in person? Just wondering....

Frazier's brother?

(02-18-2011 10:54 AM)cyberdawg Wrote:  Frazier's brother?

That might explain a few things.

Hey baby I hear the blues a callin...toss salad and scrambled eggs.