This is not my opinion, I don't know...passing along what I've been told...by a person in a position to know more than the average JMU fan. This person is confident a new convo will be located off campus.

- This person is very much aware the master plan says the convo will be located on the hill next to the old convo.
- This person has told me that a large track of land between 81 and South Main street has been purchased by JMU (Belle Mead area North) The purchases was classified as "non-academic usage" in the DNR...I have not confirmed this...

Reasons this may make sense and could be true:
- located adjacent to 81 and a on/off ramp...makes sense
- reduces traffic burden on university blvd & in the forest hills neighborhood & on Port Republic Road...
- allows a new COB to be built on the hill next to the old convo.
- the new Convo would be a huge advertisement for JMU athletics on heavily traveled 81...

If the land purchase can be verified, it adds value to this being more than a rumor, the purchase price was not chump change...if not a new convo, then what is the "non academic" purpose?

I hope the rumor is wrong. Any location that far away from campus is a terrible idea.
College basketball needs to be on campus where it is accessible to students.
Adjacent to campus would be the 2nd best option.

down the road, where vehicle transportation is REQUIRED, is a terrible idea.

In a nutshell ... that's similar to what Liberty did with their Basket Ball facility .... right on 460 ....at the current corner of campus ... I suspect LU will eventually build a new venue across 460 ... toward their snow-plex ...

(08-30-2014 12:03 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  I hope the rumor is wrong. Any location that far away from campus is a terrible idea.
College basketball needs to be on campus where it is accessible to students.
Adjacent to campus would be the 2nd best option.

down the road, where vehicle transportation is REQUIRED, is a terrible idea.

I don't what to think. I can't disagree with you about an on campus facility. On the other hand, it would hard not to be excited for a new COB on the east campus hill & a new Convo (anywhere).

I picture a huge video board facing 81 on the side of a new convo done right...every car & truck driving north or south would get a big dose of JMU [i]and a new conference?[/i] .

Would a conference like MAC or CUSA be moved by tens of thousands of people seeing the conference name daily on a shiny new basketball arena next to a very heavily traveled mid atlantic interstate?

That's a mistake if it is built off campus. Lets face it, the non student fan base will travel to campus or off campus sites. However, the students will not make the effort to go off campus! This will be a failure!

(08-30-2014 01:13 PM)South Carolina Duke Wrote:  That's a mistake if it is built off campus. Lets face it, the non student fan base will travel to campus or off campus sites. However, the students will not make the effort to go off campus! This will be a failure!

I'd prefer it be on-campus as well, but it's not like students are packing the convo now.

An expansion or new COB will not be on the hill behind the expanded UREC


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(08-30-2014 03:51 PM)Top Dawg Wrote:  

(08-30-2014 01:13 PM)South Carolina Duke Wrote:  That's a mistake if it is built off campus. Lets face it, the non student fan base will travel to campus or off campus sites. However, the students will not make the effort to go off campus! This will be a failure!

I'd prefer it be on-campus as well, but it's not like students are packing the convo now.

They're not packing convo now because we have been sucks at the basketball for a generation. If the new convo is far off campus (I have no idea where this tract of land is), many students won't go even of we start to be good at this sport. Also add the cost of tons and tons of parking since you won't have thousands of students in easy walking distance.

In Simmons Q&A with himself, he mentioned that the arena may be located beside the RMH Wellness Center on Stone Spring Road. Its an awful idea IMO, especially if you're trying to get more students to come to games.

(08-30-2014 10:10 PM)bridgeforthduke Wrote:  In Simmons Q&A with himself, he mentioned that the arena may be located beside the RMH Wellness Center on Stone Spring Road. Its an awful idea IMO, especially if you're trying to get more students to come to games.

It's less than 1/4 mile from campus. Also close to student apartments. And JMU is buying all of that area.

It's walking distance to one student apartment and that's it.

The new Bluestone trail would provide somewhat easy walking access from campus. I have no clue how it will be maintained in the winter time (i.e. snow removal).

At the rate JMU grows, anywhere in Harrisonburg seems to be a target for 'On-campus'.

I recall the Convo when it opened - feeling like it was off-campus as compared to Godwin and also where dorms and classes were. But with winning ways, students found it. Wherever it is, filling it up is the key.

I can see the logistical concerns about access from 81 and relieving some traffic.

I think traffic should be the primary consideration as to where to place the new convo. Nobody wants to sit in gridlock on a Tuesday night. I don't care if it's adjacent to the current facility. It's kind of a pain for the students but the university gives them a lot of options to be able to make it such as off campus buses and stuff so that's not a big deal.

Admittedly I have no idea what's going on with the new convo. But has anyone on here or at the university considered the land on the other side of Neff from University Park?

I am not sure if JMU owns it or if it even would be enough land, but I just drove by there and thought how amazing that spot would be.

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(08-30-2014 12:39 PM)Purplehazed Wrote:  

(08-30-2014 12:03 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  I hope the rumor is wrong. Any location that far away from campus is a terrible idea.
College basketball needs to be on campus where it is accessible to students.
Adjacent to campus would be the 2nd best option.

down the road, where vehicle transportation is REQUIRED, is a terrible idea.

I don't what to think. I can't disagree with you about an on campus facility. On the other hand, it would hard not to be excited for a new COB on the east campus hill & a new Convo (anywhere).

I picture a huge video board facing 81 on the side of a new convo done right...every car & truck driving north or south would get a big dose of JMU [i]and a new conference?[/i] .

Would a conference like MAC or CUSA be moved by tens of thousands of people seeing the conference name daily on a shiny new basketball arena next to a very heavily traveled mid atlantic interstate?

Basically where UREC is would have been the perfect spot for a new Convo.

Maybe level a portion of the village or the old baseball field and build it there.

I haven't been on campus in over a year, what is becoming of the old ball field? parking deck?

From inside JMU and out on the town I've been told the new Convo will be on the land that JMU just purchased out on S.Main St. Behind Steven Toyota and the Valley Lanes Bowling. I't not been confirmed but thats the way I've heard it.

(09-04-2014 07:01 AM)JMUsince89 Wrote:  From inside JMU and out on the town I've been told the new Convo will be on the land that JMU just purchased out on S.Main St. Behind Steven Toyota and the Valley Lanes Bowling. I't not been confirmed but thats the way I've heard it.

Exactly what I've been told by a person that should know...

(09-04-2014 08:18 AM)Purplehazed Wrote:  

(09-04-2014 07:01 AM)JMUsince89 Wrote:  From inside JMU and out on the town I've been told the new Convo will be on the land that JMU just purchased out on S.Main St. Behind Steven Toyota and the Valley Lanes Bowling. I't not been confirmed but thats the way I've heard it.

Exactly what I've been told by a person that should know...

I think big variables is/are traffic on Port Republic and Resevior which is already congested all around the hospital.

Awful location from a student attendance standpoint. It's close to exit 243.
Very disappointed if this is how it's going down. It's over 2 miles from the closest point of campus.