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From the CUSA Board.

Middle Tennessee AD, Chris Massaro, has presented planned facility upgrades to the MT Board of Directors. Below is the video portion of the presentation that illustrates converting the area between Floyd Stadium and the Murphy Center into athletics venue courtyard. The new facilities would include an IPF, a new football facility with locker room and coaches suites, and end zone facility with club seats. It will also include a new basketball facility just below the Murphy Center...

https://s3.itim.co/brz/bb18/media3.mp4

This looks like it'll be wonderful for MTSU. Except for Basketball. The Murphy Center should be nuked from orbit, and they are barely going to scratch it.

Does it seem weird to anybody else that they show the upper deck half empty during the football game?

Yea there is usually hardly any one in it.

Looks very nice, but surprised they aren't overhauling the Murphy Center. Regardless, conference mates upgrading their facilities is good for the whole conference.

This should put us on notice that we can't just be satisfied with the football ops center. On campus, I know we've got the BBVA Compass Field expansion and the new track facility, but we've got to keep it going.

We need to put a basketball practice facility high on the priority list for one thing.

(02-14-2018 10:47 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  We need to put a basketball practice facility high on the priority list for one thing.

Yes, that needs to be the next big one. I'd also like to see us invest in some renovations at Bartow, but that should be lower on the list as Bartow is a good facility as is. Some things I think would be good at Bartow are:

- New exterior signage. Put back-lit Bartow Arena signage on all four sides of the building. Some uplighting would liven up the exterior as well.

- Re-do the concourse. Upgrade concessions, renovate restrooms, and just make the concourse look fresh. Maybe tile the floor instead of being a concrete slab.

- Add cupholders to the back of every seat

- Add suites (even if it slightly reduces capacity). This could create a new premium option for the corporate community and make some money

- Glass in the overhang at the main entrance to create an entry atrium

I'd like to have an underground tunnel with moving sidewalk from Bartow to Good People Brewery instead of cupholders or glass atriums.

I want to be able to drink 12 snake handlers before games and bounce back through the tunnel for tipoff.

(02-14-2018 10:47 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  We need to put a basketball practice facility high on the priority list for one thing.

Im sure the next coach will insist on it. But is it really a huge priority? Why?

Bartow is fine for practice. And the mens team gets priority don't they?

Are there really more than a handful of times our guys have to go elsewhere to get up shots?

Graduation, womens games, womens practices maybe? Maybe a concert or two or high school event. But 99% of the time, don't our guys have unfettered access?

I like the concept of practicing where we play because we are more familiar with the rims.

Now, a case could be made for blocking off the entire upper level except for directly in front of the court upper level but that won't happen because our donation salesman won't let it. But it should.

(02-14-2018 10:54 PM)hooverblazer Wrote:  

(02-14-2018 10:47 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  We need to put a basketball practice facility high on the priority list for one thing.

Yes, that needs to be the next big one. I'd also like to see us invest in some renovations at Bartow, but that should be lower on the list as Bartow is a good facility as is. Some things I think would be good at Bartow are:

- New exterior signage. Put back-lit Bartow Arena signage on all four sides of the building. Some uplighting would liven up the exterior as well.

- Re-do the concourse. Upgrade concessions, renovate restrooms, and just make the concourse look fresh. Maybe tile the floor instead of being a concrete slab.

- Add cupholders to the back of every seat

- Add suites (even if it slightly reduces capacity). This could create a new premium option for the corporate community and make some money

- Glass in the overhang at the main entrance to create an entry atrium

That list might have merit if we drew 6000+a game. Otherwise, where is the money going to come from?

I will say that Bartow Arena signage should be high priority. The arena is easily seen from Childrens Hospital and parts of Regions Field, yet the casual observer has no indication what the building is. Even hanging some banners outside would be better than nothing.

UAB must be aware that no programs around us are standing in place waiting for UAB to catch up in facility building. We just opened the first new facility for football since the program began in the 1990 era. To use a poker betting analogy, MTSU has "seen our ante and raised us". Now what is next for UAB in our facility competition? What does FBHC Clark want UAB to build next for our Blazer FB program? Has anyone asked him?

I know the OCS is off the table until the BJCC stadium / MPF issue is resolved.

(02-14-2018 10:54 PM)hooverblazer Wrote:  Upgrade concessions

Our concessions suck so, so very hard. And for the love of all things holy, go back to Coca-Cola. Bourbon just doesn't taste as good in Pepsi.

Concessions are high school level.

(02-15-2018 03:27 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Concessions are high school level.

You are insulting High School Level concessions.

Lol

(02-15-2018 03:47 PM)BlazerPhil Wrote:  

(02-15-2018 03:27 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Concessions are high school level.

You are insulting High Level concessions.

Unless they have changed in recent years, concessions at Legion field and at Bartow Arena have been manned by unpaid volunteers working to get funds for various groups - both on campus and off. They are not usually experienced in food service practices, show up just before the games and leave as soon as the location is cleaned up and closes. They are handled exactly like high school and metro league concessions are handled except the latter two work every week and therefore have more experience..