(06-20-2013 08:57 AM)Pitz Wrote:  

(06-19-2013 11:06 AM)jmad1son Wrote:  I can imagine, but will the people who make the strategic decisions at JMU imagine?

(06-19-2013 11:51 AM)NovaDukes Wrote:  Empty in the 1st and 4th quarters?

(06-19-2013 12:05 PM)JMU Wrote:  I think our administration has to imagine FBS first and dare to dream a bit.

(06-19-2013 12:07 PM)jmu-fan-1981 Wrote:  when the other side gets completed, JMU student section will no longer be by the visiting bench. They will put them up in the 400s. Respect Madison, remember? SMH

(06-19-2013 12:24 PM)DoubleDDuke Wrote:  At the pace our administration moves I'll have to be content with imagining it because I'll be long gone.

Hahaha, this board is literally the worst.

We don't have to dream or imagine anything. Many on this board can be as negative as they want to be as long as they write big checks. I will listen to it all day long if we are raising the money necessary to move to FBS, finish BFS, and build a new basketball arena.

The Convo is an absolute dump in every way possible. From the risers to the slight grade of stands making you feel as though you're a mile from the court to the awful viewing angles to the 1980s scoreboards to the poor PA system to concessions only being on one side of the court to poor parking to it being a pain in the ass for students to get there to the fact that it looks like an airplane hanger converted to a basketball facility both inside and out to the fact that the'res not one amenity in the entire place.....yeah, I'm pretty sure it qualifies as a dump.

I agree that it's a comparative dump, but I kind of love the Convo for the amazing crazy homecourt potential it has. Old-school crazy sports environment. Quirks & all.

Wish we could get that homecourt thing going this fall?

The Convo has a lot of potential that I only saw close to fulfilled one time - against Mason in 2009 when we won. The place was packed and rocking for the whole game. Easilly the most crowded I saw the student section for a game during my time there. Got crazy loud. That was a great rivalry game, before they changed to the crummy risers on the floor... Maybe with the championship and the trip to the tourney we can have some games like that again even though our best rivals are gone...

In any case, its a bit of a dump, but it has character and a lot of potential.

I will agree the Convo isn't the greatest basketball venue but my goodness some of you have obviously never have been to a road game. I echo the Convo is clean and when full is the loudest building in which I have ever been.

(06-20-2013 11:49 PM)dlive54 Wrote:  I will agree the Convo isn't the greatest basketball venue but my goodness some of you have obviously never have been to a road game. I echo the Convo is clean and when full is the loudest building in which I have ever been.

Mid 90's games in the Convo were absolutely crazy

Who can ever forget the electric zoo? And the Syracuse can two years ago was a lot like the electric zoo.

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(06-21-2013 07:45 AM)jmusuperfan Wrote:  

(06-20-2013 11:49 PM)dlive54 Wrote:  I will agree the Convo isn't the greatest basketball venue but my goodness some of you have obviously never have been to a road game. I echo the Convo is clean and when full is the loudest building in which I have ever been.

Mid 90's games in the Convo were absolutely crazy

80's were even better. Could still throw TP and streamers after the first made basket.

I guess I have a different definition of "dump". The convo was suppose to be a field house to be used by UREC Dept. Dr. Carrier decided to turn it into a basketball arena, which in hindsight caused some quirkiness and probably a fire trap. It is not an ideal basketball facility or concert venue.

Had Dr. Carrier requested a basketball arena, it never would have been built and JMU would still be playing in Godwin. Carrier often used his charisma and charm to get monies for things that were not suppose to be state financed. He always thought it was best to ask for forgiveness than for permission. It was a different time when having the balls to do so was actually admired.

The Convo was once featured in the Rich Times Dispatch as the "toughest" arena for a visitor team to play in the state. It was loud, loud, loud when full. The Mason game and a couple of others have been fun in recent years but nothing matches a full Convo, which I experienced many, many times in the 80s and 90s.

If you knew the history, you would probably appreciate the building more. Same goes with the football field at W&M. It was built during the Depression with Federal subsidies. Original "intent" for the facility was to use for cattle and other livestock auctions. A lot of buildings were built this way in the past. That is why we older folks like them. They have charm and a story behind them.

I too do not like the risers. I wish we could go back to stands behind the baskets. I am guessing that the league made JMU move those. Fan behavior likely had a lot to do with it.

Dean Ehlers told me that the original floor plan had the court 90 degrees from where it is now. The end zone seating would have gone forever and looked ridiculous. He had the architect change to its current configuration. I can only imagine the complaints had Dean not changed the design.

(06-24-2013 01:33 PM)JMUNation Wrote:  I too do not like the risers. I wish we could go back to stands behind the baskets. I am guessing that the league made JMU move those. Fan behavior likely had a lot to do with it.

#1 - I would put down a large wager that the CAA in no way forced JMU to get rid of those floor bleachers.
#2 - What fan behavior? Absurd thing to say IMO.

You can take both of those to the bank.

(06-24-2013 02:19 PM)HyperDuke Wrote:  

(06-24-2013 01:33 PM)JMUNation Wrote:  I too do not like the risers. I wish we could go back to stands behind the baskets. I am guessing that the league made JMU move those. Fan behavior likely had a lot to do with it.

#1 - I would put down a large wager that the CAA in no way forced JMU to get rid of those floor bleachers.
#2 - What fan behavior? Absurd thing to say IMO.

You can take both of those to the bank.

I bet some coach or player got hurt feelings and complained to the CAA. Wasn't Blaine Taylor always bit(ching back to our students? He always seemed douchy enough to complain about something like that.

bleachers went away because they were broken, unsafe (broken), and a logistical pain in the arse to remove or place courtside for other events. I believe it required paying for a crane to lift/lower them from/to the court each time. $$$$$

If they wanted the students more courtside, they would find a way.