I was just curious to get some of the old bloods thoughts/reviews/memories on the previous arenas UALR played in back in the day (statehouse convention center, Barton Alltel/Verizon and finally the Jack...is that all of them?)

(03-20-2015 02:47 PM)RamblinRedWolf44 Wrote:  I was just curious to get some of the old bloods thoughts/reviews/memories on the previous arenas UALR played in back in the day (statehouse convention center, Barton Alltel/Verizon and finally the Jack...is that all of them?)

That's all of the regular ones. During some of the vagabond years (when the Statehouse was supposed to be our home court but was less and less available as convention bookings increased), we also played games at the Pine Bluff arena and even one or two at UCA.

The arenas are so different and the times so diverse, it is hard to just compare on the physical venues alone. To date, my favorite was Alltel. But that may be because Tits Peterson had not gotten up a full head of steam to drive off fans until we got into The Jack. The Jack is probably the nicest and best suited for our program, and I think will be proved to be the best under our new AD leadership. But I've really got fond memories of the Statehouse and Barton too! The Statehouse because it was downtown and became a real event in the city- so much so that Broyles tried to cut off beer sales by trying to run the lie that it was against NCAA rules. And even though Barton was and is a dump, my kids grew up there running around during Trojan games after we had our cold cut sandwiches and beer over at the Farm and Ranch Building before the game.

(03-20-2015 03:09 PM)PTJR Wrote:  

(03-20-2015 02:47 PM)RamblinRedWolf44 Wrote:  I was just curious to get some of the old bloods thoughts/reviews/memories on the previous arenas UALR played in back in the day (statehouse convention center, Barton Alltel/Verizon and finally the Jack...is that all of them?)

That's all of the regular ones. During some of the vagabond years (when the Statehouse was supposed to be our home court but was less and less available as convention bookings increased), we also played games at the Pine Bluff arena and even one or two at UCA.

The arenas are so different and the times so diverse, it is hard to just compare on the physical venues alone. To date, my favorite was Alltel. But that may be because Tits Peterson had not gotten up a full head of steam to drive off fans until we got into The Jack. The Jack is probably the nicest and best suited for our program, and I think will be proved to be the best under our new AD leadership. But I've really got fond memories of the Statehouse and Barton too! The Statehouse because it was downtown and became a real event in the city- so much so that Broyles tried to cut off beer sales by trying to run the lie that it was against NCAA rules. And even though Barton was and is a dump, my kids grew up there running around during Trojan games after we had our cold cut sandwiches and beer over at the Farm and Ranch Building before the game.

I remember driving to Harrison for a "home" game.

(03-20-2015 03:16 PM)Jim T Wrote:  

(03-20-2015 03:09 PM)PTJR Wrote:  

(03-20-2015 02:47 PM)RamblinRedWolf44 Wrote:  I was just curious to get some of the old bloods thoughts/reviews/memories on the previous arenas UALR played in back in the day (statehouse convention center, Barton Alltel/Verizon and finally the Jack...is that all of them?)

That's all of the regular ones. During some of the vagabond years (when the Statehouse was supposed to be our home court but was less and less available as convention bookings increased), we also played games at the Pine Bluff arena and even one or two at UCA.

The arenas are so different and the times so diverse, it is hard to just compare on the physical venues alone. To date, my favorite was Alltel. But that may be because Tits Peterson had not gotten up a full head of steam to drive off fans until we got into The Jack. The Jack is probably the nicest and best suited for our program, and I think will be proved to be the best under our new AD leadership. But I've really got fond memories of the Statehouse and Barton too! The Statehouse because it was downtown and became a real event in the city- so much so that Broyles tried to cut off beer sales by trying to run the lie that it was against NCAA rules. And even though Barton was and is a dump, my kids grew up there running around during Trojan games after we had our cold cut sandwiches and beer over at the Farm and Ranch Building before the game.

I remember driving to Harrison for a "home" game.

Wasn't that a Maroon and White or an exhibition game? Also on the list needs to be our fine old Fieldhouse!

(03-20-2015 03:24 PM)PTJR Wrote:  

(03-20-2015 03:16 PM)Jim T Wrote:  

(03-20-2015 03:09 PM)PTJR Wrote:  

(03-20-2015 02:47 PM)RamblinRedWolf44 Wrote:  I was just curious to get some of the old bloods thoughts/reviews/memories on the previous arenas UALR played in back in the day (statehouse convention center, Barton Alltel/Verizon and finally the Jack...is that all of them?)

That's all of the regular ones. During some of the vagabond years (when the Statehouse was supposed to be our home court but was less and less available as convention bookings increased), we also played games at the Pine Bluff arena and even one or two at UCA.

The arenas are so different and the times so diverse, it is hard to just compare on the physical venues alone. To date, my favorite was Alltel. But that may be because Tits Peterson had not gotten up a full head of steam to drive off fans until we got into The Jack. The Jack is probably the nicest and best suited for our program, and I think will be proved to be the best under our new AD leadership. But I've really got fond memories of the Statehouse and Barton too! The Statehouse because it was downtown and became a real event in the city- so much so that Broyles tried to cut off beer sales by trying to run the lie that it was against NCAA rules. And even though Barton was and is a dump, my kids grew up there running around during Trojan games after we had our cold cut sandwiches and beer over at the Farm and Ranch Building before the game.

I remember driving to Harrison for a "home" game.

Wasn't that a Maroon and White or an exhibition game? Also on the list needs to be our fine old Fieldhouse!

Can't disagree with either of those.

The Jack is by far the best venue as a building. I'm excited to see it used to its full potential, which it hasn't yet. My best (and worst) memories all come from Barton, though.

(03-20-2015 03:16 PM)Jim T Wrote:  I remember driving to Harrison for a "home" game.

That was an inter-squad game. I was there, and also went to one at Hot Springs and Cabot. The Hot Springs and Cabot games were part of trying to get central Arkansas fans interested in Trojan basketball. I have no idea of what the idea of the Harrison game was. That would be like playing an inter-squad game in Fayetteville to get them interested.

(03-20-2015 08:39 PM)LRTrojan Wrote:  

(03-20-2015 03:16 PM)Jim T Wrote:  I remember driving to Harrison for a "home" game.

That was an inter-squad game. I was there, and also went to one at Hot Springs and Cabot. The Hot Springs and Cabot games were part of trying to get central Arkansas fans interested in Trojan basketball. I have no idea of what the idea of the Harrison game was.

I remember the Hot Springs inter-squad game at Hot Springs High School (and also at the Convention Center in the Shields era), but the Cabot one escapes my memory.

(03-20-2015 08:39 PM)LRTrojan Wrote:  

(03-20-2015 03:16 PM)Jim T Wrote:  I remember driving to Harrison for a "home" game.

That was an inter-squad game. I was there, and also went to one at Hot Springs and Cabot. The Hot Springs and Cabot games were part of trying to get central Arkansas fans interested in Trojan basketball. I have no idea of what the idea of the Harrison game was. That would be like playing an inter-squad game in Fayetteville to get them interested.

Most likely NACC or a local high school had someone the coach was trying to recruit. AState played Scarlet and Black at Jacksonville one year because JHS had a player we were interested in.

(03-21-2015 10:13 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(03-20-2015 08:39 PM)LRTrojan Wrote:  

(03-20-2015 03:16 PM)Jim T Wrote:  I remember driving to Harrison for a "home" game.

That was an inter-squad game. I was there, and also went to one at Hot Springs and Cabot. The Hot Springs and Cabot games were part of trying to get central Arkansas fans interested in Trojan basketball. I have no idea of what the idea of the Harrison game was. That would be like playing an inter-squad game in Fayetteville to get them interested.

Most likely NACC or a local high school had someone the coach was trying to recruit. AState played Scarlet and Black at Jacksonville one year because JHS had a player we were interested in.

I think Mike had the "delusional" we could become a state-wide program.

(03-21-2015 10:22 AM)mjs Wrote:  

(03-21-2015 10:13 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(03-20-2015 08:39 PM)LRTrojan Wrote:  

(03-20-2015 03:16 PM)Jim T Wrote:  I remember driving to Harrison for a "home" game.

That was an inter-squad game. I was there, and also went to one at Hot Springs and Cabot. The Hot Springs and Cabot games were part of trying to get central Arkansas fans interested in Trojan basketball. I have no idea of what the idea of the Harrison game was. That would be like playing an inter-squad game in Fayetteville to get them interested.

Most likely NACC or a local high school had someone the coach was trying to recruit. AState played Scarlet and Black at Jacksonville one year because JHS had a player we were interested in.

I think Mike had the "delusional" we could become a state-wide program.

State wide, probably not. Basketball has a lot of games scheduled on weeknights, and folks are not normally going to drive hundreds of miles to watch a ball game. Obviously a few do to Fayetteville, but I would bet most of those who attend weeknight games live close enough to Fayetteville to drive home in a fairly short time after the games.

However, there are a large number of untapped fans within a reasonable distance of the Jack. From Benton, North Little Rock, Jacksonville, Cabot, Bryant, Conway and other towns in Central Arkansas. So it's not delusional to be able to be the team in this part of the state. We could, and should be that team, for both fans and prospective recruits.

(03-21-2015 10:22 AM)mjs Wrote:  I think Mike had the "delusional" we could become a state-wide program.

That most likely would never happen, but I do remember when we used to have quite a few fans from Cabot, Sheridan, Lonoke, and places in central Arkansas. That's what we need to concentrate on.

(03-21-2015 12:43 PM)LRTrojan Wrote:  

(03-21-2015 10:22 AM)mjs Wrote:  I think Mike had the "delusional" we could become a state-wide program.

That most likely would never happen, but I do remember when we used to have quite a few fans from Cabot, Sheridan, Lonoke, and places in central Arkansas. That's what we need to concentrate on.

I believed we could become the premier program in the State. There are certainly many city schools that have challenged the main state school with regard to basketball supremacy- Creighton, UAB, Wichita State, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Gatech, etc. Doubt any of those really have state-wide support, but some dominate their cities and have been the best team in their State, at times. I thought we could become that program when we moved into Alltel. Probably was delusional as well considering the nature of this state. What we have is 'a nice little program" with a great arena, and I'm quite happy with it. I can hope we'll be more, but I'm certainly not holding my breath.