For forty thousand million dollars, we could have one in south JC. Don't hold your breath. It is a nice facility that I wish I hadn't seen, but now I'll have to skip off into fantasyland.

They have apparently redone the concession areas and the walkways in Freedom Hall over the offseason- and the city is asking the state Attorney General if there is any possibility of selling alcohol in there. For the short term, I am happy with Freedom Hall (STILL rather have the Dome)

However, we are on year 3 of a 5 year lease with the city involving Freedom Hall. I am confident that this will be renewed, but what happens with a different city leadership and a different ETSU leadership in the future which might not have the same type of relationship that we have now. The city could greatly increase our rent payments, or simply decide to not renew the lease. We need to get out from under the city's control and have our own arena at some point. Would be nice to start planning that now.

(09-07-2017 07:54 AM)etsubuc Wrote:  Would be nice to start planning that now.

Agreed. 2018 is when ETSU will release a new master plan. I hope they include a plan for a new arena. It doesn't have to be built next year or even in 5, but it needs to be planned.

Rather have the dome!!! Joke I hope.

No basketball arena for at least 10 years unless someone ponies up 35 - 45 milllion. To many other projects that have to be done.

Reviving this discussion. What would you all like to see?

If you thought of all the things you would want for the arena; near parking garage, on campus, near hotel, etc. The best place would be where the dome is....

Needs to have no less than 8000 seating for basketball. Needs to have suites, practice courts for both men's and women's teams.

Hopefully discussions have started with donors to gauge interest.

(01-23-2018 11:44 AM)brock20 Wrote:  Reviving this discussion. What would you all like to see?

If you thought of all the things you would want for the arena; near parking garage, on campus, near hotel, etc. The best place would be where the dome is....

Needs to have no less than 8000 seating for basketball. Needs to have suites, practice courts for both men's and women's teams.

Hopefully discussions have started with donors to gauge interest.

It is good to bring it up again as it will have to be done at some point. I think the Dome is off limits because of indoor track, indoor football practice and many, many other things. To me the prime locations would be where the Earth Fare plaza is or between Walnut and State of Franklin, keeping as close as possible to campus.

There is likely going to be a new parking garage on the corner of State of Franklin and University Parkway. The entire area of Walnut St. from McDonalds to the Model Mill should be razed to make room for a new arena/convention center which the city and university team up to build. This would greatly improve that area, and would provide a benefit for both the city and university. Will never happen, I understand that.

Honestly i don't think it is coming anytime soon. We can't get more than 6,000 to a game now, there is a big jump between 6,000 and 10,000 (which in my mind would need to be the capacity). I don't see the urgency to build a new arena for the next 10-15 years after the Freedom Hall renovations. My views have evolved over the past year in that regard.

(01-23-2018 11:54 AM)bucfan81 Wrote:  

(01-23-2018 11:44 AM)brock20 Wrote:  Reviving this discussion. What would you all like to see?

If you thought of all the things you would want for the arena; near parking garage, on campus, near hotel, etc. The best place would be where the dome is....

Needs to have no less than 8000 seating for basketball. Needs to have suites, practice courts for both men's and women's teams.

Hopefully discussions have started with donors to gauge interest.

It is good to bring it up again as it will have to be done at some point. I think the Dome is off limits because of indoor track, indoor football practice and many, many other things. To me the prime locations would be where the Earth Fare plaza is or between Walnut and State of Franklin, keeping as close as possible to campus.

That would be a good spot.

Hopefully it is addressed in the next master plan, if there is one. Since ETSU is no longer in the TBR maybe they don't have to have one.

(01-23-2018 12:02 PM)etsubuc Wrote:  Honestly i don't think it is coming anytime soon. We can't get more than 6,000 to a game now, there is a big jump between 6,000 and 10,000 (which in my mind would need to be the capacity). I don't see the urgency to build a new arena for the next 10-15 years after the Freedom Hall renovations.

Because as you said in another post, Freedom Hall is not ETSU's.

ETSU needs a home for both men's and women's (Brooks need to be for just volleyball). If ETSU is somehow able to keep Forbes around longer and he keeps up this kind of success then he will want a new arena. I also feel like ETSU is losing out on the potential for more premium seats at Freedom. We are sitting people like Ron Ramsey behind the basket in chairs because we don't have enough floor seating. If someone wanted to buy a season ticket in the premium area they can't because it is sold out, correct?

Only having a capacity for 6k people now hurts ETSU in trying to draw a team like UT or VA Tech. ETSU could have sold 10k for the UT game. You may say, well that is just one game but ETSU has shown that for big games it can bring 8k fans for a good socon matchup. The Wofford and Furman games should be sellouts and even though Chatt stinks that could be as well.

Also remember that it will be used to host graduations, concerts, etc. Has to be big enough to hold those type of crowds so 8k is a minimum. Good possibility to get a NBA preseason game each year from either Charlotte or Atlanta.

http://www.savannahga.gov/1673/Arena-Canal-District

Savannah is creating an arena that would potentially be used by GA Southern some.

JC needs to be doing this same type of study and ETSU needs to decide if their future is a partnership with the city or an on campus facility. If they could build an arena to that would tie into downtown that would be incredible for the region.

Johnson City just spent north of $12 million on renovating Freedom Hall and $8 million on the ETSU Fine Arts Center. Not likely to spend money on another venue, and frankly I understand why.

Anyone with $75 to $100 million to spare to build a new arena...donors welcome.

When the people on this board wanting an 8000 or larger arena, figure out how to come up with at least 80 mil, then start planning.

It's really funny to see the same people that whin about cost of tickets and a $5 parking fee wanting a new, bigger very costly arena.

The size of the arena has nothing to do with scheduling UT, VT or any other major school. It's the very real possibility of getting beat by a mid major that's the problem.

Freedom Hall is the right size. I would take similar on campus, no more than 6,000 seats (7500 if there is some way to have concealed overflow seating). Better for ETSU to always have sellouts than look at a 10,000+ seat stadium half full or less many games if success wanes. We have the best home crowd in the SoCon, why count chickens, test fate, and change the arena dynamics?

(01-23-2018 02:35 PM)Buc76 Wrote:  When the people on this board wanting an 8000 or larger arena, figure out how to come up with at least 80 mil, then start planning.

It's really funny to see the same people that whin about cost of tickets and a $5 parking fee wanting a new, bigger very costly arena.

The size of the arena has nothing to do with scheduling UT, VT or any other major school. It's the very real possibility of getting beat by a mid major that's the problem.

I have been on record as saying those costs are nothing and that we probably should be charging more for some stuff. We are losing out on more premium seating at Freedom Hall right now.

You are correct that the main reason those schools will not come is that it is extremely hard to be teams on the road, even mid majors, but having a new arena certainly doesn't hurt.

As far as "when you figure out how to come up with 80 million, then start planning" dude, its a message board. If someone wants to start a thread about a plan to move to the SEC, so be it.

I would hope that our leaders aren't just hoping that something comes along with 80 million. There should be a vision. While Freedom Hall has been good, it shouldn't be a long term solution. An on campus arena or something close downtown with more seating should be the goal. Schools like James Madison aren't just sitting and waiting.

The region (upper east tn) needs a new arena.

(01-23-2018 02:47 PM)shampoo Wrote:  Freedom Hall is the right size. I would take similar on campus, no more than 6,000 seats (7500 if there is some way to have concealed overflow seating). Better for ETSU to always have sellouts than look at a 10,000+ seat stadium half full or less many games if success wanes. We have the best home crowd in the SoCon, why count chickens, test fate, and change the arena dynamics?

We have shown to be able to draw over 8k for big SoCon games. A new arena with more lower seats and less uppers (that can be hidden for smaller crowds) would be a lot better. We should have our students sitting on the floor behind the goal instead of where they have to sit now in Freedom. More premium seats including suites would be good as well. We shouldn't have Ron Ramsey sitting behind the basket.

I would say the fans and ETSU AD have made the Freedom dynamics better than they are and that the arena holds the fans back.

There is no reason TN Tech should be playing in a better arena than us.

People have finally started to get a rhythm in the new place, so jumping even in 5 years to another venue can be quite confusing to the average fair weather fan that is starting to show up to our games. The only event that should move us out of Freedom is if we joined a rather prestigious conference. (And I mean higher than the Sun Belt folks)

Just because Freedom Hall is starting to fill up a bit does not mean we need to get ahead of ourselves. This team won the SoCon, and averaged 3,500 in the first 6-7 games of the year. Also, nothing beats the place in terms of atmosphere currently.

P.S. Whoever thought of the Chick-Fil-A free throw challenge - Kudos.

We have a nice place and it is the perfect size. Maybe continued upgrades and creature comforts to it, but no new arena talk please.

(01-23-2018 03:13 PM)ekxixis1984 Wrote:  People have finally started to get a rhythm in the new place, so jumping even in 5 years to another venue can be quite confusing to the average fair weather fan that is starting to show up to our games. The only event that should move us out of Freedom is if we joined a rather prestigious conference. (And I mean higher than the Sun Belt folks)

Just because Freedom Hall is starting to fill up a bit does not mean we need to get ahead of ourselves. This team won the SoCon, and averaged 3,500 in the first 6-7 games of the year. Also, nothing beats the place in terms of atmosphere currently.

P.S. Whoever thought of the Chick-Fil-A free throw challenge - Kudos.

I don't totally disagree with you but this is the time to plan this, when you are winning. You don't try to push something like this when you are losing.

ETSU should have had a new arena a long time ago. If the old regime would have got a new arena built that decade wouldnt have been a total disaster. Our facilities are still behind lots of our SoCon peers.

(01-23-2018 03:24 PM)etsuBucsFan1988 Wrote:  We have a nice place and it is the perfect size. Maybe continued upgrades and creature comforts to it, but no new arena talk please.

If you can find a way to get more floor seats and suites in there let me know.