(04-27-2018 04:39 PM)Wear Purple Wrote:  Josh Walfish ✡️ @Josh_DNRSports
#JMU athletics director Jeff Bourne hinted to me that the school is close-ish to nailing down an opponent to open the Union Bank & Trust Center.


I'm think UVA, Richmond, Va Tech, Duke, Eastern Mennonite or Bridgewater.

The last time (The Convo) we opened with VMI, but the second game stands out to most folk, UVA. Though, we were never really in the game.

New Bridgeforth opened playing CCSU and the attendance was quite good.
Wouldn't surprise me that they would probably want to play a game they think we have a good chance of winning. The turnout is going to be huge no matter the opponent due to the "new car smell" of the Bank.
If winning is their goal, I think we'll be playing Harrisonburg High School. Great local turnout and a close win for the Dukes! What more could we ask for?!?!

(04-27-2018 10:21 PM)JMad03 Wrote:  New Bridgeforth opened playing CCSU and the attendance was quite good.
Wouldn't surprise me that they would probably want to play a game they think we have a good chance of winning. The turnout is going to be huge no matter the opponent due to the "new car smell" of the Bank.
If winning is their goal, I think we'll be playing Harrisonburg High School. Great local turnout and a close win for the Dukes! What more could we ask for?!?!

I know you are just being sarcastic but I'm sure they will look to get not only regional exposure for the debut but perhaps even national exposure by playing a team who is likely to be ranked. There will be a full house regardless and a win would be great but JMU wants to maximize their media exposure with an event like this.

No turning back now. We have shovels in the ground

Any new renderings at the groundbreaking? I remember with the Bridgeforth expansion, that the design had changed regarding the press box location and end zone structure by the time construction started.

(04-28-2018 04:37 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(04-27-2018 10:21 PM)JMad03 Wrote:  New Bridgeforth opened playing CCSU and the attendance was quite good.
Wouldn't surprise me that they would probably want to play a game they think we have a good chance of winning. The turnout is going to be huge no matter the opponent due to the "new car smell" of the Bank.
If winning is their goal, I think we'll be playing Harrisonburg High School. Great local turnout and a close win for the Dukes! What more could we ask for?!?!

I know you are just being sarcastic but I'm sure they will look to get not only regional exposure for the debut but perhaps even national exposure by playing a team who is likely to be ranked. There will be a full house regardless and a win would be great but JMU wants to maximize their media exposure with an event like this.

All kidding aside, I don't think much needs to happen for there to be pretty good media exposure.
Plus, this is a new opportunity to bring fans back. I'm not sure if bringing a ranked opponent is such a good idea.
It could very well be an L. Forever the history of JMU at the Union would be started with a loss. I understand we could win and it would be great, but I just don't see JMU looking at it that way. They want people to leave happy and a W gives them that.
If we got blown out against a ranked team, that's not great. It could validate that the team didn't need a new arena because they aren't worthy of one. The idea is to bring fans back. A ranked opponent is only worth it if JMU is good enough to beat ranked teams. If the Union were to open next season and we were playing a ranked team, I think we would get crushed. Perception is BIG, especially when you are trying to bring people in. The new arena is going to be enough to bring fans to the first game no matter the opponent. We could be playing Bridgewater and I'd be there.
Wins bring more people back than losses, even if the opponent isn't great. Am I saying we should play a garbage opponent? No, but I wouldn't be screaming about it if we were.
All that being said, I DO think JMU should play a ranked opponent at home and have a solid OOC schedule. I just don't believe Game 1 is where that should happen.
It's really hard to say how good/bad the program will be when it finally opens. If we have turned things around and are actually a good team and our chances of upsetting a ranked opponent are solid, then everything I just said changes.
I just don't think we'll be there yet.

(04-28-2018 09:55 AM)olddawg Wrote:  Any new renderings at the groundbreaking? I remember with the Bridgeforth expansion, that the design had changed regarding the press box location and end zone structure by the time construction started.

Nothing new on the design has been released. All the communication right now indicates there will be no suites for premium seating, only a club section and courtside seats. This is different than the original design which had 8 suites.

I’m not aware of a modern basketball arena built without suites. That is a HUGE mistake if it doesn’t get changed.
Premium seating revenue is far more important for profitability than the John Q Public seating.

(04-28-2018 10:35 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  

(04-28-2018 09:55 AM)olddawg Wrote:  Any new renderings at the groundbreaking? I remember with the Bridgeforth expansion, that the design had changed regarding the press box location and end zone structure by the time construction started.

Nothing new on the design has been released. All the communication right now indicates there will be no suites for premium seating, only a club section and courtside seats. This is different than the original design which had 8 suites.

I’m not aware of a modern basketball arena built without suites. That is a HUGE mistake if it doesn’t get changed.
Premium seating revenue is far more important for profitability than the John Q Public seating.

When I saw the updated clubroom, I just thought they relocated the suites to the other side, not eliminating them. I am surprised, in this era, that'd we build without them.

(04-29-2018 06:03 PM)olddawg Wrote:  

(04-28-2018 10:35 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  

(04-28-2018 09:55 AM)olddawg Wrote:  Any new renderings at the groundbreaking? I remember with the Bridgeforth expansion, that the design had changed regarding the press box location and end zone structure by the time construction started.

Nothing new on the design has been released. All the communication right now indicates there will be no suites for premium seating, only a club section and courtside seats. This is different than the original design which had 8 suites.

I’m not aware of a modern basketball arena built without suites. That is a HUGE mistake if it doesn’t get changed.
Premium seating revenue is far more important for profitability than the John Q Public seating.

When I saw the updated clubroom, I just thought they relocated the suites to the other side, not eliminating them. I am surprised, in this era, that'd we build without them.

I'd be shocked if no suites. They have said that the arena will be used for events (i.e. concerts, etc.). You don't build a new arena without suites.

(04-28-2018 10:27 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  

(04-28-2018 04:37 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(04-27-2018 10:21 PM)JMad03 Wrote:  New Bridgeforth opened playing CCSU and the attendance was quite good.
Wouldn't surprise me that they would probably want to play a game they think we have a good chance of winning. The turnout is going to be huge no matter the opponent due to the "new car smell" of the Bank.
If winning is their goal, I think we'll be playing Harrisonburg High School. Great local turnout and a close win for the Dukes! What more could we ask for?!?!

I know you are just being sarcastic but I'm sure they will look to get not only regional exposure for the debut but perhaps even national exposure by playing a team who is likely to be ranked. There will be a full house regardless and a win would be great but JMU wants to maximize their media exposure with an event like this.

All kidding aside, I don't think much needs to happen for there to be pretty good media exposure.
Plus, this is a new opportunity to bring fans back. I'm not sure if bringing a ranked opponent is such a good idea.
It could very well be an L. Forever the history of JMU at the Union would be started with a loss. I understand we could win and it would be great, but I just don't see JMU looking at it that way. They want people to leave happy and a W gives them that.
If we got blown out against a ranked team, that's not great. It could validate that the team didn't need a new arena because they aren't worthy of one. The idea is to bring fans back. A ranked opponent is only worth it if JMU is good enough to beat ranked teams. If the Union were to open next season and we were playing a ranked team, I think we would get crushed. Perception is BIG, especially when you are trying to bring people in. The new arena is going to be enough to bring fans to the first game no matter the opponent. We could be playing Bridgewater and I'd be there.
Wins bring more people back than losses, even if the opponent isn't great. Am I saying we should play a garbage opponent? No, but I wouldn't be screaming about it if we were.
All that being said, I DO think JMU should play a ranked opponent at home and have a solid OOC schedule. I just don't believe Game 1 is where that should happen.
It's really hard to say how good/bad the program will be when it finally opens. If we have turned things around and are actually a good team and our chances of upsetting a ranked opponent are solid, then everything I just said changes.
I just don't think we'll be there yet.

I think you are putting too much on the one game. The opener will be awesome win or lose. It's hard to predict that someone will be ranked if you are lining up/finalizing a couple of years out but if scheduling a perennial power the idea is that the JMU MBB team will be up to the task by the fall of 2020. Just a reminder that is scheduled to be the current rising Freshmen's Senior season.

A lot can happen between now and then but either way it's an arena opener. Go for the best opponent that you can and get the most juice out of it as possible.

In one of the things I read it sounded like they want great opponents lined up for the first couple of home games so not just the opener. It will be cool to see who they can deliver.

There will be suites but I don't know how many or where

That is Sweet. I wonder why they have taken it out of communications. I wonder if the number of suites depends on the continued fundraising efforts. I.e Could be anywhere from zero to 8 suites depending on fundraising.

I think I heard somewhere that there will be 18-24 suites.

The little birdies are coming out. I like it.

(04-30-2018 12:31 PM)Dadgum Wrote:  I think I heard somewhere that there will be 18-24 suites.

That seems like a huge number for JMU and the community. I figured 12 tops. Though, they may be thinking several different sizes.

(04-30-2018 06:22 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(04-30-2018 12:31 PM)Dadgum Wrote:  I think I heard somewhere that there will be 18-24 suites.

That seems like a huge number for JMU and the community. I figured 12 tops. Though, they may be thinking several different sizes.

Plenty of room where that blank wall is in the early sketches ... thats a lot of potential sideline space thats overwise wasted. I'd hope thats where they intend to put these.

If big sponsors don't gobble them up immediately, they can do what other sports teams do, and sell some seats individually as box seats or essentially "ultra premium club" seating. Would love to see that.

(05-01-2018 08:55 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(04-30-2018 06:22 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(04-30-2018 12:31 PM)Dadgum Wrote:  I think I heard somewhere that there will be 18-24 suites.

That seems like a huge number for JMU and the community. I figured 12 tops. Though, they may be thinking several different sizes.

Plenty of room where that blank wall is in the early sketches ... thats a lot of potential sideline space thats overwise wasted. I'd hope thats where they intend to put these.

Exactly, if they don't sell all of them.....can offer a deal where they can be bought on a per game basis for a party/outing etc...A lot of places do that
If big sponsors don't gobble them up immediately, they can do what other sports teams do, and sell some seats individually as box seats or essentially "ultra premium club" seating. Would love to see that.

Still don’t understand why it can’t be down in a year and a half.

Do arenas normally take over two years to complete?

The JMU Instagram account had a post that this was the last graduation in the old convo - am I missing something? Shouldn’t there be 2-3 more?

Dukester, the site prep alone might take until 2019. the actual building is probably 18-22 months? No insider info but the amount of land they have to move and the hole they have to dig is absurd.

gotta be a misinformed typo on the instagram post. There's no other place to hold that capacity of people.