On-Campus Arena Tidbit

[TallTitan34]

it's where George Costanza booked the Yankees to the chagrin of Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter.

I never made this connection.  Thank you for this.

[Uncle Rico]

Boggles the mind anyone would want to play at the "Mecca" or the Al over Fiserv.  If Shaka starts winning games, the Fiserv will rock and be twice as loud as the BC ever was. 

[Galway Eagle]

Boggles the mind anyone would want to play at the "Mecca" or the Al over Fiserv.  If Shaka starts winning games, the Fiserv will rock and be twice as loud as the BC ever was.

I just want negotiating power. I don't want to actually play in the AL.

[The Sultan]

Good idea, but maybe not sexy enough to motivate big donors.

Then you endow something sexy and use the budget savings from that endowment elsewhere.  It's all fungible.

[MU82]

Then you endow something sexy and use the budget savings from that endowment elsewhere.  It's all fungible.

I hear ya. Can't spell fungible without the f-u-n!

[The Lens]

I love it there. But is this a price-is-no-object thing? What we have now is the Bucks telling us: "Pay up. Take it or leave it."

Good idea, but maybe not sexy enough to motivate big donors.

Well, somehow, we had an incredible, incredible, incredible game experience at The Arena once upon a zillion years ago. Field a great, entertaining team that wins 90%+ of the time and make deep tournament runs nearly every year under a charismatic coach, and you'll offer your fans a great experience no matter where you play. (Note: I am NOT advocating we return there, just playing devil's advocate.)

The UWM Panther Arena (what they now call the MECCA) is a DUMP and no amount of money will fix that.  It's off the table.

[JWags85]

The UWM Panther Arena (what they now call the MECCA) is a DUMP and no amount of money will fix that.  It's off the table.

Anyone who speaks positively about Panther Arena has either not been there in a decade or is still so drunk off 70s Al Kool-Aid that they can't ever be objective.  Plenty of things were great nearly 50 years ago that STINK now.  And thats what that place is.  Complaints about the BC I get, but Marquette can play in a brand new basketball focused arena that will be better than anything they could ever build on campus, unless someone wants to puke up $250MM.

[MUfan12]

The rent at the BC was the same for several years. I think by the time of the move it was $29k per game. Fiserv is around $60k per game.

While it's a big jump, they got used to a bargain rate.

[Billy Hoyle]

Anyone who speaks positively about Panther Arena has either not been there in a decade or is still so drunk off 70s Al Kool-Aid that they can't ever be objective.  Plenty of things were great nearly 50 years ago that STINK now.  And thats what that place is.  Complaints about the BC I get, but Marquette can play in a brand new basketball focused arena that will be better than anything they could ever build on campus, unless someone wants to puke up $250MM.

no doubt. Some games for the sake of nostalgia in the 90's (USF NIT game, Santa Clara with Steve Nash, Minnesota in 2000) were cool but that's it. It doesn't have the revenue-generating amenities we need. Any MU arena will need to have suites and possibly club seating. That cannot be done at the MECCA.

The biggest issue with Fiserv moving forward is the profit we're turning and atmosphere - can Shaka get it back to the way the BC was for that Nova game.

[warriorchick]

The rent at the BC was the same for several years. I think by the time of the move it was $29k per game. Fiserv is around $60k per game.

While it's a big jump, they got used to a bargain rate.

If this is true, the maintenance costs alone of having our own arena would be several times what our Fiserv rent is.

[warriorgnp]

In a complete unrealistic pipe dream, I think fans (likely students more than older alums) would be drawn to an environment where it was more intimate, seats closer to the floor, Marquette centric branding/banners/history everywhere.  Not a reason to build a place, but I think that's kind of the romance of some of these other arenas.

Personally, what I'd love to know is if Fiserv could replicate what NC State has down in Raleigh - they play in a giant hockey arena but have figured out a way to put students around the floor for a few rows...or other things to make it more intimate and collegiate-feeling.  Always been impressed by that.  Can still sell floor seats on the other side.

[mileskishnish72]

Of course, this will be decided on the basis of money, money, money.

I've already decided - on the basis of beer. If you can't get beer at a game on campus, I hope it never happens in my lifetime. Some things are just too sacred to mess with.

[avid1010]

imho....sell the hell out of getting to play in the same arena as the bucks and hope it helps with recruiting.  win like buzz won...and have one of the better attendance #'s in CBB.

[blue and gold]

is that Ramada still there? Not only was that a place we'd have parties when I was at MU (cheap suites with bars in them) but it's where George Costanza booked the Yankees to the chagrin of Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter.

MU keeping the Ramada building and parcel. But hotel closed.

https://youtu.be/SZz_rbAmfmY

[Boston Warrior]

So Marquette is paying 600k more than the Bradley center a year,30k x 20 dates, to play at fiserv.... move on please.

The allure of a nba arena and the program image of being first class way outweighs the option of an on campus arena.

[naginiF]

If this is true, the maintenance costs alone of having our own arena would be several times what our Fiserv rent is.

Even if that figure is $120K per game (assuming concessions, profit FF gets on ticket sales, parking, etc.) the ROI would be at least 20 years. Add on the maintenance costs and upgrades (state of the art today is not going to be state of the art in 10 years) and it's a money pit.

[wildbillsb]

In a complete unrealistic pipe dream, I think fans (likely students more than older alums) would be drawn to an environment where it was more intimate, seats closer to the floor, Marquette centric branding/banners/history everywhere.  Not a reason to build a place, but I think that's kind of the romance of some of these other arenas.

Personally, what I'd love to know is if Fiserv could replicate what NC State has down in Raleigh - they play in a giant hockey arena but have figured out a way to put students around the floor for a few rows...or other things to make it more intimate and collegiate-feeling.  Always been impressed by that.  Can still sell floor seats on the other side.

[MU82]

The UWM Panther Arena (what they now call the MECCA) is a DUMP and no amount of money will fix that.  It's off the table.

And I never said otherwise. In fact, I said the opposite. And I started by saying I love playing at Fiserv.

[warriorchick]

In a complete unrealistic pipe dream, I think fans (likely students more than older alums) would be drawn to an environment where it was more intimate, seats closer to the floor, Marquette centric branding/banners/history everywhere.  Not a reason to build a place, but I think that's kind of the romance of some of these other arenas.

Personally, what I'd love to know is if Fiserv could replicate what NC State has down in Raleigh - they play in a giant hockey arena but have figured out a way to put students around the floor for a few rows...or other things to make it more intimate and collegiate-feeling.  Always been impressed by that.  Can still sell floor seats on the other side.

I can't think of a better way to piss off the University's most generous donors than to give the primo seats that they have had for decades to a bunch of drunk students.

[Herman Cain]

When compared to certain other basketball programs, MU for all extents and purposes has an on campus arena. FiServ is not that far from the eastern part of campus and the associated areas off campus. Yes, it is a healthy walk for sure. I have stayed at that Hyatt Place by Fi Serv and been able to walk to the Al  pretty easily.

For example , when you look at school like UNC, The Dean Dome is a  good long ways away from Franklin Street and fair ways from the center of campus even. Northwestern' s  Athletic facilities are a good distance away from the Main campus etc. Crisler Center at Michigan is a haul from the Main Campus. I am sure there are others.

Generally speaking FiServ is a huge asset for the program and the University . Bucks are D Bags and will allways negotiate hard and give no quarter, but we knew that going into the deal.

[cheebs09]

I can't think of a better way to piss off the University's most generous donors than to give the primo seats that they have had for decades to a bunch of drunk students.

Especially after we just saw the value of high-dollar donors about a month ago.

[Miss Katie’s]

is that Ramada still there? Not only was that a place we'd have parties when I was at MU (cheap suites with bars in them) but it's where George Costanza booked the Yankees to the chagrin of Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter.

Are you the guy who put us in that Ramada in Milwaukee?

[Newsdreams]

When compared to certain other basketball programs, MU for all extents and purposes has an on campus arena. FiServ is not that far from the eastern part of campus and the associated areas off campus. Yes, it is a healthy walk for sure. I have stayed at that Hyatt Place by Fi Serv and been able to walk to the Al  pretty easily.

For example , when you look at school like UNC, The Dean Dome is a  good long ways away from Franklin Street and fair ways from the center of campus even. Northwestern' s  Athletic facilities are a good distance away from the Main campus etc. Crisler Center at Michigan is a haul from the Main Campus. I am sure there are others.

Generally speaking FiServ is a huge asset for the program and the University . Bucks are D Bags and will allways negotiate hard and give no quarter, but we knew that going into the deal.

You mean the Bucks are D Bags for being a for profit capitalist company looking for their best interest? SOCIALIST!!

[Billy Hoyle]

I can't think of a better way to piss off the University's most generous donors than to give the primo seats that they have had for decades to a bunch of drunk students.

Who, if they do show up consistently, spend most the time looking at their phones.

[muwarrior69]

Anyone who speaks positively about Panther Arena has either not been there in a decade or is still so drunk off 70s Al Kool-Aid that they can't ever be objective.  Plenty of things were great nearly 50 years ago that STINK now.  And thats what that place is.  Complaints about the BC I get, but Marquette can play in a brand new basketball focused arena that will be better than anything they could ever build on campus, unless someone wants to puke up $250MM.

MU could rent the FF at 2.5 million per year for 100 years if a new campus arena would cost that much.

Get your point that the old arena is old, but there was not a bad seat there for a game.