RAC

[greenknight]

Was at RAC for Globe trotters last night 1st time in about 10 yrs while not an ideal arena I see the potential to make a JAMMING facility

Blowing out the lobby will add at least 1000 seats

Wish the could re-angle the roof on student section side so you could go higher and put in 1500 permanent seats there.

The only detraction are the 4 large posts but they work betterm with the video boards there.

I have a huge change of heart that place could be one of the craziest places for an opposing team to play in nationwide

 

[Upstream]

Was at RAC for Globe trotters last night 1st time in about 10 yrs while not an ideal arena I see the potential to make a JAMMING facility

Blowing out the lobby will add at least 1000 seats

Wish the could re-angle the roof on student section side so you could go higher and put in 1500 permanent seats there.

The only detraction are the 4 large posts but they work betterm with the video boards there.

I have a huge change of heart that place could be one of the craziest places for an opposing team to play in nationwide

When you have a halfway decent team, that place is one of the toughest arenas in the country (see Gary Waters era). Image if we had a good team.

The problem with the RAC is mostly outside the actual basketball arena. There is no need to look at adding seats until we have a waiting list for the current capacity.

 

[PiscatawayMike]

I don't neccessarily think there has to be a waiting list before expansion talk begins in earnest. When we regularly sell out at least 7 games a season for a couple years, that's when expansion needs to take place.

 

[Jim_from_RU]

Let's get the practice facility construction underway before thinking about expanding the RAC.

 

[e5fdny]

Was at RAC for Globe trotters last night 1st time in about 10 yrs while not an ideal arena I see the potential to make a JAMMING facility

Blowing out the lobby will add at least 1000 seats

Wish the could re-angle the roof on student section side so you could go higher and put in 1500 permanent seats there.

The only detraction are the 4 large posts but they work betterm with the video boards there.

I have a huge change of heart that place could be one of the craziest places for an opposing team to play in nationwide

When you have a halfway decent team, that place is one of the toughest arenas in the country (see Gary Waters era). Image if we had a good team.

The problem with the RAC is mostly outside the actual basketball arena. There is no need to look at adding seats until we have a waiting list for the current capacity.

@Upstream is right. It's more about the curb appeal at this point.

Would love some day to have real seats all the way around. Other than that and few tweaks I'm cool.

 

[greenknight]

Pike is going to pack that house within a couple years. Would like to see more high profile games outside the B1G

 

[e5fdny]

Pike is going to pack that house within a couple years. Would like to see more high profile games outside the B1G

All in due time....

Crawl, walk and then run.

Not sure we're even near the crawl stage at this point.

 

[bac2therac]

All in due time....

Crawl, walk and then run.

Not sure we're even near the crawl stage at this point.

agree we are still getting 5-6K for Big 10 games and 3-4K for non conference games

 

[RUJMM78]

agree we are still getting 5-6K for Big 10 games and 3-4K for non conference games

Those attendance figures are norms by some low level MAC teams and are a clear indication how far Rutgers needs to go to reach any relevance in big time college basketball.Winning and attendance are closely connected and so is losing and poor attendance.A major state university located in NJ with a population over 8 million should sellout the 8000 seat RAC every game if Rutgers had a pulse in mens basketball.

 

[e5fdny]

Those attendance figures are norms by some low level MAC teams and are a clear indication how far Rutgers needs to go to reach any relevance in big time college basketball.Winning and attendance are closely connected and so is losing and poor attendance. A major state university located in NJ with a population over 8 million should sellout the 8000 seat RAC every game if Rutgers had a pulse in men's basketball.

Because of the schedule and when the games are scheduled we need to be in a little better shape compared to Football for this to happen.

 

[G- RUnit]

It's not all about the waiting list. It's a sign you're serious about being perceived as legitimate, a player, recruiting, etc.

 

[e5fdny]

We don't need more seats, just more people in those seats.

 

[Local Shill]

I'm still hung up on the fact the OP picks a Globetrotters game and not an RU game for his first visit 10 years.

 

[wheezer]

It's not all about the waiting list. It's a sign you're serious about being perceived as legitimate, a player, recruiting, etc.

---
I see your vision, but it is a hard sell to the public, who feels they must burden the cost....

the first thing people, the newspapers and press, would ask is, do we need more seating?.... if we do not need more seating, why are we
making it bigger?.....

the bigger, glitzy arena may draw better recruits, then better crowds, but in NJ they want the crowds first

 

[greenknight]

I'm still hung up on the fact the OP picks a Globetrotters game and not an RU game for his first visit 10 years.

Was never an RU hoops fan shill. Been an SHU fan since college 30 yrs ago. Recently converted over to RU if you must know the story. I like Pike and the direction he is taking the team

 

[dconifer0]

When a team is winning, it's "odd" arena is quirky and charming. If they're losing, it's atrocious, antiquated eyesore. It's all perception and marketing.

Once the team is winning, the RAC won't be an issue. Look at Indiana's building. Really weird, and to me, RAC-like. But it's considered a NCAA temple. Cameron Indoor Stadium at Duke is like a high school gym.

The RAC is fine. No need to build a mini-NBA arena for college ball in my opinion...

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

What is the difference between 8,000 and 11,000 seats? Why are people so hung up on this?

The real revenue comes from the 1st 2,000 seats. The incremental 3,000 seats won't bring in tons of revenue and takes away from exclusivity and hurts revenue that can be derived from seats 2,000 thru 8,000.

 

[RUJMM78]

What is the difference between 8,000 and 11,000 seats? Why are people so hung up on this?

The real revenue comes from the 1st 2,000 seats. The incremental 3,000 seats won't bring in tons of revenue and takes away from exclusivity and hurts revenue that can be derived from seats 2,000 thru 8,000.

Parking revenue and concession sales must also be included in any analysis of revenue by increasing seating.Bottom line the RAC is a old arena that needs a major upgrade so that it can compete with other schools for top tier recruits .A 10,000 plus seat arena should be a minimum expectation for a major state university.

 

[RU MAN]

Here is a rendering of what an expanded RAC could look like. I believe this treatment expands the RAC from 8,000 to about 12,000. Perfect in my view.

 

[Section124]

Here is a rendering of what an expanded RAC could look like. I believe this treatment expands the RAC from 8,000 to about 12,000. Perfect in my view.

Looks nice, but is that even possible? That may be the steepest seating ever. I don't think there is room for that. Plus the need to increase the corridors, add bathrooms and concessions.

 

[G- RUnit]

Villanova to spend 60 million to renovate the Pavillion.
Time for RU think big time of the RAC too.

 

[RUonBrain]

Villanova to spend 60 million to renovate the Pavillion.
Time for RU think big time of the RAC too.

Yeah, let's upgrade the RAC now.

We'll just pay for the rest of the practice facility sometime in the future.

Anyone care to start another $100 million fund raiser?

 

[RU MAN]

Looks nice, but is that even possible? That may be the steepest seating ever. I don't think there is room for that. Plus the need to increase the corridors, add bathrooms and concessions.

It's very possible and I don't believe that's really steep at all. If you want to see steep check Assembly Hall where Indiana plays. The upper deck is very steep.

 

[Section124]

It's very possible and I don't believe that's really steep at all. If you want to see steep check Assembly Hall where Indiana plays. The upper deck is very steep.

Thanks. I never really counted the number of rows of student bleachers. I don't recall if there is any room behind them (even though I was just at the game Saturday and my seats are in 205). My comment is more related to the number of seats you could realistically fit there (meaning not sure how much higher you can build above the current bleachers). Blowing out the wall is tough because the delivery bays are there and it's close to the road already.

 

[G- RUnit]

Move the road!

 

[RU MAN]

Thanks. I never really counted the number of rows of student bleachers. I don't recall if there is any room behind them (even though I was just at the game Saturday and my seats are in 205). My comment is more related to the number of seats you could realistically fit there (meaning not sure how much higher you can build above the current bleachers). Blowing out the wall is tough because the delivery bays are there and it's close to the road already.

Actually blowing out the walls would be easy. Rutgers would hire architects to redraft the complex and move the bays somewhere else. Remember, the rendering I showed you would take that into account.

 

[bingethinker]

What is the difference between 8,000 and 11,000 seats? Why are people so hung up on this?

The real revenue comes from the 1st 2,000 seats. The incremental 3,000 seats won't bring in tons of revenue and takes away from exclusivity and hurts revenue that can be derived from seats 2,000 thru 8,000.

I'm not sure I understand. Ohio State went from 13,276 to 18,809. Wisconsin went from 10,600 to 17,230. Maryland went from 14,500 to 17,950. There's not real revenue in that?

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Exclusivity increases price of tickets and donations.

 

[PeteGiam07]

Short term... Paint the high ceiling black and it will make it feel much better inside.

 

[bingethinker]

Exclusivity increases price of tickets and donations.

Don't kid yourself. Being good in basketball does that.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Of course.

The new baseball stadiums being built, They aren't maximizing seats, it is about maximizing revenue.