Hey guys, just visiting as I love basketball too. Our history on the hardwood is nothing compared to the gridiron but thank god for Collin Sexton. Anyway check this out from Northwestern, I could see the RAC going thru a similar https://www.btpowerhouse.com/2018/1...ll-wildcats-renovation-arena-opens-welsh-ryan Roll Tide!!!!!
RAC Renovation
- Thread starter dontestrond
- Start date
That’s actually very nice. I feel like something will be done with the RAC after the practice center opens. I’m not sure about the new 118 section, but I guess we’ll find out what people think soon enough? I always like Missouri’s arena and wish we had something similar.
I'm really impressed with the investment and the new facilities Northwestern has put together over the last few years. Everything is really nice and top of the line - they didn't try to short change anything and it shows! Love it! Wishing the same for Rutgers.
I think the the RAC needs more lower level seating. Nobody wants to sit in the upper reaches of the 300s. Re-doing 118 seems to be the only way to accomplish this...
Football practice field complex is top of the line and I think the new basketball practice center will be as well. The problem with the RAC is how it was built with those 4 pillars and the shape makes it hard to renovate. Would be better to knock it down and build it new but that’s a big project.
I like what Hobbs is doing with the facilities and I think the indoor football practice facility to replace the bubble has to be upcoming in the next few seasons.
Welsh-Ryan Arena reconstruction decreased the number of seats from 8,117 to 7,039. Rutgers cannot afford to decrease capacity with any future improvements to the RAC.
https://www.si.com/college-basketba...basketball-welsh-ryan-arena-renovation-photos
I believe some variation of the plan announced by Pernetti will happen. New entrance/lobby, suites, and expanded seating. Has anyone seen an estimate of what the RAC could max out at for seating?
How about we start by taking the doors off before entering the sections! One it's dangerous swinging out! two not necessary, 3. will create a bit more open feel...Simple and easy to do!
The RAC needs nicer amenities and service areas than it currently has. The parking is OK and without more parking there's no use in expanding the number of seats. We're a TV team with a nice practice facility. We're noisy in Joisey. Doll the place up but don't waste money until we're a consistent Tournament team.
Very nice. Look at what this architectural firm did: www.michaelgraves.com/portfolio/rutgers-univeristy-athletic-center
Check out the last picture showing a renovated RAC inside. I believe it would hold around 10,000. Presently we hold just over 8,000.
That parking garage being built next door will probably help with that.
Here's an early drawing of the RAC before adjustments were made. Increasing capacity to roughly 10,000 can be done without too much trouble.
Thank you for printing this up. This was the picture I referred to in the link I put in my previous post.
You do realize that the basketball practice facility is well underway already, right?
Those are the senior citizen sections. No need for a stress test after that experience. $$$$
You could actually do a lot with the RAC now.
-You no longer need the folding bleachers as no one will be using it for practice any longer.
-All the coaching offices are being moved, you can now reconfigure and use that space.
-I know 118 was changed to some stupid temporary idea but that area can now have permanent seating, no longer folding.
-You can then make the 300's with seating and not lose capacity.
-There's no longer a need to have a gym in the building that could be used for more concessions and bathrooms.
-Exterior sheet metal and elastomeric paint are cheap and you can do wonders with it.
-Also love @2003alyssa idea, this is an arena not a high school gym get rid of the doors everywhere except the entrance and exits.
-You no longer need the folding bleachers as no one will be using it for practice any longer.
-All the coaching offices are being moved, you can now reconfigure and use that space.
-I know 118 was changed to some stupid temporary idea but that area can now have permanent seating, no longer folding.
-You can then make the 300's with seating and not lose capacity.
-There's no longer a need to have a gym in the building that could be used for more concessions and bathrooms.
-Exterior sheet metal and elastomeric paint are cheap and you can do wonders with it.
-Also love @2003alyssa idea, this is an arena not a high school gym get rid of the doors everywhere except the entrance and exits.
Don’t the doors help keep the sound in. I like it to be as loud as possible.
Gymnastics meets still need to push bleachers/fold-able seats back at least partially.
Those doors are probably code regulated Fire Doors.
If they're fire doors, they can be kept open with automatic latches that release the doors to close if the fire alarm goes off.
Future revenue. The capacity of the RAC already has been reduced over the years. If Pikiell leads the program where we hope he will, more seats will be needed, not less.
I guess when you have thousands of empty seats fairly regularly you try to maximize income any way possible.
I was in 118 for over 20 years. Still had friends who were there. That's a shame but understandable.
I thought I read 118 is sold out or close to it. Also, what Rutgers is charging for tickets and services for this section is way more than what Rutgers could enough in other sections. If that is the case, then it wasn't a bad decision to make the change. Might as well get money from those willing to spend it. Can't get money from cheap seats that are empty.
They usually do, but there has been a push to get them to the RAC as they always sell out Livingston. But would only 3 dates and holding B1G championship once every decade really stand in the way of progress if you wanted to redo the RAC? I doubt it, hell they already screwed the volleyball team out of their space in the new training facility.
I would like to see both have their own spots...a jazzed up Barn for Volleyball and a spruced up Livingston Gym for Gymnastics.
Penny wise pound foolish. Know of no other school that has ripped up their baseline for 48 seats. Just seems like an odd decision. The one cool thing of the RAC has been its intimacy, loudness and closeness to the Court. Taking all that away in the name of money just seems foolish. I wouldn’t have messed with the footprint of a great college basketball pit when winning.
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I think this is the way to go . Building new and demolishing is just too damn expensive in NJ. Renovation of current spaces with creative architects can be just as good as new while maintaining a nostalgic aura.
No one looks at the new Yankee stadium with the same affection as the old. I think that would be true as well if a new arena was built. Everything would seem cold and sterile. Believe it or not those pillars and duck work above add to it's character. Now the outside, O boy what were they thinking.
The only thing(s) I would change with regards to seating would be to make all of the 300s actual seats, try and do the same for the Student Section (or at least put it as close as it used to be) and blow out the front above 118 when the practice thing is done.
That’s more than enough and still keeps the cozy part (and hopefully the noise) intact.
That’s more than enough and still keeps the cozy part (and hopefully the noise) intact.
Something the school doesn't have in spades. Either pack the RAC and donate more money or give way to Rutgers trying to be creative to full their chest. The product on the court doesn't come free.
It would be different if 118 was full but it's been far from that for a long time, even going back to when I was sitting there.
Nothing looks worse on TV than a hundred empty seats right behind the basket.