More $$$ is needed. Period. Adding boxes to that end shouldn't affect the crowd noise.
A New RAC
- Thread starter RU72
- Start date
Question: is the RAC safe from a code perspective? The seating is too steep. The lack of bathrooms is a disgrace for a 8500 seat arena. Is there a code for that?
My suggestions:
Move the supporting pillars out far enough to add seating all the way up to the same level as the existing structure. Add additional supports as necessary.
Triple the amount of bathrooms.
Add a concourse like Tim's design with full service shops for RU gear.
Assuming you cannot reduce the slope of the existing stands. The cost would be astronomical.
My suggestions:
Move the supporting pillars out far enough to add seating all the way up to the same level as the existing structure. Add additional supports as necessary.
Triple the amount of bathrooms.
Add a concourse like Tim's design with full service shops for RU gear.
Assuming you cannot reduce the slope of the existing stands. The cost would be astronomical.
I guess given my thoughts on NIL a RAC that is an acceptable place for "investors" is a must. Investors like the people associated with Horn with Heart don't expect to sit in seats that have no room and wait on line for 10 minutes for a bathroom
Luxury boxes behind the basket opposite from the student section is a MUST.
You HAVE to have that option these days. I don't get invited to a lot of these type of events, but I was once hosted by RU AD for a pre-game event in the back corner of the RAC. It felt so busch league, like less appealing than hosting a nice party your local HS cafeteria or knights of columbus hall. Really bad way to entertain multi-millionaires and their friends. Then I went to another event .. and they had to host it in the Livingston Student Center. Which was a MUCH better atmosphere, but you want to inspire donors so you want this type of thing inside the arena so they see and "feel" the crowd.
Also the main entrance area and hallways down to seating have to be expanded and upgraded in a huge way.
Essentially take the Pernetti drawings from years ago ... and bring that to life! That seemed SPOT on! And we paid money to have someone conceptualize that.
You HAVE to have that option these days. I don't get invited to a lot of these type of events, but I was once hosted by RU AD for a pre-game event in the back corner of the RAC. It felt so busch league, like less appealing than hosting a nice party your local HS cafeteria or knights of columbus hall. Really bad way to entertain multi-millionaires and their friends. Then I went to another event .. and they had to host it in the Livingston Student Center. Which was a MUCH better atmosphere, but you want to inspire donors so you want this type of thing inside the arena so they see and "feel" the crowd.
Also the main entrance area and hallways down to seating have to be expanded and upgraded in a huge way.
Essentially take the Pernetti drawings from years ago ... and bring that to life! That seemed SPOT on! And we paid money to have someone conceptualize that.
The easiest way to increase capacity would be by simply using the original architectural drawings. Here you can see what the seat arrangement in the lobby/"old" section 118 was initially supposed to look like...
If you blew out the slanted wall on this side of the arena, you could increase capacity by quite a bit.
If you blew out the slanted wall on this side of the arena, you could increase capacity by quite a bit.
Downtown New Brunswick.
Work out a deal with Jersey Mikes to get exclusive rights to both Football and Basketball for a set time period for 50% funding.
25% funded by the state.
25% Private donors.
Throwing band aids on stuff is dumb and it’s not how you do things properly.
You find a spot within walking distance of the train, every decision made you take into account how it will impact the noise for game days.
You maintain the fans being on top of the court and you build it out to have concerts and an eventual hockey team.
Rutgers needs to stop spending money slapping band aids on things. Rutgers needs someone with vision that’s building for the future.
Work out a deal with Jersey Mikes to get exclusive rights to both Football and Basketball for a set time period for 50% funding.
25% funded by the state.
25% Private donors.
Throwing band aids on stuff is dumb and it’s not how you do things properly.
You find a spot within walking distance of the train, every decision made you take into account how it will impact the noise for game days.
You maintain the fans being on top of the court and you build it out to have concerts and an eventual hockey team.
Rutgers needs to stop spending money slapping band aids on things. Rutgers needs someone with vision that’s building for the future.
If we're talking Rutgers utopia .. yes, a downtown arena would elevate both Rutgers and the city of New Brunswick. No doubt about it. I have slight concerns with how bad traffic and parking is already and an arena with events 100+ nights a year might make everyday life nearly intolerable for RU buses, J&J, and everyone else in/around NB. Also financially I wonder if an arena breaks even. But man it would be super cool.
While we're dreaming .. maybe we come up with money to build the rutgers/NB monorail to ease access in and around to accommodate the new arena! Students from all campuses fly over in under 10m. Fans park on livingston and hop on the monorail to downtown.
Love it.
What sections will be designated Vaxxed / Un Vaxxed and one must assume masks will be in vogue still in 5 years. “ Better get used to it. “ A. F.
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As someone who absolutely loves the RAC and the advantage it brings with a full crowd, we need a new basketball arena within the decade. Something around the 10k size that’s modernized would be perfect.
The RAC simply isn’t a Big Ten facility and going to games when there’s more than 7k there is a fire hazard.
The RAC simply isn’t a Big Ten facility and going to games when there’s more than 7k there is a fire hazard.
We have had this discussion before
You don’t move long time fans anywhere after their decades of donations and paying for tickets
They deserve the lower sideline way more than the students
This sense of entitlement is a problem. Do you think the program would fold if not for your historical support?
Sorry. College basketball is about the student energy and they need to be near the court. The program needs to move beyond the good ole days of the ‘70s.
GO RU
When we gonna get that damn monorail thing? stops at the RAC and Edison and/or NB train stations and a larger RAC could attract all kinds of business
Renovate the RAC with expanded seats/boxes behind the entrance side basket along with a new lobby and renovate/widen the concourses. Keep it around 10k. Perfect size, keeps it loud.
Yes it is entitlement based on those fans being real fans through thick and thin, backed up with their money, and based on decades of support
The majority of students come for a few games, then are gone forever after graduation. The riot squad of today is a distant memory four years later
Its really not a good debate to have
Pike wants to move the student’s section closer. Basically there’s lots of extra space which is now where cheerleaders are located. No chance that anytime soon we’re moving the long time fans from one side of the court. They pay the bills, ridiculous to upset them!
You could lose a lot of long time paying fans by moving them upstairs or further away
Everyone says the RAC is intimidating now so I don’t see a need to jeopardize the paying fan base
Your thoughts make more sense
YES... I used to sit in first two rows next to the band and we were practically on the court. Had to move our feet at time for people walking behind the basket crossing sides.. photogs and cheerleaders and the like... they don't need all that space down there...
This pic kinda shows it but it looks like it is pushed a row back with some kinda wall in from of the section... but it is much closer than today.. BIG image.. you'll ave to zoom in on right side.. actually, looking at it again.. that's todays student sections with a smaller section in front of it...
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I dont think the student section should be moved at all. Seating arrangements are great the way they are at the moment. I think the students enjoy their current separate and distinct section. Its near the opposing team's bench. You got that space in front for the cheerleaders, mascot, etc. Its great.
What's it been like for students to get tickets this year? Doesn't seem like its completely selling out the student section for every game.
Also I actually agreed with the sec 118 remodel. Looks SOOO much better on television now. The old section looked soooo high school gym'ish.
Get those luxury boxes up where the current offices are. Maybe extend them out a bit with some seating in front, if possible?
And get something like this done ASAP .....
What's it been like for students to get tickets this year? Doesn't seem like its completely selling out the student section for every game.
Also I actually agreed with the sec 118 remodel. Looks SOOO much better on television now. The old section looked soooo high school gym'ish.
Get those luxury boxes up where the current offices are. Maybe extend them out a bit with some seating in front, if possible?
And get something like this done ASAP .....
The way they destroyed 118 and keep making the RAC smaller and smaller leaves me with little confidence that they would do it right. I fear they would just screw up the RAC.
My dad had season tickets when the rac opened in 118. When they first moved the students out I thought it was a terrible idea and wished they changed it back for years. But now no way. You can’t screw those fans at this point.
But having the RAC and not winning enough games is our own special charm.
Big mistake. If RU screws with the RAC, we will lose the home court advantage.
Seton Hall has their cheerleaders kneel and sit tradtionally on the baseline like every other school. Why can't we?
Mad Max figured out how to put idle space to use. Just add metal scaffolding in front of the columns for four adventurous standing room sections. Fits with the image of the RAC / Trapezoid of Terror.
Build a basement under the existing sides, and have escalators take people up and down for those who can’t easily walk.
Oh, and keep the student section well stocked with an ever expanding assortment of inflatables - love seeing the students toss them around.
And thought it was hilarious how much the announcers were enjoying them in the (Clemson?) game!
Oh, and keep the student section well stocked with an ever expanding assortment of inflatables - love seeing the students toss them around.
And thought it was hilarious how much the announcers were enjoying them in the (Clemson?) game!
To be clearer, Pike said this to a few of us after the open practice from the season when we made the tourney but covid happened. He said someone before him made a big mistake moving it back. As someone posted above, basically just extend current student section 5 or so rows. Nobody considering moving long time fans from along the sidelines.
Thanks for posting the pic. Exactly the concept! I also sat there in 98 and/or 99. Good times!!YES... I used to sit in first two rows next to the band and we were practically on the court. Had to move our feet at time for people walking behind the basket crossing sides.. photogs and cheerleaders and the like... they don't need all that space down there...
This pic kinda shows it but it looks like it is pushed a row back with some kinda wall in from of the section... but it is much closer than today.. BIG image.. you'll ave to zoom in on right side.. actually, looking at it again.. that's todays student sections with a smaller section in front of it...
That's crazy talk. Rutgers isn't stopping playing sports because of an enhanced facility. You have to have been joking.
We hide ours. If they looked like Seton Hall's, I would hide them. But they don't.
I sat in that first 4-5 row section my freshman year. It was for students who paid a few bucks per game for season tickets instead of taking the weekly free tickets. Great seats.YES... I used to sit in first two rows next to the band and we were practically on the court. Had to move our feet at time for people walking behind the basket crossing sides.. photogs and cheerleaders and the like... they don't need all that space down there...
This pic kinda shows it but it looks like it is pushed a row back with some kinda wall in from of the section... but it is much closer than today.. BIG image.. you'll ave to zoom in on right side.. actually, looking at it again.. that's todays student sections with a smaller section in front of it...
I just zoomed in on the players in this photo… damn with the super baggy uniforms some look like contestants in “The Biggest Loser”.
Love the RAC and Fenway Park, and I would say blow both of them up. 8,000 seats is a problem, but the bigger problem is that due to the odd construction there are so few GOOD seats. Gotta be a better way to proportion 10,000 seats, more amenities, improve the outside aesthetics and parking...while maintaining some of the intrinsics that make the RAC the RAC. Funding? No clue.
Thank you both for stepping up to the plate and covering the cost! It's nice to have big boosters ready to spend $.