Rebuild or Renovate |
Rebuild or Renovate
A few weeks ago I heard new Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich wanted explore the idea of building a new basketball coliseum instead of just adding a new basketball practice facility as planned. Clemson's board of trustees met this week to view the feasibility of building a new building. There are a lot of questions that have to be answered. Where would you build it? How much would it cost? How would we pay for it? Would ticket prices go up? How many seats would it hold? How much revenue could be generated with signage and luxury boxes? How long would it take to build? How would this affect parking weekdays? How would it affect parking on football Saturdays? If they decided to go ahead with the planned practice facility other questions arise. How much will it cost? What could you do to improve Littlejohn? I raised the question to our listeners on my radio show this morning. I wanted to know what Clemson people thought. It should be of no surprise that the callers who chimed in were split. Some thought they should build a new arena. Others felt nothing was wrong with Littlejohn. I usually don't sit on the fence but I am not sure about this subject. I like the idea of a new arena with a new feel. It would give the basketball program a fresh start. On the other hand, I am concerned about the cost and I understand that a new arena does not necessarily mean better results. The best arena in the ACC is John Paul Jones Arena is Charlottesville. Every coach and every member of the media I have talked to said this is the best in the league. It was built in 2006 for $131 million (or $151 million in 2013 dollars). The arena holds 14,593. This is a palace but has it really helped Virginia basketball? Here is the Cavs records since moving into JPJ Arena: 2006-07 21-11 Overall 11-5 ACC NCAA Tournament Bid 2007-08 17-16 5-11 2008-09 10-18 4-12 2009-10 15-16 5-11 2010-11 16-15 7-9 2011-12 22-10 9-7 NCAA Tournament Bid 2012-13 15-5 5-2 116-91 Overall 46-57 ACC In the seven plus years in the nicest arena in the ACC Virginia has gone 116-91. In the ACC they are 11 games under .500. UVA has two NCAA tournament bids in those seven years. Maybe it would be more fair to compare UVA basketball before and after, but is 46-57 in the ACC worth $131 million? The nicest arena in our state is the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia. South Carolina built the 18,000 seat arena in 2002 for $65 million (or $84 million in 2013). Here is how the Gamecocks have done since moving into their new building: 2002-03 12-16 5-11 2003-04 22-11 8-8 NCAA 2004-05 20-13 7-9 NIT 2005-06 23-15 6-10 NIT 2006-07 14-16 4-12 2007-08 14-18 5-11 2008-09 21-10 10-6 NIT 2009-10 15-16 6-10 2010-11 14-16 5-11 2011-12 10-21 2-14 2012-13 12-8 2-5 177-160 overall 60-107 SEC So the Gamecocks spent $65 million and went 60-107 in the SEC with one NCAA tournament appearance 10 years ago. Was one winning season in the SEC over the last 11 years worth it? Maybe these are two bad examples. There are other examples of great arenas and great programs. However, there are examples of arenas worse than Littlejohn with better seasons. Many say that Florida State has the worst coliseum in the ACC but the Seminoles won the ACC tournament last season. Miami is one of the worst arenas in the league but the Canes are 7-0 and atop the ACC this season. The point is that great buildings don't always equal success and poor ones don't mean failure. However, it would be nice to come to a new arena and build a new tradition of Clemson basketball. In either case, this is a long and complicated decision. It is also one that Radakovich just went through at Georgia Tech, so I am more comfortable knowing he has recent experience in this type of decision. Prayer List We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines: If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it. If you would like to add someone to the list please email me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com *Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list. Those who need our prayers include:Finn Brookover, Jo Ann Bachman, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard, Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Daniel Rosborough, The Huffman family, Nancy Winkler, John Reeve, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs,Perrin Seigler, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, the Nicolopulos family, "the Jacksonville, FL guys", Kim Sims, the Coyle family, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee, Kelly Trakas, Jimmy Moore, the Thomas. V Family, Emary Claire Young, Kitty Bowers,Julie Locke, the Scheider family, Lauren Kittles' family, Frank Gentry, Joyce Bussey, Stacey McKeown, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr, Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Lillian, Mark Feit, David Frame, Chad Berry, the family of Matthew M. Watson, the Dowis family, Shervin Messer, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Jim Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Christopher Tuten, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Smith, Dot Cartee, Ayden Mills, Millie Heatley, Lynn Martin and family, Michael Pinson, Jake David family, Angie Crowley, Ira, Mike Tolson, Poly Wells, Dr. Muriel Bishop, Jack Cunningham, Emily Jefford Meister, Zachary Stoller, Aaron Clackum, Pat James, Cortney Moore, William Moore, Angelia and Savannah Anderson, William Ross, Meredith Legg, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll, Brandon Thompson, Alvin Sammons, Georgine McAlhaney, Glen Davis, Mike Price, Clay Childers, Aaron Knight, Danielle Johnston and family, Nicholas Abrams, Lana Kuykendall, Gary, Gary G., William Huggins, Jim Bennett, Chantz Fowler, Ethel McElveen, Michele Gurganus, William Gentry, Lewis Usher and Tanya Sanders, Shon Cooper, Nick Collins, Travis Patterson, Amanda Peake, Danny Hammond, Chip Turner, Nick Collins, Allen Steen, The Sturkey Family, the Lance family, Marcus Lattimore, Nick Chrisley's family, Allison Williams, Lt. Kyle Walker, Summer and Joel Johnson, Nicole O'Donnell, Jennifer McManus, James O. Johnson, Joy Pruett and family, Patrick Heher, Bill Schmidt, Jack Bailey, Bill Early, Gardner Family, Charles Turner, Kathy Bartholomew, Ray Sanders, David and Robin Blocker, J.R. Ray, Kenneth Kowe, Lauren Sielicki, our great country and the men and women in uniform that protect and serve it every day plus their families.The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency
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