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General Ohio University Discussion/Alumni Events Topic
Topic: Basketball Practice Facility?
Page: 1 of 4
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Cellis033
3/28/2022 8:31 AM
I saw on past topics the possibility of a basketball practice facility. But, when I look in the Master Plan I don't see it marked. I'm assuming we would build a new facility compared to extensively renovating Aquatic Center / Bird Arena?
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SBH
3/28/2022 11:44 AM
The Master Plan includes a crescent shaped "Welcome Center" added to the front of the Convo. I believe the plan is to tuck it into/behind/below that structure.
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rpbobcat
3/28/2022 1:27 PM
SBH wrote:expand_more
The Master Plan includes a crescent shaped "Welcome Center" added to the front of the Convo. I believe the plan is to tuck it into/behind/below that structure.
One of the problems with this concept, is that the Convo is in a located in a 100 year flood zone.
There are all kinds of issues/restrictions trying to build there.

I would also anticipate needing to build any structure on piles.
That bumps up the cost, big time.

Once the idea of a new Ice Rink next to Ping got dropped, the most cost effective location was/is ,for a number of reasons, "punch card park".
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The Optimist
3/28/2022 1:47 PM
SBH wrote:expand_more
The Master Plan includes a crescent shaped "Welcome Center" added to the front of the Convo. I believe the plan is to tuck it into/behind/below that structure.
Interesting. I always assumed a practice facility would go on the backside (replacing the parking lots)
If the parking below the Convo isn't used, I guess there would be room under the front entrance to put additional courts in.

The best part of the Welcome Center would really be the curbside appeal of the Convo from Richland.

also, how about a gondola station in the Convocation Center with the Gondola running over the Hocking up to the Ridges ;-)
Last Edited: 3/28/2022 1:48:49 PM by The Optimist
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Cellis033
3/29/2022 5:29 PM
I know the cost would be insane now but initially thought they could extensively renovate the Aquatic Center into the basketball practice facility.
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rpbobcat
3/30/2022 7:05 AM
Cellis033 wrote:expand_more
I know the cost would be insane now but initially thought they could extensively renovate the Aquatic Center into the basketball practice facility.
A few years a O.U. proposed building a new ice rink next to Ping.

That would have allowed Bird Arena to renovated and used as a basketball
practice facility.
Given the nature of the existing structure, a renovation would be cost effective.

Unfortunately, the ice rink got dropped.

As far as renovating the Aquatic Center.

It would be cheaper and easier to build a new building for the Practice Facility.
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TWT
3/31/2022 7:09 AM
A new aquatic center at the very least is going to happen. Ideally it would have been built with the Ping Center but it was just 10 years old at the time so didn't make sense to go the extra distance and put a pool into Ping.

Aquatic center is now 40 years old, another decade or so it will be at the top of the list for replacement.
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rpbobcat
3/31/2022 1:01 PM
Club Hyatt wrote:expand_more
A new aquatic center at the very least is going to happen. Ideally it would have been built with the Ping Center but it was just 10 years old at the time so didn't make sense to go the extra distance and put a pool into Ping.

Aquatic center is now 40 years old, another decade or so it will be at the top of the list for replacement.
I've only been in the Aquatic Center a couple of times when I visited O.U.

Are the things wrong with the facility that couldn't be addressed by a renovation, instead of starting from scratch with a new building ?
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BillyTheCat
3/31/2022 1:26 PM
rpbobcat wrote:expand_more
A new aquatic center at the very least is going to happen. Ideally it would have been built with the Ping Center but it was just 10 years old at the time so didn't make sense to go the extra distance and put a pool into Ping.

Aquatic center is now 40 years old, another decade or so it will be at the top of the list for replacement.
I've only been in the Aquatic Center a couple of times when I visited O.U.

Are the things wrong with the facility that couldn't be addressed by a renovation, instead of starting from scratch with a new building ?
No, but no one wants to do that anymore.
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Cellis033
3/31/2022 2:43 PM
rpbobcat wrote:expand_more
A new aquatic center at the very least is going to happen. Ideally it would have been built with the Ping Center but it was just 10 years old at the time so didn't make sense to go the extra distance and put a pool into Ping.

Aquatic center is now 40 years old, another decade or so it will be at the top of the list for replacement.
I've only been in the Aquatic Center a couple of times when I visited O.U.

Are the things wrong with the facility that couldn't be addressed by a renovation, instead of starting from scratch with a new building ?
I've heard they have a massive amount of deferred maintenance that would be too expensive to fix (Seems like the same old story across campus)
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Day Tripper
3/31/2022 3:06 PM
What about Bird Arena? Are they are going to keep using it until it is condemned or is no longer functional as an ice rink?
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TWT
3/31/2022 3:23 PM
rpbobcat wrote:expand_more
I know the cost would be insane now but initially thought they could extensively renovate the Aquatic Center into the basketball practice facility.
A few years a O.U. proposed building a new ice rink next to Ping.

That would have allowed Bird Arena to renovated and used as a basketball
practice facility.
Given the nature of the existing structure, a renovation would be cost effective.

Unfortunately, the ice rink got dropped.

As far as renovating the Aquatic Center.

It would be cheaper and easier to build a new building for the Practice Facility.
Its ideal to have the pool connected to the gym to have it all in one like a premium health club (although I may have picked up COVID-19 in 2019 from one of those).

Where the aquatic center sits is also a prime spot in the middle of campus and in the master plan they want to redevelop it for an academic use.

The plan was also to migrate the Bird rink to attach to Ping but I could see where that could hurt interest in using the rink compared to the prime location it currently has. This was discussed before on the board.
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giacomo
4/3/2022 10:34 AM
Don’t we have the Convo to practice? Just like we have Alden Library to study.
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SouthernCat
4/3/2022 10:45 AM
giacomo wrote:expand_more
Don’t we have the Convo to practice? Just like we have Alden Library to study.
Yes, but there is only 1 court for 3 teams to share all fall. Alden has multiple floors for students to share.
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BillyTheCat
4/3/2022 3:34 PM
giacomo wrote:expand_more
Don’t we have the Convo to practice? Just like we have Alden Library to study.
You truly do not get the demands of a modern day athletics department, program or athlete.
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Jeff McKinney
4/3/2022 10:39 PM
Even with a conservative approach to spending, an additional practice court makes sense.
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BillyTheCat
4/4/2022 9:24 AM
Jeff McKinney wrote:expand_more
Even with a conservative approach to spending, an additional practice court makes sense.

Starting with, having a practice facility would allow for the renting out of the Convocation Center for other events, hence making money.
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SouthernCat
4/4/2022 10:22 AM
BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
Even with a conservative approach to spending, an additional practice court makes sense.

Starting with, having a practice facility would allow for the renting out of the Convocation Center for other events, hence making money.
https://davidsonwildcats.com/facilities/harry-l-vance-ath...

Something like what Davidson built would be ideal, or even St Louis.

https://slubillikens.com/facilities/chaifetz-pavilion-vol...
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giacomo
4/4/2022 2:50 PM
BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
Even with a conservative approach to spending, an additional practice court makes sense.

Starting with, having a practice facility would allow for the renting out of the Convocation Center for other events, hence making money.
What outside events would take place at the Convo on weekday afternoons?
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BillyTheCat
4/5/2022 8:56 AM
You would be surprised at the opportunities missed. And I will not waste my time anymore, because nothing will change your perception.
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TWT
4/5/2022 6:52 PM
I posted about what could be nice in a Convo design last year. Would it be valuable enough to the university to work in a multi-purpose design which could double as university cultural center? Perhaps even a donor stepping up with a portion of the funds and the university financing the remainder.


Convo Upgrades ($10 million):

-Basketball Practice Courts
-20,000 sqft Olympic Weight Room
-Team lockers for select Olympic sports.
-Rehab pools and physical training space.
-Convo museum preserving cultural history (e.g. rock concerts)

Of course then it would also be a case of addition by subtraction for Peden Stadium allowing better schedule for weight lifting with the Olympic sports working out over at The Convo. 20,000 sqft of weight room at the Convo would be one of the best weight rooms in mid major world.
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giacomo
4/6/2022 2:41 PM
BillyTheCat wrote:expand_more
You would be surprised at the opportunities missed. And I will not waste my time anymore, because nothing will change your perception.
I guess you're just the big picture guy. I'm not sure of a surprise until I know what is possible. Athens Boat Show? Athens Rodeo? Farmer's Market? Top Golf?
Last Edited: 4/6/2022 2:43:45 PM by giacomo
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Pete Chouteau
4/9/2022 2:41 PM
A practice facility would be a great addition. Ball State is an excellent analog. The abattoir in the capital city also built an add-on.

I've stopped believing in the virility of this 100-year flood plain, as in the years since I first heard about it, Wren Stadium, a softball facility, a lower Peden playing surface, Chessa Field, Goldsberry Track, Ping Center, Walter Fieldhouse, and Sook Center have all been built on the same plane. Furthermore, the new Baker Center and other new buildings on the other side of the Richland Bridge have been placed in an actual former riverbed. There's a workaround here somewhere.

Let's face it, a basketball building was the next up following Walter Fieldhouse. That building's capital campaign failed spectacularly enough that the University's building fund completed financing and forced a shared building. We are that damn pathetic a fan base and Convo brass hasn't breathed a word of attempting another big building since.
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TWT
4/9/2022 6:22 PM
Good points Pete. President Sherman did say in one of his addresses that a second new building for the Osteopathic College is now in the planning phase so money is starting to flow again for building projects.

I guess it will depend on what the next president after Sherman wants to do and particularly how that president views the athletic program in Athens.
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longtiimelurker
4/9/2022 9:15 PM
giacomo wrote:expand_more
You would be surprised at the opportunities missed. And I will not waste my time anymore, because nothing will change your perception.
I guess you're just the big picture guy. I'm not sure of a surprise until I know what is possible. Athens Boat Show? Athens Rodeo? Farmer's Market? Top Golf?
He has a point. You are ridiculing him by suggesting ludicrous things.

I thought of you when I saw a few tweets today.
https://twitter.com/OhioBioSciences/status/15120848864415...
https://twitter.com/VoinovichSchool/status/95841470454378...

Graduations, student expo and a myriad of other activities along with the multiple teams usage with practices and gameday prep in overlapping seasons with men's and women's teams. Looking at the pictures above and thinking back over the years of graduation and activities one needs to wonder how an incoming recruit or a present team member is to work on their game. Once you get a serious highly motivated recruit here and he/she goes through the hassle of this how are you going to keep them from entering the portal once they deal with the facilities?
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