U of O Basketball Arena

SturgeonKing50 · 02-09-2008, 09:00 AM

The more I read about this fiasco the more it smells like something rotten to me. After reading this morning's Oregonian it does not get any better. Education should be the first priority but apparently at Oregon it is not. A lot of academic programs are underfuned at the school yet they want to spend $200 million dollars on a new arena. And as it turns out Phil Knight is not going to pay for it, they want the taxpayers to pay for it.I don't know about all of you but I am getting by and that is about it. Have worked in the lumber industry for 35 years and things are real tough right now. There are alot of people in all types of employment that are in the same boat.
To ask the taxpayers of this state to pay for this is not only wrong, it is negligent and borders on complete stupidity. I know that we need to educate our kids but at what cost?

I personally believe every child has the right to the best education possible. There has to be a better answer. Perhaps with a change in leadership in this country some of this will occur. I am not holding my breath.

If Killkenny thinks people will fill up that arena to watch a LOSING basketball team he is either blind or clueless. Just ask the blazers about that.Any opinions? Just my

TheCamel · 02-09-2008, 12:59 PM

My understanding is that the only way the taxpayers would pay any money would be if the Arena could not pay for itself through revenues, and the UofO had to default on the bond.

TheRogue · 02-10-2008, 05:56 AM

I'm a huge Duck fan, and am firmly behind the need to build a new arena!!!

That being said......it's becoming obvious that some things just don't add up, and that just maybe the truth has been "sanitized". I'm not exactly sure why we have to build the single most expensive arena in college athletics? Obviously, the gargantuan donation from Mr. Knight is the big push behind it....but still; why build that lavish of a place.

The public is tired of these projects which are expensive to begin with, then end up costing oh so much more. OHSU tram, light rail, on and on and on. The worst part of it all is that these aren't little overruns....they are things that should (and probably ARE) known about from the beginning.

If I'm the Oregon legislature....I say sorry UofO, bring us a less expansive arena plan, based on PESSIMISTIC revenue projections, not the most optomistic.

My .02

TR

lost_sailor · 02-10-2008, 07:46 AM

I love the Pit, they don't need to hurry.

rrust1 · 02-10-2008, 08:10 AM

This is from the NCAA website:

"Division I Athletic Departments are usually self-funded and viewed as a separate entity on college campuses. Division I member Institutions have the fiscal ability to award more athletic financial aid awards for their athletic programs. A majority of the funds needed to maintain yearly operations is acquired through corporate sponsorships, donations, and post-season payouts. These Institutions must adhere to more extensive NCAA rules/regulations to sustain their designation. Typically, student-athletes who attend a Division I Institution will be able to receive athletic financial aid until graduation."

Oregon is no exception, the athletic department has been self funding for several years. In order to maintain this status, you must win, to win you must recruit, to recruit you have to have the best facilities in the country. WE DO. The new basketball arena only enhances this. I love Mac Court, but after walking around during Oregon's last (perhaps) home dual wrestling meet on friday, I see why it needs replaced. It is old, and fatigued, and unappealing to new recruits--history or not.

My family and friends and I went to the Regional playoffs in Spokane last year and watched Oregon beat Winthrop and Miami of Ohio, the arena was AMAZING... Similarly it sits 12,500 with ZERO unobstructed seats.

State bonds are to be paid back by the university in full, and with Uncle Phil likely will be even if the basketball team itself struggles for a few years. I support the arena, and will contribute by buying my own season tickets in 2012. GO DUCKS!!!

Drachir · 02-10-2008, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRogue

I'm not exactly sure why we have to build the single most expensive arena in college athletics? Obviously, the gargantuan donation from Mr. Knight is the big push behind it....but still; why build that lavish of a place.

If I'm the Oregon legislature....I say sorry UofO, bring us a less expansive arena plan, based on PESSIMISTIC revenue projections, not the most optomistic.

My .02

TR

As a Huge Ducks fan, I agree with you. There is no reasonable explanation why the new Arena needs to be so lush and lavish. They are setting the financial success strictly on Men's Basketball. I have heard very little about the Concerts and Trade Shows that will be vital to success of this new Arena.
That being said, if the AD is using Men's BBall as the source of the majority of the funds for the success of this arena, What are they thinking??

I have read many projections about ticket pricing and the required donation, it will put Season BBall tickets out of reach for most fans. It will be left to the more affluent Ducks Fans, That Is Wrong!!

I would wholeheartedly support a new Arena, given that it would be financially responsible, and would be large enough capacity to attract big name entertainers, and trade shows. They also need to make the ticket pricing much more affordable for the average fans, like us. It has to come down to "B*tts in Seats", or the Arena will be a financial failure.

I would like to add to this, the location of this Arena is going to contribute to it's failure. Placing the Arena along Franklin Blvd, and the quiet Fairmont neighborhood, where very little parking exists, is just plain stupid. The Fairmont Neighborhood Assn. is up in arms, and threatening lawsuits. The Arena should be near Autzen, perphaps where "College Game Day" had thier set, which is just South of Autzen, and near Alton Baker Park. That would place all Athletic Facilities in one easy to get to location. There will be plenty of parking for Baseball and Basketball, and bus service would much better at Autzen. The AD is focusing on Franklin Blvd, and I think this will discourage many people from attending events, as parking will be very difficult.

sschwab · 02-10-2008, 09:08 AM

"If you build it, they will come."

The program won't default on the bonds. Mr. Nike's $100 million contribution gives them lots of ways to play with the funding to make sure of that. If Phil wants the best facility in college hoops, then so be it. He's earned the right to have things done his wa--at his expense.

As for the location, a big part of the magic of the Pit is that students can walk there in the dark and rainy evenings of basketball season. The arena needs to stay on campus to attract students.

As for non-students, let them park and shuttle from Autzen if needed. It's an "event" to go to a major college basketball game, no different from the pro games.

Joe Schwab · 02-10-2008, 09:54 AM

I can't imagine why Phil hasn't used his billions to build "Nike Stadium" somewhere in the northwest. Even the name sounds good! Better than most of these corporate stadiums! At least it has roots in athletics. He could have a lobby dedicated to all his good works and athletic accomplishments. I'm being serious. How many other philanthropists have dedicated facilities named after themselves?

He may be somewhat of an eccentric but that is his privilege. I would just hope he would step forward a little more to assure the financial certainty, then build it!

Fast Water · 02-10-2008, 10:45 AM

I loved the Pit. When I was a lad, my Grandfather would walk us from his campus office over at the Education building where he had a parking spot through the graveyard (spookie when I was real young) to the Pit to watch the Ducks play.

Those days were golden for me. I loved the way the building would rock, shake and resonate with thunderous commotion of the crowd.

A new arena would be nice and all but would never attain the magic and feel of the Pit.

newportfisher · 02-10-2008, 12:51 PM

I attended a meeting put on by Ernie Kent in Bend a while ago, and the reason they would/are building a new arena is not because they just want a new arena. Ask any real Duck fan....Mac court gets rockin and rollin and that is the reason they would build a new one. Teams like Duke, UNC, Kansas...ect will not come to Eugene to play because of the home court advantage. They would be more than happy to host Oregon on Chapel hill and places like that, but because the PIT gets so crazy, teams that are always in the national spot light dont want to lose because of the crazyness. And if a team wants to build up its reputation they have to beat teams like Duke. Now looking at the comment about not being able to fill up the new arena because of them losing. Have you not been to MAC court?! There is a reason they call it the PIT. True Duck fans bleed the school colors and back their team no matter what!!