Gersten Improvements

[lmu]

I was told it was due to financial issues.

Surprise surprise

[iggyrocks]

I saw a bunch of paint crews coming in and out of GP when I was at the gym. Anyone know what that was all about?

[ironlions]

I think they resurfacing the court. I got a chance to see the new chairs in there...looks awesome.

Go Lions!

[lionspride]

At least there seem to be momentum on improving Hank's House. We need an upgrade on the concession stands to compete with the USD, SCU, Gonzaga of gym/areas. I still think it would have been better when they built Burn Rec Center to just have a larger area with practice facilities and work out facilities below ground. Now there is no room for major expansion (seats behind the baskets). The expansion on tap will only be a facade with new offices and locker rooms. I know we should be thankful for what it is, but if our basketball program takes off (which it could within 2-3 years) GP may have wished to put seats behind the baskets.

[lmu]

Nah, if we have to go throu all that trouble to expand GP, why not just build a new arena? Small upgrades to GP is fine, major upgrades, imho, are not worth it.

[Deleted]

Hopefully we can expand capacity when the upper sections are redone to host a WCC championship. 5,000 capacity at most (Portland is only 5k) I wonder if that is also the minimum. If I "ask the AD" will I ever get a response?

As far as location goes you'd think the WCC desperate to get the championships here. Located near one of the largest airports in the world, hundreds of hotels, large media market, good weather, LA attractions. A lot more tourist friendly and accessible than some of our other spots.

[scoop]

I guess they have a proposal out to move the WCC tourney to Vegas. I think it is a great idea. it is still a truly neutral court, a great destination for college students, and since it aligns with the schools' spring break it would likely get more fan support than even LA. A weekend in Vegas with a little hoops, sounds like they are on to something.

[lionspride]

I thought the WCC squashed that rumor of the tourney proposal in Las Vegas? The WCC is already on record that next year and the following year's tourney will be in Southern California (2008 tourney at the Slim Gym in USD country and 2009 has yet to be announced, but the WCC said it would be another Southern California school. Whether that means USD again, well I don't know. But it is pathetic that GP is not good enough to host the conference tourney. That is a sign that a whole new arena should have been built before they decided to go through with the Burns Rec Center. Increased capacity is the only answer. Too bad attendance is not driving this decision. We fans are the only ones to blame for this. If there were sale outs ever game, that would give leverage to increase the capacity and not only re-do the facade with offices and locker rooms but widen GP so seats could be placed behind the baskets.

I am a big believer in attendance. Attendance will drive wins. We have talked about this on another discussion thread. Games that attendance was above average, LMU more often than not wins. Attendance and excitement drives the players. More attendance does not guarantee more wins, but it definitely helps. We need to get the students to show up every game. LMU needs to have better publicity. Rodney should go to the lengths of informing who every is in charge of the cable distribution in the dorm rooms to blackout the games on ESPN2 and ESPNU or CSTV (if the students can even receive these last two channels listed in the dorms). We need to make the students go to the games. Fraternities need to be leading the charge on this. This should be the pre-party. The Westchester community should be attending (going back to the program should provide the local basketball coaches in the area free ticket vouchers to the games for their players and families. At least this could increase concession sales. Beside, there is always 1,000-1,500 seats empty each game (except for Gonzaga and Pepperdine). The Athletics Department needs to get creative. Yes, its improving but not enough is being done.

It's all about attendance. I cannot emphasize that enough. Sorry to keep hitting the drum with this but something needs to be done.

[ldawg]

I think the best thing going for GP is its smaller size. The place can get LOUD when it is filled. Not realistic to see us filling an arena much bigger at this stage. We are many years removed from needing all new digs. It took GU awhile to upgrade and we'll do it if the money and demand is there. Getting a WCC tourney would be great but there might be other things holding us back other than just capacity.

The offices are very important because we need the best coaches and to recruit them we've got to have to offer a great place to work. I hope we can get started on that addition by 2010. Hopefully these improvements will create a little buzz to get people to come out to next season's opener.

It's going to be harder to market this class than last years, which had Worthy and Knight as proven superstars.

Congrats Ducks on the cup!

[lionspride]

Very good points Idawg.

Realistic point of view. We just need to keep the good things going.

[lmu]

lionspride said:

...but widen GP so seats could be placed behind the baskets.

I thought we had a good suggestion, from me ;D, to turn the court 90 degree, so we have enough room behind the basket for seats. Of course, doing that will eliminate the other 3 courts in GP

[fanblade]

Well tonight I saw some new aesthetic additions to Gersten at the kickoff BBQ. Some of them good and some of them questionable to say the least!

Get a preview at the volleyball game coming up this Friday.