Dave Reynolds 5/25/10

[BradleyBrave]

If BU still has problems with City Hall then it is time for BU to start spending its money on political clout. The Supreme Court has ruled that Corporations/organization have the right to spend as much money as they like on political causes. When is the next big election in Peoria?

I would hope that the Chicago-style corruption doesn't infect the BU and Peoria landscape. There's enough in Cook County and Springfield for the entire midwest. Plus, I am not sure if that's really the best way to spend BU's limited amounts of money. Keeping Caterpillar happy is a lot more important to the university than keeping some idealistic self-righteous councilmen happy. Besides, the facility has been already built. It's too late to try and fix it at this point.

 

[Chico]

but sg
-- keeping them downtown limits all the students' ability to see the games, right?
--and what if Gonzaga, Michigan State, or UC-Davis would come to Peoria but only on Dec. 24, a date that the Civic Center is booked....wouldn't it be nice to at least have one alternate option?
--lastly - almost all the NIT, CBI, etc games were very costly for BU as we didn't come close to filling the Civic Center....had those games been held in the proposed new arena, BU would have made a bundle, and isn't that part of the whole business of operating an athletic dept??

Playing games downtown doesn't limit the students ability to see the games. They know where it's at and how to get there. I doubt very much if Bradley would schedule the likes of the opponents you mentioned on a date they couldn't get use of the CC.
I have no problem with using the new arena for the likes of the CBI, etc. However the NIT might be a different story.

 

[shaunguth]

I have no problem with using the new arena for the likes of the CBI, etc. However the NIT might be a different story.

You are still shutting people out. Besides, the last CBI game in 2008 drew 9,000 while the NIT game in 2007 drew 8,300. I really don't see any need for the men to play anything other than exhibition games at the new arena.

 

[Chico]

You are still shutting people out. Besides, the last CBI game in 2008 drew 9,000 while the NIT game in 2007 drew 8,300. I really don't see any need for the men to play anything other than exhibition games at the new arena.

I stand corrected. I'm gone that time of the season and didn't realize they had such good attendance. Just exibition games at the new arena.

 

[AZ BU Fan]

Win, and they(fans/students) will come, even at Carver...

Everyone makes decisions as to how they will spend their discretionary time/money. If the product is interesting/appealing, people will choose it vs other options they have.

 

[BradleyJD]

Unfortunately I think it's another example of a combination of poor planning on BU's part, and a poor relationship between BU, the neighborhood, and the City of Peoria. The relationship with the City and neighborhood I think is what led to the poor planning. While I think BU is posturing like it has improved its position with the PCC, in reality I don't think much has changed. They (The PCC) know as well as we do that 4,200 just doesn't get the job done unless BU is dropping down to Division III.

Well said, BB. I think Bradley is off the mark on this one and they did not think it out entirely.

 

[BradleyJD]

You are still shutting people out. Besides, the last CBI game in 2008 drew 9,000 while the NIT game in 2007 drew 8,300. I really don't see any need for the men to play anything other than exhibition games at the new arena.

Does this show that BU only cares about the big donors or what?

 

[tornado]

I don't think so... no more than when an ad runs on TV it means they only care about the people who spend big time $$ on their product
or when a good cause asks for support, that they only care if I pony up big time $$

 

[BradleyBrave]

Does this show that BU only cares about the big donors or what?

Some could argue that last coaching firing and hiring showed that as well. But it's the society we live in, and BU is a private institution that relies on donations to support itself.

 

[BradleyJD]

Some could argue that last coaching firing and hiring showed that as well. But it's the society we live in, and BU is a private institution that relies on donations to support itself.

I understand that it runs off donations. But that's the problem. I do donate, and buy season tickets, and go to the Valley Tourney. But that still isn't enough I guess.

 

[BUBrave28]

JD, did you offer up your first born??

 

[SFP]

I understand that it runs off donations. But that's the problem. I do donate, and buy season tickets, and go to the Valley Tourney. But that still isn't enough I guess.

I'm sure the University appreciates it but the organizations and individuals that give the most do have a bigger say and for that fact a better seat at the table. That is just the way things are run in this country. Last night for example there were a few people that were willing to pony up $16,500 to attend a private party at the Getty's and hob nob with Obama. I pretty sure it has been this way for quite some time.

 

[shaunguth]

I understand that it runs off donations. But that's the problem. I do donate, and buy season tickets, and go to the Valley Tourney. But that still isn't enough I guess.

I agree that's the problem. If I was a full season ticket holder, I would be extremely upset if I was unable to see Michigan State, Gonzaga, Illinois, or anyone else play in Peoria because the PCC was already booked and Bradley built an on-campus arena that only holds 4,200 and that's where the game is to be played. I'm not sure how this situation helps with donations/maintenance fees from season-ticket holders if they end up not renewing because of this situation.

 

[dogsrus]

I don't think BU gets anything from concessions...if they got just a nickle from every Beer sold I would go down as the biggest alltime donor in BU history and with that clout we would have a state of the art on campus facility holding 16,000.......

 

[SFP]

I agree that's the problem. If I was a full season ticket holder, I would be extremely upset if I was unable to see Michigan State, Gonzaga, Illinois, or anyone else play in Peoria because the PCC was already booked and Bradley built an on-campus arena that only holds 4,200 and that's where the game is to be played. I'm not sure how this situation helps with donations/maintenance fees from season-ticket holders if they end up not renewing because of this situation.

I'm going to go on a limb here and bet that BU would do everything in its power to hold a home game of major importance at the PCC. If for some reason it cannot wouldn't it be better to hold it at the small on campus arena then not at all? Tell me you will stop renewing your season tickets for just one game and probably one that you and all the others complained about last year as a game we should not schedule ie Idaho State or Wofford. I wonder how many tickets for those games were same day purchase? Chances are good I bet for those who really want to go and buy in advance will be able to get tickets.

 

[Dubl R 1]

I have no problem with the big donors getting special treatment and a bigger say in things at all. It should be that way to some extent.....and I don't necessarily think BU is TRYING to shut people out in this instance. However, people will be shut out, its just a fact. Over 5000 people minimum who normally go and support BU will be shut out of any regular season game played at BU, regardless of how much money they had. Now, you can argue all you want that by not paying the Civic Center, BU may actually break even on the game profit wise even with the smaller attendance....but, again, I would be wary if I was BU about creating any scenario that will keep willing people from attending the game(s). Too much of that and they may lose interest and stop coming to the Civic Center games/buying merchandise/traveling to St Louis...who knows?

Its about perception...people will be offended, whether they should be or not, its just how us humans are. And like I said in an earlier post, Im not against playing exhibitions there or maybe 1 regular season game..but, all post season games?...That's especially where my problem comes in...you support the team all year long...then are shut out of postseason games..we could have done that with the Fieldhouse..but never did..Why not?..if it made so much sense financially and that arena was bigger than the new one?

 

[shaunguth]

I'm going to go on a limb here and bet that BU would do everything in its power to hold a home game of major importance at the PCC. If for some reason it cannot wouldn't it be better to hold it at the small on campus arena then not at all? Tell me you will stop renewing your season tickets for just one game and probably one that you and all the others complained about last year as a game we should not schedule ie Idaho State or Wofford. I wonder how many tickets for those games were same day purchase? Chances are good I bet for those who really want to go and buy in advance will be able to get tickets.

I would certainly hope everything would be done to get those games played at the PCC. I'm just going by what's been stated by AD Cross that if there is a chance to schedule a game on a date that's already been booked by the PCC, then the on-campus arena is the other option. I stated that I would be terribly upset if I was a season-ticket holder and was unable to attend such a game. Some people may go as far as not renewing season tickets and/or cutting back on donations. That's certainly their right if they are no longer comfortable paying for season tickets that no longer guarantee tickets to every regular season game. I don't have season tickets for non-conference games, so that's not my decision to make.

 

[peterwade75]

Here is a novel concept in regards to the post-season tourney @PCC/Campus arena arguement. Just win! Win your conference, win conference tourney, and go to the NCAA's every year. Then it wouldn't be a problem.... Hold on, how long has it been since Bradley has done that? Here's to playin in the CBI championship in front of 4200! Great idea!!!

 

[BradleyJD]

I have no problem with the big donors getting special treatment and a bigger say in things at all. It should be that way to some extent.....and I don't necessarily think BU is TRYING to shut people out in this instance. However, people will be shut out, its just a fact. Over 5000 people minimum who normally go and support BU will be shut out of any regular season game played at BU, regardless of how much money they had. Now, you can argue all you want that by not paying the Civic Center, BU may actually break even on the game profit wise even with the smaller attendance....but, again, I would be wary if I was BU about creating any scenario that will keep willing people from attending the game(s). Too much of that and they may lose interest and stop coming to the Civic Center games/buying merchandise/traveling to St Louis...who knows?

Its about perception...people will be offended, whether they should be or not, its just how us humans are. And like I said in an earlier post, Im not against playing exhibitions there or maybe 1 regular season game..but, all post season games?...That's especially where my problem comes in...you support the team all year long...then are shut out of postseason games..we could have done that with the Fieldhouse..but never did..Why not?..if it made so much sense financially and that arena was bigger than the new one?

Good point there at the end. The Fieldhouse was not used for anything like that and it could easily fit more people than the new place.

I honestly do not believe BU thought any of this through before Cross made his comments in the paper.

When you survive on donations and then cut half your season ticket holders out of home games, that is not good business.

 

[shaunguth]

And like I said in an earlier post, Im not against playing exhibitions there or maybe 1 regular season game..but, all post season games?...That's especially where my problem comes in...you support the team all year long...then are shut out of postseason games..we could have done that with the Fieldhouse..but never did..Why not?..if it made so much sense financially and that arena was bigger than the new one?

Apparently, the PSO announcement that "all potential home games in campus-site postseason tournaments" would be played at the new arena only pertained to the first week the application was available to purchase PSO's. That's how long it took AD Cross to come out and say Carver Arena is still in play regarding postseason games. :?