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Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: Miami to get new arena
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Alan Swank
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Posted: 3/5/2025 8:53 PM
M.D.W.S.T
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Posted: 3/6/2025 8:56 AM
I'm not ready to have these conversations, but they're coming up on the horizon.
GoCats105
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Posted: 3/6/2025 10:38 AM
If it came down to it, I'd prefer a renovation over a total new build.
greencat
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Posted: 3/6/2025 10:47 AM
I went to see a relative graduate from Fiami in Dec. 2023.

There is nothing wrong with the current arena. They don't need a new one.
SBH
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Posted: 3/6/2025 11:11 AM
There are already rough plans to add a large building/entrance to the front of the Convo that would serve as a visitor center, media lab and ground-level practice courts.
CatsUp
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Posted: 3/6/2025 11:27 AM
SBH wrote:expand_more
There are already rough plans to add a large building/entrance to the front of the Convo that would serve as a visitor center, media lab and ground-level practice courts.
I think this is the way to go. Every time I walk into the Convo, and after I enter, I look around and think about what paint, sand blasting and window and door replacements/upgrades would do. Add some historical Bobcats references on the walls and a new visitor center and practice facility and once again we have the best facility in the MAC. Yes, it will have a significant cost associated with it but certainly it has to be a more cost efficient alternative than building everything new. Now if the “bones” of the facility are not good, that’s a different conversation.
GoCats105
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Posted: 3/6/2025 11:45 AM
SBH wrote:expand_more
There are already rough plans to add a large building/entrance to the front of the Convo that would serve as a visitor center, media lab and ground-level practice courts.
Gimme gimme gimme. Lets start a donation bucket from BobcatAttack. $1 a day can help a starving athletic department (where is Sally Struthers?).
FearLeon
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Posted: 3/6/2025 1:21 PM
Know it's a hot button topic here. I am for a smaller, new arena. Convo was great for decades, but I would rather have an arena that seats anywhere from 6,000-8,000.
#BleedGreen #TrentIsGOAT #NoMissesAllowed #NoOtherTeamInAmericaFlexesLikeOhio #11Months
Brian Smith (No, not that one)
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Posted: 3/6/2025 2:54 PM
I’m not comparing our programs or budgets, but I’d assume because the Convo is such a similar arena to Mackey that its renovations have to give Ohio ideas on how best to renovate it, wouldn’t it? A freshening of the internal aesthetics alone would improve the experience. I don’t know what maintenance has or hasn’t been deferred on it from a structural standpoint, though.
Last Edited: 3/6/2025 2:54:29 PM by Brian Smith (No, not that one)
greencat
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Posted: 3/6/2025 4:10 PM
Stegeman Coliseum in the "other" Athens is actually older than the Convo but is a goods example of how to put lipstick on an aging pig....

https://s3images.coroflot.com/user_files/individual_files...

https://www.dawgnation.com/resizer/v2/DGOBMVD5B5F2HMINKU2...

https://georgiadogs.com/images/2016/5/23/stegeman16-08.jpg
Shawn Sellers
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Posted: 3/7/2025 12:01 AM
I love the CONVO!

Every time I enter this building, I feel blessed at the vision. Many arenas have come and go, but the CONVO has stood the test of time, far more than Millett Hall, which I believe was opened the same year.

I get I am only one person, but I believe that we should continue to make the CONVO the jewel of the MAC. Renovate as needed and as we can afford it.
Athens
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Posted: 3/7/2025 12:19 AM
CatsUp wrote:expand_more
There are already rough plans to add a large building/entrance to the front of the Convo that would serve as a visitor center, media lab and ground-level practice courts.
I think this is the way to go. Every time I walk into the Convo, and after I enter, I look around and think about what paint, sand blasting and window and door replacements/upgrades would do. Add some historical Bobcats references on the walls and a new visitor center and practice facility and once again we have the best facility in the MAC. Yes, it will have a significant cost associated with it but certainly it has to be a more cost efficient alternative than building everything new. Now if the “bones” of the facility are not good, that’s a different conversation.
Add historical concert posters throughout The Convo like Madison Square Garden.
Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Fiami @ Peden with 25,086 fans
2023 10-7 near shutout of Iowa State @ Solich Field
2025 17-10 defeat of WVU @ Peden in front of 26,740
Last Edited: 3/7/2025 12:22:29 AM by Athens
Bobcat Tattoo
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Posted: 3/7/2025 3:09 AM
FearLeon wrote:expand_more
Know it's a hot button topic here. I am for a smaller, new arena. Convo was great for decades, but I would rather have an arena that seats anywhere from 6,000-8,000.
For where we are at this point attendance-wise, this would be the sweet spot. Over half capacity most nights with the big games pretty much filling up.

At the same time, the Convo is iconic and I wouldn’t want to see it completely demolished. I doubt downsizing to 8K is a realistic option (any construction engineers out there?), but it’s fun to think about nonetheless.
cbarber357
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Posted: 3/7/2025 9:05 AM
Honestly whenever I go to a game at the Convo the actual experience sitting and watching a game is great. I don’t think we need to worry about a new arena barring any structural concerns. Remodel the rest of the building, add the visitor center, and do some things to get the attendance to 10k+ for big games/being in some concerts & comedians.
100%Cat
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Posted: 3/7/2025 9:59 AM
Bobcat Tattoo wrote:expand_more
Know it's a hot button topic here. I am for a smaller, new arena. Convo was great for decades, but I would rather have an arena that seats anywhere from 6,000-8,000.
For where we are at this point attendance-wise, this would be the sweet spot. Over half capacity most nights with the big games pretty much filling up.

At the same time, the Convo is iconic and I wouldn’t want to see it completely demolished. I doubt downsizing to 8K is a realistic option (any construction engineers out there?), but it’s fun to think about nonetheless.
I wonder how bad it would look to curtain off the extreme upper seats to "reduce" capacity? If you notice at the MAC tournament in Cleveland, that's typically what they do with their upper seats during the tourney.
SBH
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Posted: 3/7/2025 10:48 AM
Of course all of this speculation is meaningless in an era when higher education (hell, all education) is facing an existential threat due to national and state policy shifts and funding threats.
OU_Country
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Posted: 3/7/2025 1:47 PM
FearLeon wrote:expand_more
Know it's a hot button topic here. I am for a smaller, new arena. Convo was great for decades, but I would rather have an arena that seats anywhere from 6,000-8,000.
At the Miami game last week, our best attended game of the year I believe, I sat there and thought: "It's time to shrink capacity". To me, the simplest, and most cost effective solution to this might be some kind of quality curtaining system to hide or eliminate the top 15 (?) rows in the upper level.

The real time to do this would have been when the new seats were purchased, to reduce capacity by adding wider seats in the upper level, thereby reducing capacity. That's past, but some kind of updates, including making it look more full when there is a decent crowd, would be nice.


CatsUp wrote:expand_more
There are already rough plans to add a large building/entrance to the front of the Convo that would serve as a visitor center, media lab and ground-level practice courts.
I think this is the way to go. Every time I walk into the Convo, and after I enter, I look around and think about what paint, sand blasting and window and door replacements/upgrades would do. Add some historical Bobcats references on the walls and a new visitor center and practice facility and once again we have the best facility in the MAC. Yes, it will have a significant cost associated with it but certainly it has to be a more cost efficient alternative than building everything new. Now if the “bones” of the facility are not good, that’s a different conversation.
GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
If it came down to it, I'd prefer a renovation over a total new build.
Agreed, and agreed GoCats and CatsUp. The Convo simply needs a little TLC and a little facelift. We've all talked about this here for a decade or more.
Last Edited: 3/7/2025 1:53:00 PM by OU_Country
OU_Country
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Posted: 3/7/2025 1:51 PM
greencat wrote:expand_more
I went to see a relative graduate from Fiami in Dec. 2023.

There is nothing wrong with the current arena. They don't need a new one.
I guess that depends on opinion/perspective. It's still pretty nice in terms of restrooms, etc. But it's a dreadful basketball arena, and frankly always has been. Do they need a new one? Who knows. Would they fill more seats with a better one? Probably. The "if you build it, they will come" concept applies to sporting events in my opinion. People like attending games at venues they think is nice, modern, and fun, and in a decent location.
M.D.W.S.T
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Posted: 3/7/2025 3:44 PM
FearLeon wrote:expand_more
Know it's a hot button topic here. I am for a smaller, new arena. Convo was great for decades, but I would rather have an arena that seats anywhere from 6,000-8,000.
Million percent. One of my year complaint staples. The Cavernous Center.

Anyone who says they love the Convo is lying. Or has never been to any other arena. You love the size. But our ability to fill it doesn’t exist. Even when we have 8K - double than what most get - it sounds like a nursing home at bed time because it’s half empty.

I dream of playing in a beautiful new field house. 7K. 8K. Hinkle light. That even on a Tuesday night in November is rocking because 4K fans are right on top of you - rather than sporadically plopped around a 14K dome.

We can also finally move the camera to the students and away from the friends and faculty section.

Alas, I’m dreaming.
shabamon
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Posted: 3/7/2025 4:21 PM
It is very easy and comfortable to watch a game in the Convo. That's what it has going for it. There's not a bad sight line in the building and I don't know if that's the case for any other MAC facility.

I think 10,000 is a good arena size considering you still have to use the building for commencement. There are also still "perfect storms" possible to sell out or come close (consistently good team + (rival and/or family weekend).

I hate tarps and I hate curtains. To me they imply that filling those top level sections is no longer a realistic possibility or expectation. Back around 2012 we would sometimes start games with the outer ring of lights dimmed, making the steep seats less noticeable. It made for a nice intimacy between the crowd and the court. I wouldn't mind going back to that for the full game. See? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzGoYyIxBLc
GoCats105
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Posted: 3/7/2025 5:37 PM
M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more
Know it's a hot button topic here. I am for a smaller, new arena. Convo was great for decades, but I would rather have an arena that seats anywhere from 6,000-8,000.
Anyone who says they love the Convo is lying.
No actually we're not. We actually love it.
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 3/8/2025 9:47 AM
SBH wrote:expand_more
Of course all of this speculation is meaningless in an era when higher education (hell, all education) is facing an existential threat due to national and state policy shifts and funding threats.
You ain't wrong there!
Deciduous Forest Cat
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Posted: 3/8/2025 12:29 PM
100%Cat wrote:expand_more
Know it's a hot button topic here. I am for a smaller, new arena. Convo was great for decades, but I would rather have an arena that seats anywhere from 6,000-8,000.
For where we are at this point attendance-wise, this would be the sweet spot. Over half capacity most nights with the big games pretty much filling up.

At the same time, the Convo is iconic and I wouldn’t want to see it completely demolished. I doubt downsizing to 8K is a realistic option (any construction engineers out there?), but it’s fun to think about nonetheless.
I wonder how bad it would look to curtain off the extreme upper seats to "reduce" capacity? If you notice at the MAC tournament in Cleveland, that's typically what they do with their upper seats during the tourney.
Who's going to donate a million dollars worth of material plus labor on something so wasteful?

I mean, this is America, and waste is our middle name, but this is not practical.
MonroeClassmate
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Posted: 3/8/2025 3:23 PM
It does not look like it would be difficult to build a ring of loges at a point to reduce capacity while at the same time improving the experience of the gilded class.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 3/8/2025 6:06 PM
The Convo is routinely packed for graduation, and I think we've had some near capacity crowds for high school tournament basketball. I've not been to a high school game in the Convo for a long time, so someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I've been told that some of the high school tournament games in the last few years have drawn very big crowds. It's important for the university to host these games. The Convo is not just a college basketball arena.
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