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What are you thoughts on Stadiums and Arena's? It appears that there's not much thought process when it comes to location, location, location or design.

New Twins stadium- Why build it next to a garbage dump? I think everyone knows garbage stinks. Now there's a stink issue with the new stadium. Couldn't see this coming? Enjoy that hot-dog and nachos with the stink.

New Gopher football stadium- Why build it with only 3,000 parking spots on the stadium site? No tailgating for gopher football please use Light rail or parking ramps?

Mariucci arena- Built with only 9,200 seats with a plan for phase B then only add suites with no options to add more seating. Not to mention there's a waiting list for people to buy season tickets. Hmmm! Tons of people on the waiting list with a great option to make more money? No! We'll make them wait.

Ridder arena- Why not use that money to add about 5,000 more seats to Mariucci? Don't women want equality? Ridder arena built for the women and then the girls high school players want to play at the Xcel. What's going on?

Metrodome- Why? Football is meant to be played outside.

Judgeandjury wrote:What are you thoughts on Stadiums and Arena's? It appears that there's not much thought process when it comes to location, location, location or design.

New Twins stadium- Why build it next to a garbage dump? I think everyone knows garbage stinks. Now there's a stink issue with the new stadium. Couldn't see this coming? Enjoy that hot-dog and nachos with the stink.

New Gopher football stadium- Why build it with only 3,000 parking spots on the stadium site? No tailgating for gopher football please use Light rail or parking ramps?

Mariucci arena- Built with only 9,200 seats with a plan for phase B then only add suites with no options to add more seating. Not to mention there's a waiting list for people to buy season tickets. Hmmm! Tons of people on the waiting list with a great option to make more money? No! We'll make them wait.

Ridder arena- Why not use that money to add about 5,000 more seats to Mariucci? Don't women want equality? Ridder arena built for the women and then the girls high school players want to play at the Xcel. What's going on?

Metrodome- Why? Football is meant to be played outside.

Mariucci is a great college rink. If they wanted to build a professional rink, they would have designed it like the Kohl Center or the Ralph. There are so many people on the waiting list because a lot of people are passionate about Gopher hockey. Even if they added 5,000 more seats, they would still have people wanting tickets that wouldn't necessarily get them.

Very interesting topic.

Don't get me wrong. I love Marriucci. Usually when you design a stadium or arena you make sure you have options with the growing population each and every year.
Take TCF stadium. I think they learned their lesson from Mariucci. If there's a need in the future they can add many more seats to TCF stadium. They have a plan B just in case.

I would love to find out the reason why they only built Mariucci with 9,200 seats when they could sell out 15,000 a game and make more money? The only plan B Mariucci had was to add suites.

I think the problem is that they were worried that they couldn't sell the tickets consistently. There are many games in which there are open seats (many) at the Gopher games. Also, have you ever been to the X when the Gophers played, there--the closest they came to a sellout was last year at the final 5 against SCSU. The finals game the rink was about 60% full. There would be too many games with too many open seats to have built a 15,000 seat stadium. They would not have turned down that revenue if they thought they could get it consistently. Wisconsin has the same problem at the Kohl Center.

gorilla1 wrote:I think the problem is that they were worried that they couldn't sell the tickets consistently. There are many games in which there are open seats (many) at the Gopher games. Also, have you ever been to the X when the Gophers played, there--the closest they came to a sellout was last year at the final 5 against SCSU. The finals game the rink was about 60% full. There would be too many games with too many open seats to have built a 15,000 seat stadium. They would not have turned down that revenue if they thought they could get it consistently. Wisconsin has the same problem at the Kohl Center.

Gorilla- When is UND going to build their own arena to play in? They currently lease the Hitler center and they try to call it home.

Judgeandjury vs gorilla1 is turning into a better rivalry than Gophers-Sioux.

Wow Judge, what a zinger. Did it take you the two days to think of that come back? Two days of sitting in your basement thinking of a silly (and insensitive) come back? Wow, the wheels really must be moving slow for you. UND has the best facility in the COuntry--no argument. Why would they need a new rink? You are the one whinning about how the Gophers rink doesn't work for you. I suppose one could answer your question by asking a question (and because you are a little slow, let me just tell you the answer is the same for all the questions):

1. When Judge makes a logical post;
2. When the Gophers win more Championships then the Sioux
3. When the Gophers have a better facility then the Sioux
4. When the Gophers have a better uniform then the Sioux
5. When the Gophers have more WCHA titles then the Sioux
6. When the Gophers have historically more 1st team WCHA players then the Sioux
7. When the Gophers actually have full attendance to their Dodge Holiday Classic games

The Answer to those questions Judge, in case the wheels haven't started spinning yet, is probably never.

Please Judge try to think of something a little more original next time.

Btw, gorilla wins.

EREmpireStrikesBack wrote:Btw, gorilla wins.

Now Gorilla has more wins than Elk River this year.

Gorilla,
You're right! UND does play in a better arena. Too bad they have to lease it. Maybe someday UND will build their own arena.

What is going on with the rodents? Losing twice to Wisconsin is embarrasing.

I'm starting to think thaty Lucia might not be the answer. Sure he has good teams but Minnesota is getting to predictable.

Judgeandjury wrote:What are you thoughts on Stadiums and Arena's? It appears that there's not much thought process when it comes to location, location, location or design.

New Twins stadium- Why build it next to a garbage dump? I think everyone knows garbage stinks. Now there's a stink issue with the new stadium. Couldn't see this coming? Enjoy that hot-dog and nachos with the stink.

New Gopher football stadium- Why build it with only 3,000 parking spots on the stadium site? No tailgating for gopher football please use Light rail or parking ramps?

Mariucci arena- Built with only 9,200 seats with a plan for phase B then only add suites with no options to add more seating. Not to mention there's a waiting list for people to buy season tickets. Hmmm! Tons of people on the waiting list with a great option to make more money? No! We'll make them wait.

Ridder arena- Why not use that money to add about 5,000 more seats to Mariucci? Don't women want equality? Ridder arena built for the women and then the girls high school players want to play at the Xcel. What's going on?

Metrodome- Why? Football is meant to be played outside.

Don't appreciate the fact that we have all of the great sports options that we have. Just sit there and complain about how everything is horrible and how no one ever gets it right. I'm surprised you didn't come up with something bad about the X, I'm sure with your great pessimistic mind set it wouldn't take you to long.

Goldy Gopher wrote:

Judgeandjury wrote:What are you thoughts on Stadiums and Arena's? It appears that there's not much thought process when it comes to location, location, location or design.

New Twins stadium- Why build it next to a garbage dump? I think everyone knows garbage stinks. Now there's a stink issue with the new stadium. Couldn't see this coming? Enjoy that hot-dog and nachos with the stink.

New Gopher football stadium- Why build it with only 3,000 parking spots on the stadium site? No tailgating for gopher football please use Light rail or parking ramps?

Mariucci arena- Built with only 9,200 seats with a plan for phase B then only add suites with no options to add more seating. Not to mention there's a waiting list for people to buy season tickets. Hmmm! Tons of people on the waiting list with a great option to make more money? No! We'll make them wait.

Ridder arena- Why not use that money to add about 5,000 more seats to Mariucci? Don't women want equality? Ridder arena built for the women and then the girls high school players want to play at the Xcel. What's going on?

Metrodome- Why? Football is meant to be played outside.

Don't appreciate the fact that we have all of the great sports options that we have. Just sit there and complain about how everything is horrible and how no one ever gets it right. I'm surprised you didn't come up with something bad about the X, I'm sure with your great pessimistic mind set it wouldn't take you to long.

GoldyGopher- I do in fact appreciate all the sports we have in the Twin Cities metro area. One thing I do NOT appreciate is when they constantly screw up stadiums designs and locations. You have non sports people making decisions that impact the people of Minnesota.

Twins baseball- Lets build a baseball stadium next do a dump then complain about the smell. Are you kidding me? Not to mention the metrodome has been the laughing stock of professional baseball for years.

Gopher hockey- Lets build Mariucci arena and not have a plan B when attendence goes up. I think Mariucci is a great arena decorated with all the history that no school in the country can match. Needs a new sound system. It's the nicest college hockey arena in the country. The Hitler center in Grand Forks is nice but it's privately owned. UND rents.

Vikings football- Lets build a football stadium with a roof. Are you kidding me? Why not have home field advantage in the winter? Chicago does. Green bay does.

You're right on Goldy. Judge has a few things to learn.

As for Mariucci, the arena is fine. It is not as nice as THe Ralph or the Kohler Center in Wisconsin, but it serves it's purpose. Creating a demand for seats is fine. I'll make my point again, why would you not want to play in a sold out arena. there are many games with many empty seats at Mariucci, UAA being the most recent example. Add 5,000 more seats and there would have been 7,000 open seats on Friday and Saturday. I think they did it right. Wisconsin plays in front of a less then full crowd virtually every game because they have 15,000 dseats to fill, and they support their college sports far more then the U or UND.

gorilla1 wrote:You're right on Goldy. Judge has a few things to learn.

As for Mariucci, the arena is fine. It is not as nice as THe Ralph or the Kohler Center in Wisconsin, but it serves it's purpose. Creating a demand for seats is fine. I'll make my point again, why would you not want to play in a sold out arena. there are many games with many empty seats at Mariucci, UAA being the most recent example. Add 5,000 more seats and there would have been 7,000 open seats on Friday and Saturday. I think they did it right. Wisconsin plays in front of a less then full crowd virtually every game because they have 15,000 dseats to fill, and they support their college sports far more then the U or UND.

You have to remember, too, that the U and Wisconsin are both Big Ten schools with big-time sports, while UND only has their hockey. The Sioux are the big event in North Dakota. Since Minnesota has the Wild, tons of other college hockey, over 150 high school teams, numerous junior teams, etc, people have many more options. Wisconsin is different because hockey isn't the big sport in Madison, but they still get a solid crowd out to each game. Most often, if you're a hockey fan in NoDak, you are a Sioux fan.

Lucia4President wrote:

gorilla1 wrote:You're right on Goldy. Judge has a few things to learn.

As for Mariucci, the arena is fine. It is not as nice as THe Ralph or the Kohler Center in Wisconsin, but it serves it's purpose. Creating a demand for seats is fine. I'll make my point again, why would you not want to play in a sold out arena. there are many games with many empty seats at Mariucci, UAA being the most recent example. Add 5,000 more seats and there would have been 7,000 open seats on Friday and Saturday. I think they did it right. Wisconsin plays in front of a less then full crowd virtually every game because they have 15,000 dseats to fill, and they support their college sports far more then the U or UND.

You have to remember, too, that the U and Wisconsin are both Big Ten schools with big-time sports, while UND only has their hockey. The Sioux are the big event in North Dakota. Since Minnesota has the Wild, tons of other college hockey, over 150 high school teams, numerous junior teams, etc, people have many more options. Wisconsin is different because hockey isn't the big sport in Madison, but they still get a solid crowd out to each game. Most often, if you're a hockey fan in NoDak, you are a Sioux fan.

Very well put. What else is there to do in North Dakota? The UND hockey team is their Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, Wild all in one. I love the fact that UND leases their arena from a private party. Maybe some day UND will build their own arena.

Lucia, I agree that both are Big Ten schools. If you look to the Fargo and GF areas only, the METRO area is 6 times bigger then ALL of NoDak (15 times bigger if you look at the Fargo and GF areas alone). But this is an economy of scale. The Sioux AND NDSU (remember them, they crushed the U the last time they played in football 2 seasons ago) are both D1 schools now. Their sporting events are well attended. Their stadiums are about 25,000 each--half of the U's with WAY less in population (and the same as the U's if you combine the two). The schools are 75 miles apart, which is not much further then the metro area end to end. Both schools programs are very well attended, and they have every sport that the U does.


I hate to break the news to you--what the U is NOT is a "big time" sports school. The secondary sports do well at times, but their major sports do not. The U is (and always is) bad in football, their basketball team is nothing more then average, and in many, many years they are below average. Their hockey team is less successful then the Sioux, and their baseball team never does anything, although I like what Anderson does with the kids he has. So spare me on the "Big Time Sports" comment.

Further, since you seem to know little about NoDak, Fargo has a minor league baseball team (like the Saints), and a minor league hockey team (which by the way is where the U18 World Championships are being played in April), and they have the same number of options, in porportion to their popultation, for high school events and the like. Believe it or not, they do have movie theaters, concerts, and other events there. There are many, many from NoDak that are season ticket holders of the various professional sports as well.

So back to my point, the U is no different then any other fan in that they will support their team when they are doing well, and if not, the fans are very finicky about showing up. I have NO doubt that if the powers that be at the U believed they could sell and have full attendance at their games, they would have built a bigger rink. The fact is, whether Judge likes it or not, the rink has too many open seats on too many nights--I think it is better for the team to play in front of a "full" arena then one that is not.

As for Judge, I am glad to see he came out of his hole--does this mean winter is over? Is it the ONE victory the U has had in its last SIX games (all but one at home)???? Or could it be he wanted to make another nonsensical comment?? Judge, please know what you are talking about before your next post :D

gorilla1 wrote:Lucia, I agree that both are Big Ten schools. If you look to the Fargo and GF areas only, the METRO area is 6 times bigger then ALL of NoDak (15 times bigger if you look at the Fargo and GF areas alone). But this is an economy of scale. The Sioux AND NDSU (remember them, they crushed the U the last time they played in football 2 seasons ago) are both D1 schools now. Their sporting events are well attended. Their stadiums are about 25,000 each--half of the U's with WAY less in population (and the same as the U's if you combine the two). The schools are 75 miles apart, which is not much further then the metro area end to end. Both schools programs are very well attended, and they have every sport that the U does.


I hate to break the news to you--what the U is NOT is a "big time" sports school. The secondary sports do well at times, but their major sports do not. The U is (and always is) bad in football, their basketball team is nothing more then average, and in many, many years they are below average. Their hockey team is less successful then the Sioux, and their baseball team never does anything, although I like what Anderson does with the kids he has. So spare me on the "Big Time Sports" comment.

Further, since you seem to know little about NoDak, Fargo has a minor league baseball team (like the Saints), and a minor league hockey team (which by the way is where the U18 World Championships are being played in April), and they have the same number of options, in porportion to their popultation, for high school events and the like. Believe it or not, they do have movie theaters, concerts, and other events there. There are many, many from NoDak that are season ticket holders of the various professional sports as well.

So back to my point, the U is no different then any other fan in that they will support their team when they are doing well, and if not, the fans are very finicky about showing up. I have NO doubt that if the powers that be at the U believed they could sell and have full attendance at their games, they would have built a bigger rink. The fact is, whether Judge likes it or not, the rink has too many open seats on too many nights--I think it is better for the team to play in front of a "full" arena then one that is not.

As for Judge, I am glad to see he came out of his hole--does this mean winter is over? Is it the ONE victory the U has had in its last SIX games (all but one at home)???? Or could it be he wanted to make another nonsensical comment?? Judge, please know what you are talking about before your next post

I'm pretty sure my post had noting to do with the success on the field of the U and Wisconsin. Gopher sports are not elite, but they are big-time. I would consider big-time sports division 1. Wisco and the U both field only D-1 sports teams. But that's not what I was trying to say in my last post.

The point I made was that the attendance for Gopher hockey isn't always 100% to capacity because there are many, many options for people on a nightly basis. You have Gopher hockey, Gopher basketball, the Wild, 2 other D-1 hockey programs (within an hour), and the T-Wolves that share the spotlight in the winter. All the teams, with the exception of the T-Wolves, get a good amount of people in the building for each game. There are tons of major sports options in the Metro area.

I never said anything bad about UND or North Dakota. I simply mentioned that in the winter, Sioux hockey reigns supreme in NoDak. Would you argue that? I know North Dakota has other hockey options- I do follow the USHL and NAHL here and there. As for baseball, that isn't an issue in the winter. Also, I know there are other entertainment options in North Dakota, since, believe it or not, I have friends in both Fargo and Grand Forks that I visit often.

By they way, here is a link to college hockey attendance for this year:

http://www.uscho.com/stats/attendance.php

Gorilla, What don't you understand? Grand Forks and Green Bay are sister cities. What else is there to do in hicksville? Lucia brings up very good points. The Twin Cities area is loaded with sports, sports and sports. UND has a good thing going with their cute little imported team. Like I said in the past once North Dakota can develop their own high school hockey players and actually have majority of North Dakota players on their team lets talk.

2008-2009 Division I Men's Attendance
Team Dates Avg. Attendance Capacity % Cap.
Wisconsin 18 13862 15,237 91.0
North Dakota 15 11707 11,640 100.6
Minnesota 18 10026 10,000 100.3
Michigan 16 6689 6,637 100.8
Colorado College 19 6637 7,343 90.4
Nebraska-Omaha 18 6496 14,700 44.2
New Hampshire 16 6202 6,110 101.5
St. Cloud State 17 5984 5,763 103.8
Boston College 15 5922 7,884 75.1
Denver 18 5681 6,026 94.3