What would a new basketball arena cost?

[douglas]

not to flog a dead horse but im about to in a way. Ballpark number, what would a new-not renovated-basketball facility on par with something houston has cost, 25-30 million? or much more? im green to what is would cost so dont shoot me.

Reason i ask i just don't see the wisdom behind pumping 20 million into the cajun dome to make it more basketball friendly. i know its 20 million of city money-at least i think it is, but still seems like a great way to flush 20 million down the ____ter.

[Clutch0364]

Troys arena was finished in 2012 and cost $40 mil.

[douglas]

that's a really nice one also. so somewhere in between 30-50 mill?

[CajunJack55]

Troys is perfect for a program like us.

[douglas]

my 2nd question. Is the cajun dome worth having now that you have the convention center?

[cajunhawk]

We could just redo Blackham...would that cost $40 million?

[techdawg88]

that's a really nice one also. so somewhere in between 30-50 mill?

probably 40-60M

[CajunRebel]

my 2nd question. Is the cajun dome worth having now that you have the convention center?

Um, yeah. We get WWE wrastlin shows like twice a year!

Seriously though, a 12,000 seat arena is great for the city & it's quality of life because it brings in big events on a regular basis. A 6,000 seat arena won't bring in the big names. Unfortunately, the architect who designed the dome designed it to be a multi-purpose facility kind of like the old cookie cutter baseball/football stadiums. These buildings can do lots of different things... none of them well. The logic has changed since then. If the dome were designed today, it would be a much better basketball arena.

[srob]

We could just redo Blackham...would that cost $40 million?

I've heard Blackham tossed around over the last couple of years; we may have common friends... Good question, I wonder what a legit estimate is?

[CajunRebel]

We could just redo Blackham...would that cost $40 million?

The seating in Blackham is pretty terrible.

[douglas]

We could just redo Blackham...would that cost $40 million?

i just don't see how you redo that building without being better off just starting over

[douglas]

I've heard Blackham tossed around over the last couple of years; we may have common friends... Good question, I wonder what a legit estimate is?

ive been told numbers from 25 mill to make it "livable" and 40 plus to make it real.

[BrockMeaux]

i just don't see how you redo that building without being better off just starting over

The location and amount of available space is perfect, especially if those barns go away and you put a parking garage in the field across the street (which would help basketball and football). If it were me, I'd demolish it and rebuild a 5-6,000 seat "New Blackham" specifically for basketball and smaller events. I don't know what it would cost, but it would be what we'd do in a perfect world. They could then put city money into fixing up the Cajun Dome and making it more viable for concerts, conventions, and things of that nature.

[ulXrunner]

Someone may be able to add to this but would redoing blackham be more expensive than it may be worth. I believe that it being built so long ago, the cost of upgrading to meet today's building codes would be to pricey! You would probably be better starting from scratch. I personally hate watching games at Cajundome. As a venue hosting ball games, it sucks, the interior is ugly, cheap looking, especially the suites.

[Geaux]

Easy fix to retrofit the Cajndome. Model it after NBA arenas.
-8k lower seating
- Club level and suites on level 2.
- Close off 3rd level seating for Cajuns Basketball. Dim the lights up there and make it more intimate