What would a new basketball arena cost?

[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

[ulXrunner]

If they would implode Blackham, they have to sell tickets to push the detonator button!

[jumboragncajun]

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.

I'm picking up what you're puttin' down Douglas. In 30 years I can only think of 3 games that 10k+ made it a REALLY good basketball atmosphere. Loyola-Marymount in 91, UMASS in 96, and SBC Championship against South Al in 98.. The ice skating barrier separates the end zones seats A LOT more than it did pre-icegators. A jammed 7k right on the court is much more intimidating than 9k spread out 1/2 a mile away.

[Duckster]

Yep. Any idea number of seats in the existing first and second levels? We had consistently great crowds in the early 90's. Back then small crowd was 5,000 folks + the Cajun Chicken.

[Boomer]

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

---I love this idea but would even more like the filling of the dome as was almost done at times!!1

[The Antiwac]

Troys is perfect for a program like us.

It seats 5000. The Montagne Center at Lamar seats 10,000 and is the best arena for a "mid-major" program that I have ever been in.

[CajunJack55]

It seats 5000. The Montagne Center at Lamar seats 10,000 and is the best arena for a "mid-major" program that I have ever been in.

I think something around 8,000 would be ideal.

McNeese has a new on campus arena in the works..seats 4,000 but no idea what it's going to cost them. We would need something bigger obviously.

[cajunfan337]

What we need is something like UT-Arlington's College Park Center & District. $78 Mil (which we could probably do for 50 because theirs is COMPLETELY decked out) 7K seat Arena. It also ties into a "District" area that has student apartments, hotels, restaurants & bars, shopping. This concept is legit.

Arena:


District:
http://www.uta.edu/collegeparkdistrict/

[CajunJack55]

What we need is something like UT-Arlington's College Park Center & District. $78 Mil (which we could probably do for 50 because theirs is COMPLETELY decked out) 7K seat Arena. It also ties into a "District" area that has student apartments, hotels, restaurants & bars, shopping. This concept is legit.

Arena:


District:
http://www.uta.edu/collegeparkdistrict/

It is very nice. I went to a safety class on their campus last year. They also have a sports bar and grill right across the arena on campus (not sure how they get away with that.) I met their head coach and a couple of players while eating there. They were very happy to be in the Sunbelt and had great things to say about our program.

[MelRock]

The remodel of the Cajundome will help more than just basketball and will be well worth the money if it is completed. Some of it has already been pushed back. It is time for the Ice Gators to move on or to move into Blackham, it is never good to have ice under a basketball court.