Blackham Coliseum

[NewsCopy]

Dear Ragin' Cajun Fans, Volunteers, and Supporters, We again need your help in trying to get Blackham Coliseum ready for basketball season. A lot was accomplished during the Clean-Up Day last Saturday, but there is still more to do. Many improvements have been made by the University Maintenance Department, but the quick turnaround from a hurricane relief center to an arena that is worthy of the Ragin' Cajun basketball teams takes extra help. The students have organized another Work Day this Friday, October 14th beginning at 9am. I know that many of you have to work, but if you are able to donate some of your time that day, it will be greatly appreciated. Volunteers will once again be working hard to improve the appearance of Blackham and restore it to what it used to be. If you are unavailable to assist us on Friday, please support us by spreading the word to all your friends and contacts. Thanks for your assistance in this project. If you have any questions, you can e-mail upc@louisiana.edu or call 482-6939. (From John Claude Arceneaux, on behalf of Claire Pettit, University Program Council President)

[SlappyCajun]

Update:
Just wanted to let you all know that the court, goals, scrolling advertiser banners which surround the court when into the coliseum today and it doesnt look too bad at all. In fact, it looks pretty darn good. I am getting excited for the games in there. We all need to make sure to spread that word about the Cajuns' games. This is going to be an exciting and memorable year to be a Cajun basketball fan.

[Turbine]

I could tell by the sounds of Valentino Hart dribbling that Blackham is going to ROCK.

It's looking good too.

[El Sidonio]

looks sweeeeeeeeeeeeet!

God Bless

[NewsCopy]

University of Louisiana students are working to make Blackham Coliseum a fun and inviting arena for fans of the UL basketball teams, which will play games in the coliseum until hurricane evacuees move out of the Cajundome and the building is repaired after receiving years worth of use in a matter of weeks. The first work day was held Oct. 7, when UL students, alumni and volunteers gathered to paint stairs, wash bleachers, clean hallways and do minor repairs around the coliseum. A second work day was held Friday, and students took time from their fall break to continue improvements to the coliseum. "Some people were upset that the teams can't play in the Cajundome, but once they see in here, I think the fans really won't mind them playing here," said Kyle Kellner, the spirit chairman for UL's University Program Council. "We've really gotten a lot done in just two days." Kellner said about 40 to 50 students had participated during the two work days. "It's all on a volunteer basis," he said. "People are being really helpful and doing whatever needs to be done." Katie McDonald, a UL senior, said she was proud of how much work volunteers had accomplished. The rest of the story Amanda McElfresh amcelfresh@theadvertiser.com

[UL_Cajuns]

Will all that empty space between the court and the stands be filled with seats?


It looks awesome and clean!!!!!!

It will be so loud when Charlotte comes to town.


Geaux Louisiana!!!!!!

[SlappyCajun]

The empty space on three sides of the court will be filled with as many seats as allowed by fire codes, etc. The two spaces behind the goals will be filled with the same endzone seating that the cajundome has. And temporary bleachers/stadium seats will line one side of the court. The side with the teams' benches and scores table may not be able to accomadate any bleachers or seats. But yes the court will have seats around it

[Zeebart21]

The empty space on three sides of the court will be filled with as many seats as allowed by fire codes, etc. The two spaces behind the goals will be filled with the same endzone seating that the cajundome has. And temporary bleachers/stadium seats will line one side of the court. The side with the teams' benches and scores table may not be able to accomadate any bleachers or seats. But yes the court will have seats around it

Thats the way it use to be... Seats all around the court...

You think it wasnt intimidating? Ask Rick Majerus and Marquette...

Z.

[CajunRebel]

Slappy, thanks for the updates. It looks like you might have a say in what happens with seating or you know who does so let me throw this out there. If blackham seats 6,000 and all the fire marshall lets in is 6,000 you could still add more bleachers/seats to the floor to get fans closer to the action. you would just rope off the top one or two sections at the top or perhaps a few rows at the ends of the stadium where the worst seats in the house would be. I also don't think it's a good idea to not put bleachers behind the team benches, especially the visitors bench. Having bleachers behind the visitors bench (like at the Cajundome) gives us students a chance to heckle the players.

[SlappyCajun]

We have worked hard to get a good student section, and we have gotten a pretty decent location. Students have three sections, it is A,B,and C, and section C is directly behind the visitor bench. A and B arent that that far either, depending how high up you are. There will also be the endzone seats. So, heckling seats will be there for people to mess with the other team. It is just with the new configuration of the colisuem, the space directlly behind the benches may have to be used for some press, electrical wires, tables for water jugs for the teams, extra seats for team personel, etc. The teams still need a certain amount of space, as well as aisle ways. Trust me, I and everyone one in charge of this effort is trying to do all they can for the students' needs and everyone elses. As for the fire codes and whatnot, some chairs at the top which were broken may be covered, allowing for more seats to be put on the floor. Exact numbers are not known, but we are trying to get as many seats as possible for the fans.

Thanks everyone for your support. Geaux Cajuns!