Blackham Coliseum

[JMV JustMyView]

I think a cleaned and renovated Blackham would be amazing! People overlook the fact that Duke, who could easily pack 15K for every game, play in a 8K - 9K seat Cameron Arena. So long as it is clean, has good restrooms, doesn't leak, the parking situation is worked out, and the building can be kept at a comfortable temperature, I'm pumped about the prospect of Blackham.

Think about it. The Cajundome will never be primarily focused on Cajun Basketball. It's too big and expensive of a facility. But, if they put some money into Blackham, you could have locker-rooms with SHOWERS (seems small but there are 1-AAA schools where basketball players can shower where they practice...not so at UL), a coaches office, and, with some expansion, a weight room. A completely independent facility where our basketball team can practice, workout, and play!

4,000 people inside the Cajundome looks and sounds PATHETIC! That same crowd inside Blackham is alot more respectable. Who cares what the outside looks like! In fact, it's great if it looks like we play in a freakin' barn! The opposing team should feel like they're in a shoebox! Seating less people is better because then you create a supply and demand situation. People won't be missing games if tickets are harder to come by. I think we're overlooking the potential of Blackham, not because it is part of our past, but because it could be part of our future.

The football team hasn't had a winning season in 10 years...and they're having a new practice facility built. The basketball team has been to 3 NCAA tournaments in 6 years and can't get a practice court in the new practice facility?! Does this make sense to anyone?

Nice post every thing you said made sence.

[Boomer]

No, not designed for hockey. I'm sure you've seen the Dome in its hockey configuration. Doesn't exactly look optimal. It was just designed as a multi purpose arena and endzone seating suffered big time.

put the evacuees in Blackham and let us play and finally sell out the Dome!!!!

[NewsCopy]

Some long-time Ragin' Cajun basketball fans have clamored for nostalgia games in Blackham Coliseum for years. That may become a reality, and it has nothing to do with nostalgia. It has everything to do with Hurricane Katrina, which may push the University of Louisiana men's basketball squad out of the Cajundome and into its former home for all or part of the 2005-06 season. The 12,000-seat Cajundome, the Cajuns' home since its opening prior to the 1985-86 season, is being used as a shelter for Katrina evacuees. Approximately 1,000 evacuees were housing at the 'Dome as of Monday. UL interim athletic director David Walker said Monday the facility could still be a shelter until the end of the calendar year. "We've been told the time frame could be up to 17 weeks," Walker said. "After that you'd need from a 30 to 90-day turnaround to do what's necessary to host activities again." The maximum of those time frames would encompass the entire season, including nine home games scheduled for January and February. Cajundome director Greg Davis had more optimism about when the facility would close as a shelter, but said Monday that FEMA has not given him a date that the 'Dome would be available for events. "Just my gut instinct," Davis said, "we'll be a shelter into October and it could be the latter part of October. Once we stop being a shelter, we'll have to shut down from 30 to 60 days. We'll have to change out the carpet, sanitize the building, do some major repairs and maybe replace some mechanical items. "We're figuring being a shelter is equivalent to three and a half years of normal use, so we have a lot of work to get the facility back to pre-Katrina conditions." Even the best-case scenario would likely force movement of the Nov. 10 exhibition opener against St. Gregory. If the shelter timetable runs longer, home games against Southern-New Orleans on Dec. 1, Charlotte on Dec. 3 and McNeese State on Dec. 22 could be affected. And that may not be all. "There's a chance we may be the shelter for outlying shelters that are being stretched and their resources being exhausted," Davis said. "That could drag us on into November." Davis said the 'Dome was being eyed as a site for 900 transfer evacuees from Nicholls State in Thibodaux, but the onset of Tropical Storm Rita has such transfers on hold. Walker said the university has begun the process of preparing venerable Blackham Coliseum for possible use. "We'll see what we need to bring it up to usable standards," he said. "We want to have it ready for the first game in November. It's not going to have the accommodations the Cajundome has, but I bet a lot of people will look forward to it remembering the old days." The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[cajunfan96]

The building itself isn't what made Blackham, "Blackham." It was Bo Lamar, Roy Ebron, Elvin Ivory, Andrew Toney, etc. Yeah, there were a lot of great games where people were hanging from the rafters, but people forget that there were a ton games with 3500 people (or less) as well.

If people would quit _____ing and moaning about "Blackham this" and "Blackham that," they might realize that if you put 8-9k in the Cajundome every game (i.e. a "Blackham" crowd), it's a pretty damn loud arena.

Excellent Post chris! Some Universitys would kill to play in a facility like the cajundome. Pack the dome! Leave blackham for Rodeos and cow shows.

[cajunlove]

Just wondering, what will happen to all of the animals being housed at Blackham?

[cypremort]

Just wondering, what will happen to all of the animals being housed at Blackham?

Jambalaya

[DaddyCajun]

Milsap. I do not want us to spend money on this facility when the cajundome, one of the top rated venues in the country, could use the money for improvements. Now, if money comes in that can only be spent on blackham, then go for it. Also, i am worried about the perception on potential recruits. I want the best for UL

It will be Federal monies! I understand the recruit thing, but the Cajundome will also get some federal monies, and The General will make sure the recruits know where they will ultimately play!!!!!


DaddyCajun!!

[DaddyCajun]

if we do use blackham, how many can it seat? i don't remember it being very large. We students may have to come a few hours early just to get a spot. Definately will be the loudest arena in the nation.

In the words of Arnold, "DO IT NOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWW!!!!"


DaddyCajun!!

[DaddyCajun]

The building itself isn't what made Blackham, "Blackham." It was Bo Lamar, Roy Ebron, Elvin Ivory, Andrew Toney, etc. Yeah, there were a lot of great games where people were hanging from the rafters, but people forget that there were a ton games with 3500 people (or less) as well.

If people would quit _____ing and moaning about "Blackham this" and "Blackham that," they might realize that if you put 8-9k in the Cajundome every game (i.e. a "Blackham" crowd), it's a pretty damn loud arena.

Ditto, CDeb, and Amen my brother!!


DaddyCajun

[DaddyCajun]

Excellent Post chris! Some Universitys would kill to play in a facility like the cajundome. Pack the dome! Leave blackham for Rodeos and cow shows.

I totally agree that the C-Dome is the ultimate place for the Cajuns to play. However, in these trying times the evacues are what matter here. They are some of the people from our great state that may have lost everything, to include loved ones.

Lets use this opportunity to spruce up Blackham and get some of those people that say all the time, "I would go IF Louisiana's games were in Blackham!" to go to the games. Once they see the product that the General puts on the floor, it won't matter to them they will be Back with UL in the Dome as soon as we are able!!


DaddyCajun!