Trapezoid of Terror Update, Along with Football Practice Facility

[Knight Shift]

"We are doing some final tweaks to the master plan,” Hobbs explained. “We expect that we will release that sometime in the fall. That will then be combined with fundraising efforts around that. What we have talked about publicly in the past is that we need an indoor practice facility for our football program. That is a missing ingredient for Greg.”

"In this new world of NIL, it is sort of less of a focus of young people in terms of decision-making. But that is an asset that we actually need for the program. It is long overdue; to replace the bubble or if we continue to use the bubble, we can repurpose that.”


“We need an upgrade, we need a renovation of Jersey Mike’s Arena,” Hobbs said. “We are at work. We have an RFP out for a feasibility study. We have actually done the interviews now with the architect so we’ll have an architectural firm getting granular on a renovation; what that would look like. For anybody who is reading this, we will preserve the wild, raucous environment, making sure it remains the Trapezoid of Terror.”

Rutgers athletic director Pat Hobbs gives facility updates

Rutgers athletics has gone from having outdated facilities without air conditioning to having two best in class buildings under athletic director Pat Hobbs. The arrival of the RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center and Rodkin Center has put Rutgers at the top of college athletics in...

thescarletfaithful.com

 

[RUPete]

Wild guess: despite the assurances and no one having seen final designs yet, posters will find something to complain about with that statement.

 

[AdventureHasAName]

Wild guess: despite the assurances and no one having seen final designs yet, posters will find something to complain about with that statement.

Good, here's the first complaint ... the season's been over for three months already and the renovations haven't started.

 

[RUPete]

Good, here's the first complaint ... the season's been over for three months already and the renovations haven't started.

Well, at least you didn't complain about the unseen plans. I give you that.

 

[Skull83]

Posted this in the identical thread on the football board, I think the most significant part of the statement is this-: "In this new world of NIL, it is sort of less of a focus of young people in terms of decision-making." That's something a lot of people have opined on here, but it's interesting to see it confirmed by our AD.

 

[jeRseyguy1010]

We will play all home games at Jersey Mikes for 2024 at least. There is 0% we bring in the #1 recruiting class and then move our home for that year.

 

[NickRU714]

Posted this in the identical thread on the football board, I think the most significant part of the statement is this-: "In this new world of NIL, it is sort of less of a focus of young people in terms of decision-making." That's something a lot of people have opined on here, but it's interesting to see it confirmed by our AD.

How many times has a free agent said "I turned down additional money so I could play at MetLife Stadium. It's so much nicer than Giants Stadium that it was worth taking less money"?

As long as you are above a minimum threshold, I doubt "facilities" makes much of a difference.
Or has ever made much of a difference.
The old and dated RAC certainly hasn't hindered recruiting so far.

Are football players really not coming here because of the bubble?
Or is it because the team stinks?
"I know Rutgers went 10-2 last year and beat OSU and PSU. But I just can't see myself practicing in a bubble."

 

[RU-Serious]

I find it odd that this “story” has gotten so much traction when there’s really no “new news”.
We all knew a plan was coming. I actually thought it was going to be unveiled in June.
So the only actual news here is that it’s now delayed until the fall.

 

[hinson32]

How many times has a free agent said "I turned down additional money so I could play at MetLife Stadium. It's so much nicer than Giants Stadium that it was worth taking less money"?

As long as you are above a minimum threshold, I doubt "facilities" makes much of a difference.
Or has ever made much of a difference.
The old and dated RAC certainly hasn't hindered recruiting so far.

Are football players really not coming here because of the bubble?
Or is it because the team stinks?
"I know Rutgers went 10-2 last year and beat OSU and PSU. But I just can't see myself practicing in a bubble."

The old and dated RAC is now one of biggest advantages in recruiting.

 

[RUsojo]

How many times has a free agent said "I turned down additional money so I could play at MetLife Stadium. It's so much nicer than Giants Stadium that it was worth taking less money"?

As long as you are above a minimum threshold, I doubt "facilities" makes much of a difference.
Or has ever made much of a difference.
The old and dated RAC certainly hasn't hindered recruiting so far.

Are football players really not coming here because of the bubble?
Or is it because the team stinks?
"I know Rutgers went 10-2 last year and beat OSU and PSU. But I just can't see myself practicing in a bubble."

Agree we just need to get to the minimum threshold. We are not there now.

 

[RUJMM78]

I find it odd that this “story” has gotten so much traction when there’s really no “new news”.
We all knew a plan was coming. I actually thought it was going to be unveiled in June.
So the only actual news here is that it’s now delayed until the fall.

The plan is important but what really matters is the financial resources to pay for the renovations which likely will delay construction.

 

[NickRU714]

The old and dated RAC is now one of biggest advantages in recruiting.

Once the team got good first.
Nothing has changed at the RAC in the last decade than the success of the team.
If the team wasn't winning then the RAC isn't a recruiting advantage.

 

[Rokodesh]

Trapezoid of luxury

 

[wheezer]

We will play all home games at Jersey Mikes for 2024 at least. There is 0% we bring in the #1 recruiting class and then move our home for that year.

My selfish concern also
Let our premier recruits play at home with no obstacles

 

[wheezer]

The old and dated RAC is now one of biggest advantages in recruiting.

I would not be heartbroken if the renovations are years off

 

[RUskoolie]

Based on my little knowledge of development and how long it takes to get permits and sign off in New Jersey, the earliest season, this would be ready is probably after the 24–25 year

 

[RUPete]

I would not be heartbroken if the renovations are years off

I’m okay if we move forward but keep the core in tact. We have to deal with that front concourse issue and there’s so much underutilized space out in front of the RAC.

 

[RUPete]

Based on my little knowledge of development and how long it takes to get permits and sign off in New Jersey, the earliest season, this would be ready is probably after the 24–25 year

Sounds reasonable.

 

[NickRU714]

My selfish concern also
Let our premier recruits play at home with no obstacles

And our 2025 recruits?
Obviously it’s very early but I would assume we shouldn’t expect 2024 to be a one off and recruiting just drops off a cliff.

At some point we’ll have to rip off the bandaid.

 

[Plum Street]

Based on my little knowledge of development and how long it takes to get permits and sign off in New Jersey, the earliest season, this would be ready is probably after the 24–25 year

Rutgers is a state institution. They don’t got to go through much of the bs private developers have to as far as permits and inspections .

 

[ScarletKid2008]

Nothing from what Hobbs can be considered an "update" from what I can read

 

[Rufaninga]

And our 2025 recruits?
Obviously it’s very early but I would assume we shouldn’t expect 2024 to be a one off and recruiting just drops off a cliff.

At some point we’ll have to rip off the bandaid.

Were Rutgers. I fully expect a #1 recruiting class for 2024. Then COVID 2.0 hits and takes out the next 3 seasons of basketball.

 

[retired711]

Rutgers is a state institution. They don’t got to go through much of the bs private developers have to as far as permits and inspections .

What permitting and inspection requirements do you think Rutgers is exempt from? In addition, do you have any idea how much bureaucracy is involved when a public entity tries to build something?

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

View embedded media

Trapezoid of luxury

Two things jump out to me. One is that I can't see how you hold onto that same level of noise with those two lounges underneath the stands. There's just too much space for it to escape. The second is that it looks like they are shifting the student section to have space right behind the benches.

 

[Plum Street]

What permitting and inspection requirements do you think Rutgers is exempt from? In addition, do you have any idea how much bureaucracy is involved when a public entity tries to build something?

A lot of them . Do you think rutgers and hobbs is sitting through piscataway zoning board meetings to get an approval ?

 

[RUJMM78]

I don't see any increased seating projections.A 8000 seat RAC is too small .A renovation costing at least 100 million better increase attendance to at least 10,000.

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

Reading through this thread it is interesting that all anyone seems concerned with is recruits. Don't spend money on facilities because the recruits want the money directly.

What about the fan experience?

I still maintain they need to a HUGE job and save money towards that rather than some largely cosmetic thing. The big job would be build an exterior-supported roof shell over the whole damn thing then tear the current roof and interior columns, do wrap-around seating and expand the concourse footprint.

 

[Plum Street]

Reading through this thread it is interesting that all anyone seems concerned with is recruits. Don't spend money on facilities because the recruits want the money directly.

What about the fan experience?

I still maintain they need to a HUGE job and save money towards that rather than some largely cosmetic thing. The big job would be build an exterior-supported roof shell over the whole damn thing then tear the current roof and interior columns, do wrap-around seating and expand the concourse footprint.

Fan experience is much better when team wins

 

[Queztastic]

I don't see any increased seating projections.A 8000 seat RAC is too small .A renovation costing at least 100 million better increase attendance to at least 10,000.

Looks like they try to fit a few extra seats in the lower corners, but my guess is that's only a few hundred more.

 

[RU-Kidding]

Looks like they try to fit a few extra seats in the lower corners, but my guess is that's only a few hundred more.

Just put in Frontier Airline sized seats and we'll easily fit 10,000 or more.

 

[retired711]

A lot of them . Do you think rutgers and hobbs is sitting through piscataway zoning board meetings to get an approval ?

Rutgers is legally exempt from local zoning requirements, and so, yes, Hobbs doesn't have to sit through zoning board meetings. But I can tell you that as a practical matter Rutgers is not going to move ahead with a major project without Piscataway being OK with it.

 

[Plum Street]

Rutgers is legally exempt from local zoning requirements, and so, yes, Hobbs doesn't have to sit through zoning board meetings. But I can tell you that as a practical matter Rutgers is not going to move ahead with a major project without Piscataway being OK with it.

Huh ??? Rutgers allowed alcohol sales at the stadium and piscataway was not ok with it .

 

[retired711]

Huh ??? Rutgers allowed alcohol sales at the stadium and piscataway was not ok with it .

This is a land use matter -- that's different. And I can assure you there are lots of other requirements (many imposed by the state itself) that Rutgers is not going to be exempt from, including requirements that apply only to public institutions. As a matter of reality, this project will need to go through a lot of red tape.

 

[Plum Street]

This is a land use matter -- that's different. And I can assure you there are lots of other requirements (many imposed by the state itself) that Rutgers is not going to be exempt from, including requirements that apply only to public institutions. As a matter of reality, this project will need to go through a lot of red tape.

Of course there is red tape . It’s NJ and construction . But it will be less red tape than say a plum street developer llc has to go through . That was my point