I recorded the game and one thought about the Rac.

[bowlgoal]

If we simply built up section 118 to extend up and over the concourse, it would look great. I’ve seen someone show what the RAC would look like if if was sort of enclosed like a bowl. Besides redoing the outside, I think this one change that would add more seats would be a big positive. They could also redo the concourse floors.

1. redo the outside to match the practice center and add a large front facade which would include a store that sells Rutgers gear.

2. redo section 118 to add seats over the top of the concourse. More symmetrical to the student section,

3. New flooring in the concourse around the area making it look more modernized.

 

[rsutton86]

Can we remake the student section to ‘round it’ into the lower levels on the baseline? Thus, adding some seats and removing the square looking bleacher look. I assume that most other sports don’t need this facility for winter training now - e.g. baseball, etc

 

[NewJerseyHawk]

Leave the RAC as it is...it still has the same corners that are empty with court space. One is the hospitality area and the other leading to the visitors locker room. I played some of my best games on those 2 courts for RU basketball summer camps as a kid!!

The touch ups outside are fine and I'm still digesting fans in concourse with 20 oz. beers vs complaints about the sound system or pretzels.

 

[RutgersDom]

Leave the RAC as it is...it still has the same corners that are empty with court space. One is the hospitality area and the other leading to the visitors locker room. I played some of my best games on those 2 courts for RU basketball summer camps as a kid!!

The touch ups outside are fine and I'm still digesting fans in concourse with 20 oz. beers vs complaints about the sound system or pretzels.

Agree as my kid goes to that Pikes camp as well but I agree with adding seats above 118.

 

[ColonelRutgers]

If we simply built up section 118 to extend up and over the concourse, it would look great. I’ve seen someone show what the RAC would look like if if was sort of enclosed like a bowl. Besides redoing the outside, I think this one change that would add more seats would be a big positive. They could also redo the concourse floors.

1. redo the outside to match the practice center and add a large front facade which would include a store that sells Rutgers gear.

2. redo section 118 to add seats over the top of the concourse. More symmetrical to the student section,

3. New flooring in the concourse around the area making it look more modernized.

And where exactly do you move the handicapped section which is mandated by federal law in your scenario?

 

[PeteGiam07]

And where exactly do you move the handicapped section which is mandated by federal law in your scenario?

yes, the handicapped section is the problem.

It would take a rather large design effort to move that amount of handicap seats. It currently is easy to roll a wheelchair to that area. It's an issue as that is prime real estate viewing space for fans. It's still very close to the court

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

If/when we have significant success there will be math as the best way to monetize what we have. I would imagine nothing will change other than minimum seat donations going up.

The concept of taking 1/2 the court and putting students is an interesting one. Obviously revenue would need to be made up by jacking up the remaining prime 100 level seats and maybe the best 200s.

It is certainly debatable, but when you look at the atmospeher on Saturday I think we did fine with the students where they were.

 

[RUChoppin]

There should be a way even with the handicapped section staying where it is. Extend 118 upward from the floor over the concourse, but leave space under it for an overhung concourse area. From that overhung area, have an opening in the center that opens out toward the court, and on either side have a flattened area for handicapped seating (sort of like the cutout area for the hospitality area in the football stadium).

The corners are a different story - but if there were a way to overhang those areas with more seats, sort of like wings off the 300 sections, without compromising the floorspace below, that'd be great.

 

[HeavenUniv.]

And where exactly do you move the handicapped section which is mandated by federal law in your scenario?

It appears that at least a third, maybe more, of the people in the handicapped rows are not handicapped. They appear to be family members sitting next to them. In some situations, that person may need to sit with them for medical reasons, but that is not always the case. If the building can handle it structurally, extend the upper floor over the top of 118 just a bit to not block anyone’s views. Have the extra people from the handicapped row sit in the first row of 218 so they can see their family member at all times.Then start a 218 section up to the office windows which at some point should be turned into an Arena Club. I have no idea if extra posts would be needed underneath it or if we can use the current ones to the sides of the ticket windows. I don’t see how we could put in more than an extra post or two without making the ticket window a total traffic jam and something that probably wouldn’t pass fire codes if there was an emergency situation.

 

[G- RUnit]

And where exactly do you move the handicapped section which is mandated by federal law in your scenario?

That’s why you hire architects! ;-)
Can’t be that hard. When Hobbs wanted his seats. 118 went down in a few weeks.

 

[Tango Two]

I heard that the area above 118 and the concourse is where premium box seating will be built, possibly by extending out the office area behind the glass over the concourse.

 

[RUChoppin]

I heard that the area above 118 and the concourse is where premium box seating will be built, possibly by extending out the office area behind the glass over the concourse.

If they go to premium boxes, will they then return 118 to more standard bleachers?

 

[Upstream]

Let's sell out the current RAC consistently before we start talking about expensive expansions.

 

[Tango Two]

If they go to premium boxes, will they then return 118 to more standard bleachers?

No idea - Just been hearing rumor that the office area above the concourse to be extended somehow and turned into premium boxes.

Would be nice to have it like at football stadium with hospitality area behind glass and have seats extending out and down to above handicap area.

 

[PiscatawayMike]

Early schematic of the RAC (circa 1976)...

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

If we simply built up section 118 to extend up and over the concourse, it would look great. I’ve seen someone show what the RAC would look like if if was sort of enclosed like a bowl. Besides redoing the outside, I think this one change that would add more seats would be a big positive. They could also redo the concourse floors.

1. redo the outside to match the practice center and add a large front facade which would include a store that sells Rutgers gear.

2. redo section 118 to add seats over the top of the concourse. More symmetrical to the student section,

3. New flooring in the concourse around the area making it look more modernized.

Need that bowl look to add some modern video screens that run around the entire RAC.

 

[Scarlet Pride]

A variation of the last expansion proposal is the way to go. Not exactly and the needs have changed with the new practice facility but same concept. Bump out the front for lobby, concessions, etc and expand seating and suites in the existing footprint.

https://www.michaelgraves.com/projects/louis-brown-athletic-center-addition-renovation/

 

[RU-ROCS]

yes, the handicapped section is the problem.

It would take a rather large design effort to move that amount of handicap seats. It currently is easy to roll a wheelchair to that area. It's an issue as that is prime real estate viewing space for fans. It's still very close to the court

I think the OP has it right. With the right architectural planning, RU should be able to keep a cut out in the new stands that would allow the handicap seating to remain essentially where it is now. It would be an elevated equivalent to where the cheerleaders/dance team currently reside in front of the student section.

 

[mikemarc1]

If we simply built up section 118 to extend up and over the concourse, it would look great. I’ve seen someone show what the RAC would look like if if was sort of enclosed like a bowl. Besides redoing the outside, I think this one change that would add more seats would be a big positive. They could also redo the concourse floors.

1. redo the outside to match the practice center and add a large front facade which would include a store that sells Rutgers gear.

2. redo section 118 to add seats over the top of the concourse. More symmetrical to the student section,

3. New flooring in the concourse around the area making it look more modernized.

we don’t sell out nearly enough to justify adding more seats.

hopefully this changes in the near future but RAC is fantastic as it is for now

 

[fbc1866]

We need to add about 5,000 seats to make it comparable to a B1G arena, but not effect the sound and noise. Can you imagine what 12-14,000 fans would sound like in the RAC.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Can we remake the student section to ‘round it’ into the lower levels on the baseline? Thus, adding some seats and removing the square looking bleacher look. I assume that most other sports don’t need this facility for winter training now - e.g. baseball, etc

What NEEDS to be done to the student section is moving it forward 15-feet back to where it use to be. There is ZERO reason for it to be that far from the baseline. NOT ONE.

 

[RUich]

If/when we have significant success there will be math as the best way to monetize what we have. I would imagine nothing will change other than minimum seat donations going up.

THIS! Unless you start to see numbers like the SHU game on a regular basis, you are wasting money.

 

[bowlgoal]

 

[bowlgoal]

Hard to see what 118 looks like here but this is the idea? I don't have the answer for the handicapped section as I'm not ab architect but i like the look of this kind of layout. I don't like the brick that was put into some of the outdoor renderings by this architectural firm but man; the practice center came out Amazing. Use that same material on the Rac and just put up the extended front i was talking about with alot of glass so light comes in. It would look great and everyone would forget what the old Rac looks like.

 

[ancienthooper]

What NEEDS to be done to the student section is moving it forward 15-feet back to where it use to be. There is ZERO reason for it to be that far from the baseline. NOT ONE.

This. Plus blow up 118 and replace with as many bleacher seats as possible for another mini student section. Leave the handicapped as is.

 

[ScarletDave]

Don’t like the idea of splitting the student section up into 6 sections. Part of what makes them so loud and keep the energy up is everyone on top of each other like we have now. Other examples, Duke, MSU, Michigan student sections. Hardly even any stairs at all in between

 

[Upstream]

Don’t like the idea of splitting the student section up into 6 sections. Part of what makes them so loud and keep the energy up is everyone on top of each other like we have now. Other examples, Duke, MSU, Michigan student sections. Hardly even any stairs at all in between

That's not a real plan. It is just an illustration to for discussion purposes. It is not actually physically possible to configure the RAC as indicated in that illustration. So this illustration could never be built.

 

[dontestrond]

That’s awesome. Why isn’t that in plans moving forward?

 

[sct1111]

That’s awesome. Why isn’t that in plans moving forward?

$

 

[RUJMM78]

A variation of the last expansion proposal is the way to go. Not exactly and the needs have changed with the new practice facility but same concept. Bump out the front for lobby, concessions, etc and expand seating and suites in the existing footprint.

https://www.michaelgraves.com/projects/louis-brown-athletic-center-addition-renovation/

There were renderings drawn when Pernetti was AD that moved out the front to include a new exterior facade/entrance concourse ,expanded concessions ,rest rooms and additional seating above the 118 section.All it takes is the will and the money to have it happen.The RAC is outdated especially when located next yo the new practice facility.

 

[Upstream]

That’s awesome. Why isn’t that in plans moving forward?

It's not real plans. It is a concept illustration created in 2012. But it is not physically possible to remodel the interior of the arena like that.

 

[phlop87]

Wondering if it would it be possible to move the student section closer to the court and add some rows by taking away some of the room behind it that is really no longer needed with the practice facility?

 

[RU_kidding_me]

Early schematic of the RAC (circa 1976)...

Finally! Proof that the balloons in the rafters were not part of the designers intended decor.

 

[Upstream]

Wondering if it would it be possible to move the student section closer to the court and add some rows by taking away some of the room behind it that is really no longer needed with the practice facility?

There is no room behind the student center. I think the student bleachers run up to the exterior wall.

 

[scripts]

We need more seats but that atrium looks like a waste.

 

[RU_PAYBACK]

yes, the handicapped section is the problem.

It would take a rather large design effort to move that amount of handicap seats. It currently is easy to roll a wheelchair to that area. It's an issue as that is prime real estate viewing space for fans. It's still very close to the court

Build above it and get rid of that office space?

 

[KevH]

A variation of the last expansion proposal is the way to go. Not exactly and the needs have changed with the new practice facility but same concept. Bump out the front for lobby, concessions, etc and expand seating and suites in the existing footprint.

https://www.michaelgraves.com/projects/louis-brown-athletic-center-addition-renovation/

I really liked this design when it came out... still do.

 

[PiscatawayMike]

What NEEDS to be done to the student section is moving it forward 15-feet back to where it use to be. There is ZERO reason for it to be that far from the baseline. NOT ONE.

You'll be happy to know Pike is in your corner. He mentioned on Saturday after the Court Club's open practice that getting students closer to the court is among the items up for discussion when it comes to upgrading the RAC in the future.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

You'll be happy to know Pike is in your corner. He mentioned on Saturday after the Court Club's open practice that getting students closer to the court is among the items up for discussion for upgrading the RAC in the future.

1) excellent

2) really shouldn’t be too difficult! Just move it forward lol!

 

[BigRnj]

There is no room behind the student center. I think the student bleachers run up to the exterior wall.

By moving the student section closer to the floor and making a bit steeper and making it wider (use the Tunnel concept for entrance and egress) AND do the same for 118 all the way to the roof, you wold have 10,000 + seating. The concourse issue can be easily addressed by an addition to the front of the RAC. You can add concessions and restrooms by using the walled in space in the side corridors (I believe one is a weight room now).

Let’s get moving.