bobinator said:

---

Reed is not a good arena. At best, it's "fine."

The arenas at Tech, Texas, Baylor and Houston are all either already, or are about to be, better than Reed.

Reed isn't some kind of cathedral of college basketball like Allen Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse or Assembly Hall or something. And several "blue blood" programs have upgraded or built new arenas lately. UCLA, Kentucky, Louisville, etc.

---

I think Reed is fine. I think it could be improved in ways that would benefit the fans. I don't think it is holding our program back in any way.

When you say Tech's multi purpose arena, built in 1999, is better than Reed can you state in which way specifically? What I could see needing improvement at Reed are

1) Seat space (although I don't know how you balance to desire to have seats "crowd" the court so everyone is close against being comfy and easy for egress). Currently you are stuck and everyone needs to stand to let someone on interior seats leave/enter, there are no cup holders, etc.
2) Concourse width - it's a bit crowded
3) Size of concessions working area (behind counters), although I am not really sure if it slows things down much
4) perhaps bathroom updates

Tech's arena, at least in these photos, looks pretty Reed-like to me so I am curious what it has that we could implement in a Reed revamp versus needing a new arena entirely.

I haven't been to Tech's but everyone on here that has says it's way better.

I always personally have liked Oklahoma's arena. I thought it was designed well where you felt closer to the action than at Reed and it was easy to get around the concourse to things. Not a lot of wasted space in there like in Reed.

Jarrin' Jay said:

---

BQ_90 said:

---

The vast majority of facilities on done with donor money. So don't think that money is being taken away from football.

---

Still a waste of donor $ IMHO but whatever a donor wants to do is fine.

Quote:

---

Ellis Field is now the oldest facility we have and it needs to be upgraded.

---

Why? There is no good reason to build a soccer stadium for a women's soccer program. Are they going to win more? Are we selling out every game? Will we sell out every game with a new stadium? Do the ladies have to change in a tent and have port-a-poties for facilities? Why does it need to be upgraded? The field is excellent. The seating capacity is more than adequate. The player facilities are very good, etc. We don't need to spend any $$ on soccer facilities (this coming from someone for whom soccer is their #1 sport, my oldest son is well on his way to become a professional player if at all possible).

---

The master plan has them tearing down old softball stadium, I think most of the offices that used to be used by track and soccer, then move soccer to the foot print of old softball stadium and offices. Then the soccer field area will have cover put over it, with turf field for all sports to use when it's bad weather.

It's not your money, so don't worry about it.

My point was that places like Allen Fieldhouse can get away with not being super nice because it's a cathedral of the sport. It's completely irrelevant when you're talking about whether it makes sense to upgrade Reed Arena.

The only reason they've upgraded more of the classic football venues is because they can make a lot more money by adding luxury boxes and upgraded seating areas. Not sure that same dynamic is true to the same level in basketball.

And Baylor still plays in the Ferrell Center but they're about to build a new arena. So is Texas. That's why I said "are or are going to be"

For me, if we're going to have a world class football stadium and a world class college baseball stadium (soon, supposedly), it's not crazy to think maybe Reed Arena could be better than "I guess it's fine"

Fertitta Center was done so well. I was very impressed. Granted it's a touch smaller than an A&M facility would need to be, but in every aspect, was so impressive. I loved the design, seating arrangements, premium seating, intimate viewing angles, tech, Etc. Was really well thought out and accomplished.

DirtyMikesBoys said:

---

Fertitta Center was done so well. I was very impressed. Granted it's a touch smaller than an A&M facility would need to be, but in every aspect, was so impressive. I loved the design, seating arrangements, premium seating, intimate viewing angles, tech, Etc. Was really well thought out and accomplished.

---

Looks great but again, like Reed, the seats are so far behind the goals.

What does the $205 Million in athletic upgrades for a new football practice facility and new indoor track stadium mean for reed? Is it still possible this could happen in the next few years?

Need additional seating for students. Reed was undersized to begin with and the state got away with disapproving the original plans for Reed as I recall. So what it if isn't being filled up now?. Maybe in the future the AD will make better decisions about the basketball program then was done many years ago when Shelby Metcalf was so unceremoniously fired and the basketball program was left behind until the hiring of BCG. Then it took another dip several years ago. Buzz Williams seems to know what he is doing so far. I was concerned about the 8 game losing streak but he, the coaching staff, and the players corrected it.

Yeah, the last thing we need is additional seating.

I do support a limited amount of better seating for the students (along the sideline or at least partially along the sideline) but yeah, they don't need more seats.

TnAg23 said:

---

What does the $205 Million in athletic upgrades for a new football practice facility and new indoor track stadium mean for reed? Is it still possible this could happen in the next few years?

---

It means that Reed moves up some on the list. I still think it's at the bottom behind Olsen, soccer, indoor tennis

I will still maintain my season tickets, but I am thinking we dont need to do anything to Reed. Leave it alone. It is perfectly fine. Dont waste the money.

Too high a percentage of sight lines are bad for basketball in Reed - distance, angle, etc.

Cant speak to that but the only thing I think that blocks a spectators vision of the game is that stupid rail on the second deck. Lower the railing by 8-10" and you will have a clear shot of the floor. That is the ONLY thing I would change. The floor level and sideline seats are fine and they are easily acessible to concession stands. We dont need an NBA arena, cuz this aint the NBA

When I was a season ticket holder in the Watkins era, my seats were too close to the court.

Complete Idiot said:

---

bobinator said:

---

Reed is not a good arena. At best, it's "fine."

The arenas at Tech, Texas, Baylor and Houston are all either already, or are about to be, better than Reed.

Reed isn't some kind of cathedral of college basketball like Allen Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse or Assembly Hall or something. And several "blue blood" programs have upgraded or built new arenas lately. UCLA, Kentucky, Louisville, etc.

---

I think Reed is fine. I think it could be improved in ways that would benefit the fans. I don't think it is holding our program back in any way.

When you say Tech's multi purpose arena, built in 1999, is better than Reed can you state in which way specifically? What I could see needing improvement at Reed are

1) Seat space (although I don't know how you balance to desire to have seats "crowd" the court so everyone is close against being comfy and easy for egress). Currently you are stuck and everyone needs to stand to let someone on interior seats leave/enter, there are no cup holders, etc.
2) Concourse width - it's a bit crowded
3) Size of concessions working area (behind counters), although I am not really sure if it slows things down much
4) perhaps bathroom updates

Tech's arena, at least in these photos, looks pretty Reed-like to me so I am curious what it has that we could implement in a Reed revamp versus needing a new arena entirely.

---

Been to several games at Tech's arena. It's a hell of a lot nicer, and it's not close. Notice the luxury suites, the open concourse areas on each end, much wider concourses, the exterior and interior architecture are much nicer. They also have a bar with a food court that is pretty cool. It's a great arena.

WestTexasAg said:

---

Complete Idiot said:

---

bobinator said:

---

Reed is not a good arena. At best, it's "fine."

The arenas at Tech, Texas, Baylor and Houston are all either already, or are about to be, better than Reed.

Reed isn't some kind of cathedral of college basketball like Allen Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse or Assembly Hall or something. And several "blue blood" programs have upgraded or built new arenas lately. UCLA, Kentucky, Louisville, etc.

---

I think Reed is fine. I think it could be improved in ways that would benefit the fans. I don't think it is holding our program back in any way.

When you say Tech's multi purpose arena, built in 1999, is better than Reed can you state in which way specifically? What I could see needing improvement at Reed are

1) Seat space (although I don't know how you balance to desire to have seats "crowd" the court so everyone is close against being comfy and easy for egress). Currently you are stuck and everyone needs to stand to let someone on interior seats leave/enter, there are no cup holders, etc.
2) Concourse width - it's a bit crowded
3) Size of concessions working area (behind counters), although I am not really sure if it slows things down much
4) perhaps bathroom updates

Tech's arena, at least in these photos, looks pretty Reed-like to me so I am curious what it has that we could implement in a Reed revamp versus needing a new arena entirely.

---

Been to several games at Tech's arena. It's a hell of a lot nicer, and it's not close. Notice the luxury suites, the open concourse areas on each end, much wider concourses, the exterior and interior architecture are much nicer. They also have a bar with a food court that is pretty cool. It's a great arena.

---

Can confirm. Went to a game there this season.

What's the seating split? If it's 9k bottom and 4k top, then doesn't that accomplish (just with the bottom) what some people want in a smaller venue? Then the top just becomes bonus.

These renovations are worthless if they don't bring the seating in closer to the court. We need a total gutting and renovation like UH did with Hofheinz Pavilion (now called the Fertitta Center).

Chester said:

---

AggieTFA06 said:

---

I have to confess, I'm not a fan of renovating Reed Arena until we can produce a basketball team to be proud of. Let's sell out Reed Arena first before worrying about renovations.

---

I'm proud of this year's team.

---

Thanks for the details. I wonder if concourse width , food court, and even exterior design could be increased/built/improved through a renovation or do they require an all new facility?

I mentioned literal seat space, and other mentioned sight lines or seat proximity to court (although Reed looks similar to Tech's in that regard) and those are things that I think could require an all new facility to address.

Most of this stuff is for fans and doesn't really impact staff or players, but if fans view Reed as so bad that they would only attend a game if it was improved - then fan attendance numbers can impact staff and players.

WestTexasAg said:

---

Chester said:

---

AggieTFA06 said:

---

I have to confess, I'm not a fan of renovating Reed Arena until we can produce a basketball team to be proud of. Let's sell out Reed Arena first before worrying about renovations.

---

I'm proud of this year's team.

---

---

I like first class amenities when I go to a tractor pull.

TAM85 said:

---

Renovate first. If you build it they will come.

---

If you WIN, they will come.