Facilities Development

[JohnnyFan]

I hate saying it, because it's a pain for me to get to, but UBS Arena needs to be in the equation.  After seeing the sea of red when we played Kansas there, I quickly realized that it is a venue that our larger fan base is willing to access. 

 

[beast of the east]

I hate saying it, because it's a pain for me to get to, but UBS Arena needs to be in the equation.  After seeing the sea of red when we played Kansas there, I quickly realized that it is a venue that our larger fan base is willing to access. 

It's in the plan. But I would say if you are coming to home games dint pack your summer gear away for bc winter

 

[JohnnyFan]

Regarding donor lethargy, St. John's (the athletic department) needs to look in the mirror.  There is a cost associated with decades of underwhelming goals, inept leadership, and poor decision making.  We have endured Joe Oliva's grip, empty suit athletic directors, and too many head coaches that weren't right for the job.  When smart people make investments (donations), they want some tangible evidence that it is "a good bet".   Excluding our newest hire at AD, St. John's has provided no such evidence. 

So, what comes first.....the chicken or the egg?   In this case, due to past performance, St. John's needs to first sell a vision and a plan that will convince people that this time is different.   

 

[SJU Double Alumn]

 

Spot on 85'. Many of us have donated over the years. Some years more, some less. Although I did not purchase season tickets last year, I did donate. How much and how often I donate is my business, just as it is everyone's own personal business. If I saw a clear direction and had hope in the future of the program, I might renew my season tickets and/or donate more. Again, that's my business and that has no bearing whatsoever on how much I should and shouldn't complain about the program after 21 years of futility. Some posters are conflating the 2 issues in a pathetic,  failed attempt at trying to guilt fans in to contributing more. That guilt trip may work with some fans, but it ain't working with most of us. 

No one is trying to guilt anybody into anything. Just pointing out that the ones complaining about how the school should spend money when they are not donating don't have credibility.

 

[SJU Double Alumn]

When the Islanders moved to the new UBS arena I thought would it be more cost efficient to purchase the Nassaus Coliseum and renovate that arena as opposed to renovating CA! Thoughts?

Nassau Coliseum can never replace an on-campus arena. It is too far away for starters. 
We need a quality on-campus arena even for the low-level games. It doesn't have to be big or extravagant, but it needs to be better quality than the glorified high school gym we have now. Ideally, we build or renovate a small, good quality on-campus arena (for the early season games against low-level opponents), possibly use UBS for mid-tier games, and MSG for the biggest games. 
But the arena is actually not the main priority when it comes to recruiting. The player and practice facilities (dorms, exercise rooms, video rooms, spa, etc.) are crucial.

 

[monte]

 

Spot on 85'. Many of us have donated over the years. Some years more, some less. Although I did not purchase season tickets last year, I did donate. How much and how often I donate is my business, just as it is everyone's own personal business. If I saw a clear direction and had hope in the future of the program, I might renew my season tickets and/or donate more. Again, that's my business and that has no bearing whatsoever on how much I should and shouldn't complain about the program after 21 years of futility. Some posters are conflating the 2 issues in a pathetic,  failed attempt at trying to guilt fans in to contributing more. That guilt trip may work with some fans, but it ain't working with most of us. 

No one is trying to guilt anybody into anything. Just pointing out that the ones complaining about how the school should spend money when they are not donating don't have credibility.

And how exactly do you know who donates, when they donate and how
much they donate? 

 

[RedStormNC]

I believe others have noted that the conference requires some minimum amount of seating capacity.

I dont know the other criteria, if any, but there should be a conference audit committee that ensures a minimum but high standard for other athletic facilities beyond the arena seating count.  

I gave up on CA major improvements or full rebuild..  i just want to see all the other facilities and amenities that the basketball team needs to be able to compare well to the other programs for recruiting purposes.  

If we do that, draw the right talent and win then I dont care about cupcakes at CA if we can fill enough seats at MSG, and to leverage degree UBS.

Let's just hope if capital campaign is all encompassing that the basketball needs are a top 3 allocation of received funds overall and/or school does the right thing and starts on some of that now (beyond the carpets and wallpaper).  I get there is a formal process but just hurts they cannot place the bet on the biggest piece of their brand in advance. 

too many recruiting cycles are likely to pass without a move now..  lets hope the plan that gets approved can quickly execute on top 2 player facility needs within a 12-18 month window.

 

[19854ever]

I think a Redmen.com off campus meeting maybe 30-40 guys with Fr Shanley and Mike Cragg would be beneficial not some high end affair like the President Dinner more like Beer/wine/soda and passed hors d’eeuvers on an off night to discuss the direction of the program and facilities.  Something like a casual meet and greet where fans can ask all the questions we debate on here.

 

[Knight]

This season we have 20 games listed as a home game (including UBS).  Maybe, going forward, we should split the schedule between MSG (6), UBS (6), and CA (8 ).  Mix in a Lapchick Tournament vs. local teams Iona, Manhattan, Fordham, Hofstra, Stony Brook, St. Francis, etc.

 

[RedStormNC]

 

I dont know the cost differences between the guarantees school could be on hook for at UBS vs. MSG, but would think that UBS would only outsell MSG if there was a large contingent from LI that won't travel into the city. I'd rather play the Midwest BE teams at CA than UBS, and for the extra deficit $ saved not spend at UBS, cover perhaps 1 or 2 extra deficit games at MSG so we can really claim it as a home court vs being a nomad. Ideally we win enough to draw and not have deficits on sub par ticket sales.

 

[beast of the east]

I think a Redmen.com off campus meeting maybe 30-40 guys with Fr Shanley and Mike Cragg would be beneficial not some high end affair like the President Dinner more like Beer/wine/soda and passed hors d’eeuvers on an off night to discuss the direction of the program and facilities.  Something like a casual meet and greet where fans can ask all the questions we debate on here.

And what would happen then?

 

[mjmaherjr]

When the Islanders moved to the new UBS arena I thought would it be more cost efficient to purchase the Nassaus Coliseum and renovate that arena as opposed to renovating CA! Thoughts?

I dont think it's feasible. I dont remember all the details but the renovation to the coliseum cost something like 160-180 million the county owns the land I'm pretty sure an investment group bought the lease last year and is partnering with RXR to develop the area in something like a 1.5 billion project. Or maybe that deal fell through and I just forget but buying the property for us definitely is impossible no way can we even buy the coliseum for just the reno cost

It shuttered during the pandemic it needs mixed use to make it even remotely feasible even if we played every single game there no way would it be profitable

 

[mjmaherjr]

I think a Redmen.com off campus meeting maybe 30-40 guys with Fr Shanley and Mike Cragg would be beneficial not some high end affair like the President Dinner more like Beer/wine/soda and passed hors d’eeuvers on an off night to discuss the direction of the program and facilities.  Something like a casual meet and greet where fans can ask all the questions we debate on here.

And what would happen then?

Lot of redmen.com hangovers the next day

 

[L J S A]

When the Islanders moved to the new UBS arena I thought would it be more cost efficient to purchase the Nassaus Coliseum and renovate that arena as opposed to renovating CA! Thoughts?

I dont think it's feasible. I dont remember all the details but the renovation to the coliseum cost something like 160-180 million the county owns the land I'm pretty sure an investment group bought the lease last year and is partnering with RXR to develop the area in something like a 1.5 billion project. Or maybe that deal fell through and I just forget but buying the property for us definitely is impossible no way can we even buy the coliseum for just the reno cost

It shuttered during the pandemic it needs mixed use to make it even remotely feasible even if we played every single game there no way would it be profitable

That place dredges up bad St. John's memories for me. I took a red eye in a snowstorm, got no sleep, and watched us lose to Hofstra for the first time ever. The highlight was running into my old assistant principal from Dutch Broadway there.

Plus, posters complained about Belmont, which is easier for non-Long Islanders to get to than the coliseum. 

 

[beast of the east]

Redmen.com arena solution
https://thesportsdaily.com/2020/11/27/how-to-watch-sports-events-in-vr/

 

[L J S A]

I probably haven't been on campus in 30 years. Are there any other facilities that need upgrading?

If the funding was there, I say you bury the basketball arena and put something over it to save space. Now all we need is $3 billion. Wouldn't be so steamy in there either if it were underground.

 

[SJU Double Alumn]

When the Islanders moved to the new UBS arena I thought would it be more cost efficient to purchase the Nassaus Coliseum and renovate that arena as opposed to renovating CA! Thoughts?

I dont think it's feasible. I dont remember all the details but the renovation to the coliseum cost something like 160-180 million the county owns the land I'm pretty sure an investment group bought the lease last year and is partnering with RXR to develop the area in something like a 1.5 billion project. Or maybe that deal fell through and I just forget but buying the property for us definitely is impossible no way can we even buy the coliseum for just the reno cost

It shuttered during the pandemic it needs mixed use to make it even remotely feasible even if we played every single game there no way would it be profitable

Who knows if it will happen, but it seems to be plodding along:

https://nassauhub.com/
 

 

[SJU Double Alumn]

I think a Redmen.com off campus meeting maybe 30-40 guys with Fr Shanley and Mike Cragg would be beneficial not some high end affair like the President Dinner more like Beer/wine/soda and passed hors d’eeuvers on an off night to discuss the direction of the program and facilities.  Something like a casual meet and greet where fans can ask all the questions we debate on here.

This would be a waste of time for Shanley and Cragg.  They need to focus on the big donors, not blog commenters. The casual fans already have pre-game events and Red-White Club events where school representatives attend. 

 

[ManhattAn1]

May have misread, is there a plan to play more home games at UBS next year?

 

[beast of the east]

May have misread, is there a plan to play more home games at UBS next year?

No.  Not in the plans.