Shanley : need for better basketball facilities

[monte]

To my point about rising NYC rents, article in today's NY Post;

https://nypost.com/2021/11/11/nyc-r...g4yDuq4B83tujnVIkkZzWp13r4T6HcvLlUVUOwno9GIy8

Inflation is certainly partially to blame, but without a strong demand, rents cannot skyrocket as they have been doing. 

 

[MainMan]

I wonder if they have ever considered building a new facility similar to The Pit at New Mexico, where the actual arena is well below ground, you just enter through a small building.

If they can do that, then we can have a lot of freedoms with what we can do with our home court, WRT space, capacity, etc.

Now, that might not be possible, but if it is, it is something worth exploring, IMO.

When I went to NYU, the entire athletic facility was almost all subterranean - a one-story building with a 3 to 5 story basement in the heart of the West Village. You still need a large footprint for that and the right kind of ground to build it like Manhattan bedrock. 

 

[P1NSTR1PEZ]

I can't believe so many people keep harping on the idea that SJU needs to stop playing games at Carnesecca. The UBS game vs Kansas is going to be a one off. Maybe they do 1 game there every year. But to take SJU out of Carnesecca is stupid, there is a real advantage for us there, like many have mentioned.

The main issue is money. The biggest thing Fr. Shanley did at Providence was raise a boat load of $ to improve the basketball aesthetics. The renovations they made a few years ago were mind blowing. That needs to happen here. And Fr. Shanley is very aware of that as he mentions so that's a great start. Cragg is obviously working on the raising money part for larger ticket items but until we get a MASSIVE donor (obviously like a Repole) who will help with major project, I think we're going to keep hearing about "small renovations" like the building that'll be attached to Taffner for the mens and womens basketball team. 

The goal should be to basically tear down Carnesecca and rebuild it in a more modern fashion but only make it slightly larger. I wouldn't make it bigger than 7,000 seats. We can't sell the place out now, adding more seats isn't really the right idea. It needs to be made more modern from a looks perspective, more comfortable for fans with better concessions, bathrooms, and acoustics. Every time this has been brought up over the last 10 years it's always been a money issue, a permit issue, and a zoning issue with someone saying it would be a nightmare and a lengthy process to get any kind of real renovation done. 

At some point SJU is going to have to modernize. Shanley seems to understand that the basketball team is the meal ticket and these things matter to recruits. I hope that things actually materialize. Hopefully this is a big season on the horizon because with wins other things should trickle down. So lets win big, make the tournament, make some noise in the tournament and pray that the holy trinity of Fr. Shanley, Mike Cragg and Mike Anderson are leading this program in a direction it desperately needs to be headed.

 

[monte]

I can't believe so many people keep harping on the idea that SJU needs to stop playing games at Carnesecca. The UBS game vs Kansas is going to be a one off. Maybe they do 1 game there every year. But to take SJU out of Carnesecca is stupid, there is a real advantage for us there, like many have mentioned.

The main issue is money. The biggest thing Fr. Shanley did at Providence was raise a boat load of $ to improve the basketball aesthetics. The renovations they made a few years ago were mind blowing. That needs to happen here. And Fr. Shanley is very aware of that as he mentions so that's a great start. Cragg is obviously working on the raising money part for larger ticket items but until we get a MASSIVE donor (obviously like a Repole) who will help with major project, I think we're going to keep hearing about "small renovations" like the building that'll be attached to Taffner for the mens and womens basketball team. 

The goal should be to basically tear down Carnesecca and rebuild it in a more modern fashion but only make it slightly larger. I wouldn't make it bigger than 7,000 seats. We can't sell the place out now, adding more seats isn't really the right idea. It needs to be made more modern from a looks perspective, more comfortable for fans with better concessions, bathrooms, and acoustics. Every time this has been brought up over the last 10 years it's always been a money issue, a permit issue, and a zoning issue with someone saying it would be a nightmare and a lengthy process to get any kind of real renovation done. 

At some point SJU is going to have to modernize. Shanley seems to understand that the basketball team is the meal ticket and these things matter to recruits. I hope that things actually materialize. Hopefully this is a big season on the horizon because with wins other things should trickle down. So lets win big, make the tournament, make some noise in the tournament and pray that the holy trinity of Fr. Shanley, Mike Cragg and Mike Anderson are leading this program in a direction it desperately needs to be headed.

Agree we need to keep and upgrade CA, but let's face facts; the reason we win almost all of our games at CA has more to do with scheduling cupcakes there then anything our fan base does. I feel like the crowd is much more alive at MSG, and always has been. MSG is Broadway(almost literally), while CA is way off-Broadway(literally). Open to other's perspective on the crowd difference. Those who attend events at arenas regularly. 

 

[IDRAFT]

I can't believe so many people keep harping on the idea that SJU needs to stop playing games at Carnesecca. The UBS game vs Kansas is going to be a one off. Maybe they do 1 game there every year. But to take SJU out of Carnesecca is stupid, there is a real advantage for us there, like many have mentioned.

The main issue is money. The biggest thing Fr. Shanley did at Providence was raise a boat load of $ to improve the basketball aesthetics. The renovations they made a few years ago were mind blowing. That needs to happen here. And Fr. Shanley is very aware of that as he mentions so that's a great start. Cragg is obviously working on the raising money part for larger ticket items but until we get a MASSIVE donor (obviously like a Repole) who will help with major project, I think we're going to keep hearing about "small renovations" like the building that'll be attached to Taffner for the mens and womens basketball team. 

The goal should be to basically tear down Carnesecca and rebuild it in a more modern fashion but only make it slightly larger. I wouldn't make it bigger than 7,000 seats. We can't sell the place out now, adding more seats isn't really the right idea. It needs to be made more modern from a looks perspective, more comfortable for fans with better concessions, bathrooms, and acoustics. Every time this has been brought up over the last 10 years it's always been a money issue, a permit issue, and a zoning issue with someone saying it would be a nightmare and a lengthy process to get any kind of real renovation done. 

At some point SJU is going to have to modernize. Shanley seems to understand that the basketball team is the meal ticket and these things matter to recruits. I hope that things actually materialize. Hopefully this is a big season on the horizon because with wins other things should trickle down. So lets win big, make the tournament, make some noise in the tournament and pray that the holy trinity of Fr. Shanley, Mike Cragg and Mike Anderson are leading this program in a direction it desperately needs to be headed.

Excellent post. I will add, I don't understand the strawman argument that a big game sellout game at MSG is a superior experience than an on campus game. Of course Duke or Villanova at MSG is superior. But I've been to Xavier at MSG with roughly 7,000 (maybe) in the arena and that atmosphere is far inferior to Carnesecca playing the same team. Nobody is suggesting not playing anything at MSG. But both economically and as an experience the games played there have to make sense. There are certainly less games at MSG than many prior years but there are two factors driving that. One, the quality of the team, two the change in the conference. Don't discount that second one. Nothing against the programs at all but Xavier and Creighton will never draw in NYC like Notre Dame or Syracuse. Things change.

It also costs more for fans to attend an MSG game, by a lot, so do folks really want to go to more MSG games or want the rest of us to pay more to sit in an empty MSG because they like the background more on their TV? Based on how the majority of this board worries about if home games are televised no need to answer that one.

Understand, I agree there is nothing better than a packed MSG. I can't think of one on campus game that has been played in the last ten years where MSG would have been packed. If you want more MSG games - urge more people to come to then ones they play now.

 

 

[monte]

CA has never been considered one of the more difficult places for opposing teams to play in. Most games our fan base doesn't even show a pulse till tip off. Almost all the consistently successful programs have a home court that opposing teams dread playing on. Not saying that opposing teams dread playing us at MSG, but that's not my point. If the school wants to play more games at CA, then they(and us fans) had better damn well make CA the kind of venue that opposing teams don't look forward to visiting. Like Hinkle, Cameron, The Pavillion, Allen, etc etc etc, 

 

[room112]

I can't believe so many people keep harping on the idea that SJU needs to stop playing games at Carnesecca. The UBS game vs Kansas is going to be a one off. Maybe they do 1 game there every year. But to take SJU out of Carnesecca is stupid, there is a real advantage for us there, like many have mentioned.

The main issue is money. The biggest thing Fr. Shanley did at Providence was raise a boat load of $ to improve the basketball aesthetics. The renovations they made a few years ago were mind blowing. That needs to happen here. And Fr. Shanley is very aware of that as he mentions so that's a great start. Cragg is obviously working on the raising money part for larger ticket items but until we get a MASSIVE donor (obviously like a Repole) who will help with major project, I think we're going to keep hearing about "small renovations" like the building that'll be attached to Taffner for the mens and womens basketball team. 

The goal should be to basically tear down Carnesecca and rebuild it in a more modern fashion but only make it slightly larger. I wouldn't make it bigger than 7,000 seats. We can't sell the place out now, adding more seats isn't really the right idea. It needs to be made more modern from a looks perspective, more comfortable for fans with better concessions, bathrooms, and acoustics. Every time this has been brought up over the last 10 years it's always been a money issue, a permit issue, and a zoning issue with someone saying it would be a nightmare and a lengthy process to get any kind of real renovation done. 

At some point SJU is going to have to modernize. Shanley seems to understand that the basketball team is the meal ticket and these things matter to recruits. I hope that things actually materialize. Hopefully this is a big season on the horizon because with wins other things should trickle down. So lets win big, make the tournament, make some noise in the tournament and pray that the holy trinity of Fr. Shanley, Mike Cragg and Mike Anderson are leading this program in a direction it desperately needs to be headed.

Agree we need to keep and upgrade CA, but let's face facts; the reason we win almost all of our games at CA has more to do with scheduling cupcakes there then anything our fan base does. I feel like the crowd is much more alive at MSG, and always has been. MSG is Broadway(almost literally), while CA is way off-Broadway(literally). Open to other's perspective on the crowd difference. Those who attend events at arenas regularly. 

I've always felt the crowds at MSG for St. John's games are more lively than CA, but that also could have to do with the quality of the opponent. Another factor is MSG obviously sells alcohol which gets people loud lol. And finally, to me it seems like the crowds at CA tend to be older than the crowds I see attending games at MSG, but I have no proof of that.

 

[monte]

I can't believe so many people keep harping on the idea that SJU needs to stop playing games at Carnesecca. The UBS game vs Kansas is going to be a one off. Maybe they do 1 game there every year. But to take SJU out of Carnesecca is stupid, there is a real advantage for us there, like many have mentioned.

The main issue is money. The biggest thing Fr. Shanley did at Providence was raise a boat load of $ to improve the basketball aesthetics. The renovations they made a few years ago were mind blowing. That needs to happen here. And Fr. Shanley is very aware of that as he mentions so that's a great start. Cragg is obviously working on the raising money part for larger ticket items but until we get a MASSIVE donor (obviously like a Repole) who will help with major project, I think we're going to keep hearing about "small renovations" like the building that'll be attached to Taffner for the mens and womens basketball team. 

The goal should be to basically tear down Carnesecca and rebuild it in a more modern fashion but only make it slightly larger. I wouldn't make it bigger than 7,000 seats. We can't sell the place out now, adding more seats isn't really the right idea. It needs to be made more modern from a looks perspective, more comfortable for fans with better concessions, bathrooms, and acoustics. Every time this has been brought up over the last 10 years it's always been a money issue, a permit issue, and a zoning issue with someone saying it would be a nightmare and a lengthy process to get any kind of real renovation done. 

At some point SJU is going to have to modernize. Shanley seems to understand that the basketball team is the meal ticket and these things matter to recruits. I hope that things actually materialize. Hopefully this is a big season on the horizon because with wins other things should trickle down. So lets win big, make the tournament, make some noise in the tournament and pray that the holy trinity of Fr. Shanley, Mike Cragg and Mike Anderson are leading this program in a direction it desperately needs to be headed.

Agree we need to keep and upgrade CA, but let's face facts; the reason we win almost all of our games at CA has more to do with scheduling cupcakes there then anything our fan base does. I feel like the crowd is much more alive at MSG, and always has been. MSG is Broadway(almost literally), while CA is way off-Broadway(literally). Open to other's perspective on the crowd difference. Those who attend events at arenas regularly. 

I've always felt the crowds at MSG for St. John's games are more lively than CA, but that also could have to do with the quality of the opponent. Another factor is MSG obviously sells alcohol which gets people loud lol. And finally, to me it seems like the crowds at CA tend to be older than the crowds I see attending games at MSG, but I have no proof of that.

Agree completely. Definitely older and a largest % of families it seems to me. Both those factors, combined the others you've mentioned, are a big part of the reason why MSG is much livelier. 

 

[mjmaherjr]

[attachment=2290]53F2121F-B065-4455-AFA3-A47278E86CFF.jpeg[/attachment]

 

[monte]

[attachment=2290]53F2121F-B065-4455-AFA3-A47278E86CFF.jpeg[/attachment]

Mike Im glad that there  are at least 2 of us on this board who recognize and appreciate the many benefits of large quantities of alcohol consumption. 

 

[P1NSTR1PEZ]

I can't believe so many people keep harping on the idea that SJU needs to stop playing games at Carnesecca. The UBS game vs Kansas is going to be a one off. Maybe they do 1 game there every year. But to take SJU out of Carnesecca is stupid, there is a real advantage for us there, like many have mentioned.

The main issue is money. The biggest thing Fr. Shanley did at Providence was raise a boat load of $ to improve the basketball aesthetics. The renovations they made a few years ago were mind blowing. That needs to happen here. And Fr. Shanley is very aware of that as he mentions so that's a great start. Cragg is obviously working on the raising money part for larger ticket items but until we get a MASSIVE donor (obviously like a Repole) who will help with major project, I think we're going to keep hearing about "small renovations" like the building that'll be attached to Taffner for the mens and womens basketball team. 

The goal should be to basically tear down Carnesecca and rebuild it in a more modern fashion but only make it slightly larger. I wouldn't make it bigger than 7,000 seats. We can't sell the place out now, adding more seats isn't really the right idea. It needs to be made more modern from a looks perspective, more comfortable for fans with better concessions, bathrooms, and acoustics. Every time this has been brought up over the last 10 years it's always been a money issue, a permit issue, and a zoning issue with someone saying it would be a nightmare and a lengthy process to get any kind of real renovation done. 

At some point SJU is going to have to modernize. Shanley seems to understand that the basketball team is the meal ticket and these things matter to recruits. I hope that things actually materialize. Hopefully this is a big season on the horizon because with wins other things should trickle down. So lets win big, make the tournament, make some noise in the tournament and pray that the holy trinity of Fr. Shanley, Mike Cragg and Mike Anderson are leading this program in a direction it desperately needs to be headed.

Agree we need to keep and upgrade CA, but let's face facts; the reason we win almost all of our games at CA has more to do with scheduling cupcakes there then anything our fan base does. I feel like the crowd is much more alive at MSG, and always has been. MSG is Broadway(almost literally), while CA is way off-Broadway(literally). Open to other's perspective on the crowd difference. Those who attend events at arenas regularly. 

Not sure what the actual numbers are but lately the last two years when we played big east games in Queens we've faired well

 

[P1NSTR1PEZ]

CA has never been considered one of the more difficult places for opposing teams to play in. Most games our fan base doesn't even show a pulse till tip off. Almost all the consistently successful programs have a home court that opposing teams dread playing on. Not saying that opposing teams dread playing us at MSG, but that's not my point. If the school wants to play more games at CA, then they(and us fans) had better damn well make CA the kind of venue that opposing teams don't look forward to visiting. Like Hinkle, Cameron, The Pavillion, Allen, etc etc etc, 

It's going to take winning. It's going to take students showing up and making some damn noise start to finish. There's a lot riding on this season.

 

[P1NSTR1PEZ]

I also think that this year's 4 conference games at MSG is too few. We need to be at like 6-7 range

 

[fuchsia]

Have enough architect and structural engineer friends that I would risk a trip North to organize a walk through of Carnesecca so that they can laugh at my upgrade fantasy.

• Build a men's and women's fitness and locker facility between Carnesecca and Taffner.
• Drop the floor of Carnesecca to the level of the existing weight and fitness space below.
• Use the approximately 20 feet more of depth to improve sight lines and not only add seats to the end court student sections but put in suites above the student section across both ends (where alcohol can be served privately).
• Use structure changes to allow addition of best available AC system.

 

[Las Vegan]

I think most would agree that the games with Villanova, G'Town, Seton Hall, UConn, and probably Providence belong at MSG, primarily because those schools will sell thousands of tickets.
Games vs schools like Fordham, Manhattan, Columbia, St. Peter's, etc. can stay on campus.
I think the real question is where do we play Xavier, Butler, Marquette, Creighton and DePaul? They don't want to play in a too small, obsolete Carnesecca Arena and we probably lose $ scheduling them at MSG. Can UBS Arena, assuming a lower rent than MSG, play a role here?

 

[mjmaherjr]

[attachment=2290]53F2121F-B065-4455-AFA3-A47278E86CFF.jpeg[/attachment]

Mike Im glad that there  are at least 2 of us on this board who recognize and appreciate the many benefits of large quantities of alcohol consumption. 

We are big picture guys

 

[Johnny4Life]

Not every project has to be funded through having a donor (or donors) writing a check. The school could theoretically borrow the funds. With interest rates low as they are, it could be the right time to pull the trigger. 

Upgrade the facility and add space with some real food and drink options and have some vendors bid for the space. The money could be used to pay back the loan. 

Or have a combination of the two options. 
 

 

[redfan25976l]

REPOLE just gave Memorial Sloan Kettering 50 million...

 

[RedStormNC]

REPOLE just gave Memorial Sloan Kettering 50 million...

For a very good reason

The inspiration for this gift was born out of Mike’s love for his grandmother (“Nonna”), who was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma at the age of 79 and treated by Medical Oncologist Steven M. Horwitz, MD. Initially given a critical diagnosis, Mike’s grandmother enrolled in a successful clinical trial at MSK which enabled her to live 15 more years post diagnosis before she passed away in 2020. The Repole family credits MSK for giving them more time with the family’s matriarch, who was able to meet her great-granddaughter, Gioia Mia (Mike and Maria’s daughter), before Nonna passed.

"Family, friends, faith, health, and happiness is how I measure success. Nonna and my parents always taught me to help others and, most important, to give people what they want in life and you will get what you want. Thanks to God and MSK, my family and I were blessed to have 15 more years with my Nonna,” said Repole. “I am forever grateful to MSK and by supporting their mission we hope to help as many people as we can extend their lives and experience so many special moments with their loved ones just as we were able to do with my Nonna.”


www.newswise.com/articles/memorial-sloan-kettering-cancer-center-announces-transformative-gift-to-establish-the-nonna-s-garden-foundation-initiative-for-cancer-care-and-research

 

[beast of the east]

REPOLE just gave Memorial Sloan Kettering 50 million...

For a very good reason

The inspiration for this gift was born out of Mike’s love for his grandmother (“Nonna”), who was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma at the age of 79 and treated by Medical Oncologist Steven M. Horwitz, MD. Initially given a critical diagnosis, Mike’s grandmother enrolled in a successful clinical trial at MSK which enabled her to live 15 more years post diagnosis before she passed away in 2020. The Repole family credits MSK for giving them more time with the family’s matriarch, who was able to meet her great-granddaughter, Gioia Mia (Mike and Maria’s daughter), before Nonna passed.

"Family, friends, faith, health, and happiness is how I measure success. Nonna and my parents always taught me to help others and, most important, to give people what they want in life and you will get what you want. Thanks to God and MSK, my family and I were blessed to have 15 more years with my Nonna,” said Repole. “I am forever grateful to MSK and by supporting their mission we hope to help as many people as we can extend their lives and experience so many special moments with their loved ones just as we were able to do with my Nonna.”


www.newswise.com/articles/memorial-sloan-kettering-cancer-center-announces-transformative-gift-to-establish-the-nonna-s-garden-foundation-initiative-for-cancer-care-and-research

Sloan Kettering is at the apex of research and innovation in treating cancer.   A guy who coached my daughter for 5 years in CYO (last game was diocesan championship) and then with me coached my son's team for another 5 despite his own kids being out of the program was diagnosed by Northwell as having a glioblastoma tumor in his brain.   They told him it was inoperable but would treat with chemo.   He went for a second opinion at Sloan.   They immediately scheduled an appointment with a surgeon who after review told him not only was it operable but he thought he could get it all.   Two days later he was in surgery.   Glio is a nasty cancer with low survival rate but after successful surgery, my friend lasted almost 6 years before the cancer took over.   I know intimately what Repole feels.

In that category, many SJU pharmacy grads work at Sloan.   I spent the day yesterday at SJU.   In addition to the new Health Science Center, we are full steam ahead with a new nursing school and a PT (Physical Therapy) program.   Really great things in the works across the university.

In terms of Repole, $50 million is an awesome donation.  It will likely get the Repole name on a building.    It is reminiscent of the tremendous generosity of Ken Langone (a strong Catholic).  Here's a great read on Langone: [URL]https://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/philanthropy-magazine/article/interview-with-ken-langone[/URL]]Interview with Ken Langone (philanthropyroundtable.org)[/url]

Repole and SJU?  There's always hope and I believe some day he will return to the fold.