SJU Future Training Facility

[NCJohnnie]

I’m sick of having my knees rammed up under my chin while trying to watch a game!

Not sure why the school would invest in a new arena in Queens when Coach is looking to play all but a handful of home games at MSG.

 

[pdcjay]

Tafner was also a deisgned as a multi use facility for students and varsity athletes. Our planned athletic facility is even narrower than varsity athletes. It is being billed as a basketball practice facility. We still need athletic facilities for our other 340 athletes and a true student wellness center.

I remember being on campus when Taffner (then Riley Center) was being proposed and built and it was discussed as dual use for both athletes and students but I know after it was built I never stepped foot in there. Intermural basketball was still at Carnesecca.

Every time I walked by I thought how cheap it looked with those gray panels. Could and should have been done so much better.

 

[SJU85]

I thought two courts were reserved for student use from the onset.

The problem with Taffner is that to renovate it to bring up to par would cost close to 50 million plus students use would be end and thus the priority would be to build a student wellness center, likely a cost of $75 million. A new basketball practice facility thus became the most economical alternative.

No, not at the beginning. As originally envisioned and intended, it was to be a basketball facility only back when Riley was intended to be the big donor (Riley Center). St. John’s needs and the overall cost associated with those needs had it morphed into what it is today.

Just my professional but non licensed opinion would be with the appropriate budget:

1. Build a multi use facility for the students and intramurals where the parking lot and old ROTC building is which is closer to the dorms
2. Build locker and other facilities for softball behind the softball field close to the GCP service road
3. Build locker and other facilities for baseball/soccer in the area between the soccer and baseball stadiums.
4. Re-purpose Taffner for the other sports to use for practice, locker rooms and offices.
5. Complete the New basketball practice facility
6. Tear down CA and build a modern 6,000 seat arena with adequate back of house facilities (training, weight, equipment and locker rooms along with offices which is connected either at grade or below ground with Taffner and below ground with the new basketball facility.

 

[bamafan]

No, not at the beginning. As originally envisioned and intended, it was to be a basketball facility only back when Riley was intended to be the big donor (Riley Center). St. John’s needs and the overall cost associated with those needs had it morphed into what it is today.

Just my professional but non licensed opinion would be with the appropriate budget:

1. Build a multi use facility for the students and intramurals where the parking lot and old ROTC building is which is closer to the dorms
2. Build locker and other facilities for softball behind the softball field close to the GCP service road
3. Build locker and other facilities for baseball/soccer in the area between the soccer and baseball stadiums.
4. Re-purpose Taffner for the other sports to use for practice, locker rooms and offices.
5. Complete the New basketball practice facility
6. Tear down CA and build a modern 6,000 seat arena with adequate back of house facilities (training, weight, equipment and locker rooms along with offices which is connected either at grade or below ground with Taffner and below ground with the new basketball facility.

You are hired ‘85!

 

[pdcjay]

No, not at the beginning. As originally envisioned and intended, it was to be a basketball facility only back when Riley was intended to be the big donor (Riley Center). St. John’s needs and the overall cost associated with those needs had it morphed into what it is today.

Just my professional but non licensed opinion would be with the appropriate budget:

1. Build a multi use facility for the students and intramurals where the parking lot and old ROTC building is which is closer to the dorms
2. Build locker and other facilities for softball behind the softball field close to the GCP service road
3. Build locker and other facilities for baseball/soccer in the area between the soccer and baseball stadiums.
4. Re-purpose Taffner for the other sports to use for practice, locker rooms and offices.
5. Complete the New basketball practice facility
6. Tear down CA and build a modern 6,000 seat arena with adequate back of house facilities (training, weight, equipment and locker rooms along with offices which is connected either at grade or below ground with Taffner and below ground with the new basketball facility.

For point 3 they had plans drawn up and was presented to the public. IIRC it was going to include locker rooms for the soccer field, I believe some batting cages for baseball and suite facilities for both stadiums. Harrington probably cheaped out there too.

 

[simplyred]

50mm…? We building an outdoor court with a couple hoops?

That number seems relatively small for a large construction project in NYC…

Please Opine those with knowledge…

Vito Sparafore is giving us a discount

 

[Las Vegan]

No, not at the beginning. As originally envisioned and intended, it was to be a basketball facility only back when Riley was intended to be the big donor (Riley Center). St. John’s needs and the overall cost associated with those needs had it morphed into what it is today.

Just my professional but non licensed opinion would be with the appropriate budget:

1. Build a multi use facility for the students and intramurals where the parking lot and old ROTC building is which is closer to the dorms
2. Build locker and other facilities for softball behind the softball field close to the GCP service road
3. Build locker and other facilities for baseball/soccer in the area between the soccer and baseball stadiums.
4. Re-purpose Taffner for the other sports to use for practice, locker rooms and offices.
5. Complete the New basketball practice facility
6. Tear down CA and build a modern 6,000 seat arena with adequate back of house facilities (training, weight, equipment and locker rooms along with offices which is connected either at grade or below ground with Taffner and below ground with the new basketball facility.

I would add that if a new venue is ever built, try to think of it as an event center, not just a basketball/volleyball arena. It would help if the school could schedule a number of other events, including concerts, golden glove boxing, pro wrestling, trade shows, large graduations, etc. which would help defray the expense. The new DePaul facility is a multi-use venue.

 

[Alumni Hall]

I remember being on campus when Taffner (then Riley Center) was being proposed and built and it was discussed as dual use for both athletes and students but I know after it was built I never stepped foot in there. Intermural basketball was still at Carnesecca.

Every time I walked by I thought how cheap it looked with those gray panels. Could and should have been done so much better.

where have you been? When Taffner was opened, the whole side on the facility was Rec sports. Their offices were there, student locker rooms, and YES they did play rec basketball in there. The only time the wall was ever retracted was for special events and summer mens and women's basketball camps.