They can't fit the number of seats there are if backs are added. Backs increase the size of the seats decreasing the number of seats.
Would SJU benefit from playing less games at MSG?
- Thread starter hokie _04
- Start date
They can't fit the number of seats there are if backs are added. Backs increase the size of the seats decreasing the number of seats.
DieHard Johnny
Member
Very true under Louie then Mahoney lost the Lapchick tourney & its not a given W anymore
I remember playing Nova on campus with Mullin as a soph nova had john pinnone
I watched Louie & Rollie taunting the refs more than the players lol
DieHard Johnny
Member
Better & more comfortable seats were promised not delivered
Harry screwed up when Riley promised to pay for a new arena if he hired Matt Doherty instead of Roberts
another nobrainer he blew I guess if Riley had thrown in a hawian vacation w a rolex we would be in state of the art new arena today lol quote Michael Corleone in GF3 " the higher u go in this church the more corrupt they r"
DieHard Johnny
Member
Did they not bring back the MSG only season tix pack ???
prjohnnies
Member
MSG is a HUGE recruiting tool. Every recruit seems to mention that and it is a major selling point for the staff. We should always play our fair share of games there, we just need to make sure we schedule the right opponents going forward.
It has been pointed out in other threads that we don't need to come close to selling out MSG for the university to make money. Apparently that is one of the reasons that Norm last as long as he did. And when we had some really good crowds during Lavin's first year (UCONN, Duke, Pitt), I am sure the school made nice return at the gate.
It has been pointed out in other threads that we don't need to come close to selling out MSG for the university to make money. Apparently that is one of the reasons that Norm last as long as he did. And when we had some really good crowds during Lavin's first year (UCONN, Duke, Pitt), I am sure the school made nice return at the gate.
DieHard Johnny
Member
It all starts at the top of St.js pyramid Harry pissed off Riley by not hiring Doherty Riley did not fill harrys desk w cash but was willing to pay the construction co. bill for a new arena
I met Riley in R&W yrs ago & believe his story cant blame him for pulling back his $ on a Stormin Normin hire
Once Harrington should resign/retire hopefully a new president does things Right toward wining back our major fans & donators to get our 1st championship since Joe Lap {yes they forced him to retire w Alcindor wrapped under Coach Laps christmas tree}
There really is no excuse for not having comfortable seating. If they have to get rid of a few hundred seats, so be it. Get rid of the top 10 rows on each side near the moon that no one sits in, and adjust using the space accordingly. In a day in age where SJ rakes in 40k per year from each student at a university with 20,000 total students, there is no excuse. This school makes a ton of money and a lot of it comes from basketball, so improving and maintaining that valuable asset should be essential. If that means removing seats to make more room or spending a lot to expand and adding backs to all the chairs with some padding then so be it... it's something that can and should be done. Have you seen SUNY Binghamton's on campus stadium? The place is amazing and has very nice comfortable seats. Yet, we at SJ, a 20,000 student school in the Big East and a storied basketball history can't do it? I can't buy that.
beast of the east
Active member
There was NEVER a promise of a new arena by Riley or anyone else. Riley had pledged to fund the student athletic center, which Tafner of Three's Company fame, stepped in and saved, hence the Tafner center. Your assertion is wrong.
beast of the east
Active member
Just so you are aware, 95% of SJU students receive scholarship money or grant in aid, courtesy of generous donors. I believe you had mentioned that you were receiving some sort of partial scholarship to attend grad school. Without donors, capital improvements wouldn't happen. St. John's and FH have done an amazing job of transforming the campus over the past 20 years. A new on campus arena was never considered a priority once the bulk of the big games were shifted to MSG, something that Hofstra or other lesser programs do not have the luxury of. I don't recall the exist figure, but I believe the CA renovation was budgeted at $20 million. It was given a facelift instead of radical changes.
In terms of whining about the bleachers, before the makeover, Carnesecca himself (and Mahoney) sat in the bleachers behind the basket in what is now the student section. IF a then 70 something year old HOF coach can sit in bleachers, I guess I can too.
In terms of inequities of our basketball arena, it takes one major thing to accomplish - alumni donations. Universities by themselves do not generate tons of profit. Nearly all would lose money without substantial public funding or private donations. Look at the endowments of Harvard or Yale - their alumni have built their endowments byond $50 billion. St. John's endowment, with 20,000 students, and hundreds of thousands of alumni, is about $300 million - paltry by almost all private university standards.
The problem with donations is that way too many people think it is someone else's job. Riley, who has been torched here, was one of our most generous donors, giving millions to the university, and helping students get jobs with Goldman Sachs. Many of us think its up to "wealthy" people to donate, not us personally. In reality, when FH arrived on campus less than 4% of alumni donated anything to the school. I believe the number is up to 17% or so (JSJ would know better). It's still far too little. The big donations help a lot, but it's the lack of a more generous alumni that would stand between a brand new on campus arena.
I am not under scholarship...I was offered some from several other schools but chose SJ because it was the best program with the most prestige. The only better programs in the area for my field are Columbia and Fordham. Other schools I applied to had only recently established such MS programs and the faculty was not as impressive and experienced. Not sure if you guys know this, but for School Psychology we are elite. Our faculty are some of the most famous and influential in the field, so that makes me proud to go here. It's a very small field though and SJ has actually asked me to go to my alma mater and endorse them to lure more students to Queens or the LI campus.
Anyway, I believe the donations at least as of the past 5 years or so can be partially explained by the stagnant economy. It's just hard for a lot of people to find that extra money to give away right now even if they had thought about doing it. If I was making 6 figures with no debt in my own house and all right now, I would donate to both Marist and St. John's no doubt. I think it's very important to give back and maintain relations especially if they helped you become successful. Also, as you stated before, many students are on scholarships or receive tons of aid coming from low SES areas and even being the first in their family to go to college. How then, can you be surprised when they don't have much to give back? One of the more comical things in life is when you graduate and a month later your college is calling begging for money because that $160,000 you are still chipping away at just wasn't enough. It's not a matter of people wanting to donate...I think it's more a matter of if they are in prime position to. I definitely will though once I get my first real job, because that's how I am.
Something I've noticed at CA is that it just doesn't feel homey. It just has a certain open-air, industrial feel to it rather than a small, comfortable, lovable arena. You have the beams blocking certain views, bleachers in places where most schools would have full chairs, and the sections behind each basket are very small and raised a good 14-15 feet off the ground. It doesn't give you that close part of the game feel. Rik Smits constantly donates new wood floors to Marist...I wonder if Mullin and Artest have donated things like that here. I also can't stand how they won't move people down so it looks better on TV. I saw like 3 or 4 rows empty in prime seating locations at mid court while some people were on the ceiling. To end on a positive note though, I must say I love the lobby of CA...it's gorgeous and really impressive.
beast of the east
Active member
CA dates back to the early 60s,when the campus moved there from Brooklyn. To simply renovate and not build a new arean, they had many contraints. When you are really high up the ceiling is almost an obstruction since you cant see fans across the court. The student sections replaced a tiny bleacher section that wasn't used at all until fairly recently.
I know people in development at schoolsI donate to. The reason they solicit donations form recent grads is to create a culture of giving. As a psych grad student you probably understand the psychology of creating a charitable behavior and allegiance to the school. Many schools ask 1st year grads to donate $20.12 to mark their graduation year. They also spend much more than that in postage and brochures to keep you in the fold.
I'm glad you have a heart for charity, and donations to your school is charitable.
Also can echo that St Johns has a fine psychology program. A PhD pschologist friend of mine did his masters at St. Johns. My guess is your aspirations are for a PhD. Good luck
DieHard Johnny
Member
Unless you were there when Riley met with Harrington I think your wrong in saying Never
Taffner GoD bless him built the center but Riley was pushing for a still much needed Arena & hiring Doherty as head coach who did a good job at ND but not at NC
Take a vote on the renovated CA its maybe 25% better than before & still floods w no AC
beast of the east
Active member
I didnt have to be there. It's public knowledge:
http://www.stjohns.edu/alumni/pr_uni_050602.news_item@digest.stjohns.edu/alumni/pr_uni_050602.xml
Sometimes proof is better than speculation, no?
DieHard Johnny
Member
man u r really gullible to think they print the truth always lol have a good day
jerseyshorejohnny
Well-known member
Jayson Williams, back before his "troubles" donated $1 million.
FWIW.. JR was a guest of the Lavins at a Christmas party at their home.
FWIW.. JR was a guest of the Lavins at a Christmas party at their home.
beast of the east
Active member
Do you know the people you are talking about? The man has donated millions to the university, and helped in numerous ways. Give it a break, you make yourself look silly with wild speculation.