Stadium Question

[UNTexas]

Are they still planning on building a basketball stadium on the hill? I recall a while back there was talk about that and there was an odd arrangement with the university and super pit. Any info would be appreciated. 

[Coach Andy Mac]

18 minutes ago, UNTexas said:

Are they still planning on building a basketball stadium on the hill? I recall a while back there was talk about that and there was an odd arrangement with the university and super pit. Any info would be appreciated. 

I do believe so as I think I sawr it in the master plan.

[UNT86]

Yes, that is still the plan.

When we built the Super Pit, we used academic money.  After UT and aTm built their facilities, they changed the law so that academic money could not be used on athletic buildings.  We got around that by letting the academic side build an "auditorium" that we happen to play basketball in.  Athletics rents the Pit from the academic side of the university.  That is why we have seldom been able to make upgrades/updates and why the women had to play a home game at TWU a couple of years ago.

 

The master plan calls for a new basketball arena on top of the hill where the old hotel once stood.  When built, it will be much smaller than the Pit.  The thinking is that we want to encourage people to buy season tickets and make the walk-up game sales a smaller part of the equation.

Go Mean Green.

[Andrew]

I was hoping they were going to put it in across from the pit once they tore down fouts. Perfect spot for it and a parking garage. Easy to host tournaments as well with two courts right there. 

[UNT86]

I think the plan at one time was a dorm complex called Fouts Village.  I don't know if the university is still thinking of putting that on the old stadium site.

As I am sure most of you already know, Willis Library sits on the original football stadium.

[meangreen11]

This should help you:

http://dhawthorne.com/2017/11/25/unt-mp/

[greenminer]

Wigs me out that people would use "stadium" to describe a basketball venue, but it's not wrong lol

Has anyone heard any numbers in regards to seating capacity?

[BillySee58]

4 minutes ago, greenminer said:

Wigs me out that people would use "stadium" to describe a basketball venue, but it's not wrong lol

Has anyone heard any numbers in regards to seating capacity?

It was about 6,800 iirc. Smaller, more intimate venue with less empty seats.

[BillySee58]

1 hour ago, Andrew said:

I was hoping they were going to put it in across from the pit once they tore down fouts. Perfect spot for it and a parking garage. Easy to host tournaments as well with two courts right there. 

I believe any future sporting venues constructed will all be on the Apogee side of the highway going forward.

[Andrew]

12 minutes ago, BillySee58 said:

I believe any future sporting venues constructed will all be on the Apogee side of the highway going forward.

That’s what I was told after the convention center failed, but personally I believe across from the pit would be more ideal. Closer for students and if you connected a parking garage easier access for fans as well. Great set up for tournaments for college and high school. Would have been nice 😕 

[Andrew]

15 minutes ago, BillySee58 said:

It was about 6,800 iirc. Smaller, more intimate venue with less empty seats.

I was hoping for 8k-10k to promote growth. Students can come out and pack the place. I witnessed that as a student in the early 2000s. 

[BillySee58]

9 minutes ago, Andrew said:

I was hoping for 8k-10k to promote growth. Students can come out and pack the place. I witnessed that as a student in the early 2000s. 

We’ll see, but my guess is the demand has to actually be there. Maybe if the team continues to reach new heights like we are now the attendance will warrant it, post COVID.

For every Texas Tech 2010, or CBI Finals game there are 10+ non-conference and early conference games where the actual butt in seat attendance struggles to break 1,500.