Thinking about the Super Pit....

[keith]

A topic almost as popular as uniform and helmet talk in the off-season, but it seems like we will be with the Super Pit for the foreseeable future.  Given the time it's taken to get the Athletic Center expansion off the ground, I can't image raising the money necessary to build a new basketball arena any time soon.  To be honest, with a decent crowd, it presents pretty well on TV for its age.  There are certainly worse venues out there.  Let's say it's our home for at least 10 more years (probably more in reality), what can/should be done to dress up the place?  Not really considering cost, feasibility or priority, but here's some initial thoughts.  This is mainly from the perspective of a TV viewer.

1.  Lighting.  I think we made some lighting improvements a few years ago, but even with the improved production quality of ESPN, there are camera angles where the court and players don't show up well.

2.  Removable curtains or something to block off all or portions of the upper deck seating.  Artificially reduce capacity to force seating to be in the lower bowl.  Can be removed if necessary for larger crowds.  More crowd noise?  Doesn't look empty on TV but could also look bad if the curtains are cheap or it looks like we're hiding something.  

3.  Dead space behind the baskets.   It looks like we are adding some baseline seating on court, but is there any way to add more back there (student or standing room only)?  Players need to get through the tunnels, so may not be possible.  Maybe just paint the ugly cement floor if nothing else can be done or add some hardwood to extend the floor all the way to the edge of the stands.

4.  Raise the floor?  Is that even possible?  Maybe not all the way, but bring it up closer to the first row of seating?  On many courts, the first row (not court-level) is almost directly behind the scorer's table and team benches.  

Edited 20 hours ago by keith

[Mean Green Newz]

1 hour ago, keith said:

1.  Lighting.  I think we made some lighting improvements a few years ago, but even with the improved production quality of ESPN, there are camera angles where the court and players don't show up well.

We most certainly did but not enough as you state.  It was so dark that film crews had to rent lights for any major station broadcasts.

[Aquila_Viridis]

There are never many people in the upper; shutting it won’t make much difference. And the upper never shows on tv. I like the cheaper seats, extra space and higher perspective.

They should make a pedestrian bridge from the lot up to the entrance level.

[UNTFan23]

30 minutes ago, Mean Green Newz said:

We most certainly did but not enough as you state.  It was so dark that film crews had to rent lights for any major station broadcasts.

The lighting system was upgraded when we started play in the American. We were due for another lighting upgrade as we were starting to have LED packs starting to fail. 

[Aquila_Viridis]

Maybe having a ceiling other than jet black would make it lighter in there.

[Mean Green 93-98]

Orange seats would go a long way toward brightening up the place.

 

 

[NorthTexasWeLove]

1. Actually develop a marketing plan to get butts in seats. Then, act out that plan with tenacity. 

2. Baseline seating.

3. Average 5k+ 

[GMG_Dallas]

1 hour ago, Aquila_Viridis said:

They should make a pedestrian bridge from the lot up to the entrance level.

Respectfully, this seems like a huge waste of money as there's no need with the lot being right across the street. Plus, it's a 4 lane street. What kind of bridge is going to look nice in such little space.

I like the curtains around the top sections until the bottom is close to being sold out. Then I'd add video boards all around the arena on the concrete walls between the lower and upper sections similar to what NBA arenas do. It would provide more light and you can play highlights, run ads ($$), show the box score, and show scores of other games. I have zero clue how much it would cost but with the ability to run ads throughout the game, you may be able to pay it all off over time. Edit to add, reserve the video boards for nationally televised games to sell that advertising space at a premium.

Edited 18 hours ago by GMG_Dallas

[Matt from A700]

Liven up the concourse and exterior. Make it obvious on gamedays there's an event going on. FAU has a student tailgate before several games. Look at the vendors the AAC has on Victory Plaza before Mavs games and make some calls. Our merch booth is a joke. I'd like to see a walk-through spirit store like the Hangar at the AAC. Maybe with NIL in-house now, you can make The Pit's spirit store be more NIL-heavy offering jerseys/shirts supporting players from all sports.

I'm not an engineer, but could we take out a couple of upper level sections to create a concourse bar area that also has a view of the game?

We also need updated stat boards.

[GMG_Dallas]

14 minutes ago, Matt from A700 said:

Liven up the concourse and exterior. Make it obvious on gamedays there's an event going on. FAU has a student tailgate before several games. Look at the vendors the AAC has on Victory Plaza before Mavs games and make some calls. Our merch booth is a joke. I'd like to see a walk-through spirit store like the Hangar at the AAC. Maybe with NIL in-house now, you can make The Pit's spirit store be more NIL-heavy offering jerseys/shirts supporting players from all sports.

I'm not an engineer, but could we take out a couple of upper level sections to create a concourse bar area that also has a view of the game?

We also need updated stat boards.

I love the idea of bringing vendors to be around the Super Pit before games. I wonder if the school could vet a few food truck/food stands to setup inside and outside on game days and make it to where they accept student meal plan flex cash. Make it a destination for students to go grab a bite to eat on game days and then have the staff invite the students in for the game. The key is it would have to be food vendors students wouldn't otherwise have access to on campus. If I'm a vendor, getting access to 4000+ potential customers in the span of a few hours should be pretty good for business.

[Aquila_Viridis]

38 minutes ago, Matt from A700 said:

We also need updated stat boards.

Absolutely!

As for the bridge, I don’t care what it looks like. I don’t want anyone to get run over and the current situation is a traffic hassle. It’s a hazard especially at night. Make it easier for people to get in there, and safely, and maybe more will come.

Edited 17 hours ago by Aquila_Viridis

[UNTFan23]

1 hour ago, GMG_Dallas said:

Respectfully, this seems like a huge waste of money as there's no need with the lot being right across the street. Plus, it's a 4 lane street. What kind of bridge is going to look nice in such little space.

I like the curtains around the top sections until the bottom is close to being sold out. Then I'd add video boards all around the arena on the concrete walls between the lower and upper sections similar to what NBA arenas do. It would provide more light and you can play highlights, run ads ($$), show the box score, and show scores of other games. I have zero clue how much it would cost but with the ability to run ads throughout the game, you may be able to pay it all off over time. Edit to add, reserve the video boards for nationally televised games to sell that advertising space at a premium.

I wish we could do this but there is a "bump out" that has to be ground down to be flat and the sight lines for the lower sections to see these boards would not be very good. I do think adding digital boards above all of the entrances/exits is perhaps more doable and would accomplish a similar goal.

I would absolutely love to see new all digital video boards to replace both scoreboards and the stats boards in the four corners. Best guess for the total cost might be upwards of $4 million alone for that upgrade. 

Edited 16 hours ago by UNTFan23

[MCMLXXX]

3 hours ago, Aquila_Viridis said:

They should make a pedestrian bridge from the lot up to the entrance level.

 Almost no one would take the bridge. For 50 years they had a bridge over Bell Ave. on the TWU campus and I never saw anyone cross that bridge except when groups went up to hang signs off of it. They finally tore it down. Money would be better spent upgrading the interior. 

They need to sell naming rights to the Super Pit. 

[GMG_Dallas]

44 minutes ago, UNTFan23 said:

I wish we could do this but there is a "bump out" that has to be ground down to be flat and the sight lines for the lower sections to see these boards would not be very good. I do think adding digital boards above all of the entrances/exits is perhaps more doable and would accomplish a similar goal.

I would absolutely love to see new all digital video boards to replace both scoreboards and the stats boards in the four corners. Best guess for the total cost might be upwards of $4 million alone for that upgrade. 

Above the exits would probably be good as well. Like you said, would accomplish similar things.

[GMG24]

3 hours ago, NorthTexasWeLove said:

1. Actually develop a marketing plan to get butts in seats. Then, act out that plan with tenacity. 

2. Baseline seating.

3. Average 5k+ 

stop texting the same people who already buy tickets about upcoming games 😳

 

Maybe try and target a new market 😎

[NM Green]

I would put tarps on the upper levels with logos force everyone into the lower bowl. 

The concourse needs some restaurants and pop up bars. There is so much room in the concourse too. Have an indoor tailgate. With DJ craft beer and cocktails and tvs showing other games. A high tech Eastside pouring 8 crafts and featuring big screens. 

Also put tvs in the food stations showing our game when in line for drinks and popcorn like DATCU. 

How about a party lounge you could buy into on game days not just for donors but for people who want to have that admirals club feel just for that day. 

Keep the guy doing the rousing all game long. He’s strong and loud and encouraging. 

Finally plan the high profile events further out. I bet so many kids from all over Denton would have showed up for the past games promo. He is so popular and Dude Perfect promos around Denton schools would have sold that place out! 

GMG

One more. Rip out a sliver of a section and make it a supporters section with just rails and cup holders. Standing only tickets $15 watch it become the second rowdiest section behind the Maniacs. I can’t stand sitting at games and these sections draw a special kind of hooligan. 

Edited 14 hours ago by NM Green

[Matt from A700]

Regarding a pedestrian bridge, let's extend the DATCU sky bridge to the Pit concourse with a station/elevators convert it into a monorail. Then the students who are all of a sudden complaining about the distance to football games don't have to walk so far.

[NorthTexasWeLove]

1 hour ago, GMG24 said:

stop texting the same people who already buy tickets about upcoming games 😳

 

Maybe try and target a new market 😎

Not my job... homie. 

Maybe stop defending UNT incompetence at every turn. You and that jd dude are pros at it. 

[UNTLifer]

Seats aren’t going to be removed because the university needs it for graduation and they own the bldg. 

The east side entrance mall needs to be “dressed up” with string lights, lights in trees, vendors, food, music, refreshments, etc. on game days. 

The concourse needs to be livened up. Pop up bars, store similar to the one at DATCU that can be accessed from inside the SP and outside, information on the MGSF, music, monitors showing the game when in line for concessions, more efficient concessions, etc. 

[Aquila_Viridis]

There is a busy thoroughfare between the event and the main parking for the event. Perfect. I guess you guys would be ok with people dodging cars on 35 to get to the stadium. A test of faith to find the few worthy to be a fan! Maybe route traffic to the back side of the lot then.

[NT80]

8 hours ago, NorthTexasWeLove said:

1. Actually develop a marketing plan to get butts in seats. Then, act out that plan with tenacity.