November 15, 2023
Today's episode of "Can you believe the arena/entertainment district hype"
This is a crowd source opportunity. Last night an OU representative boldly claimed that OU "needs a new arena" to have a successful basketball program. (or something close to this...it was late)
There are two ways to fact check this: (1) what is the correlation between new arenas and winning percentages and (2) do the most successful programs have the best and newest arenas?
According to wikipedia the most winning NCAA men's basketball program is Kentucky.
Kentucky plays in Rupp arena, built in 1971 Guess what - they are upgrading Rupp arena not building a new one b/c upgrading is more cost effective.
Second place is University of Kansas. KU plays in Allen Field house which was built in 1955 and is planning UPGRADES (not a new facility) to improve fan experience.
Clearly a new arena is not a requirement for a winning team....
Comments from Neighbors 4 Norman Facebook:
[Me] #3 the Tar Heels play in the Dean Smith Center completed in 1986. Are they replacing it with a brand new building? NOPE
" In November 2015, Cunningham told the media that the school had been looking at renovating the Smith Center to add premium level seating and reducing the overall capacity by potentially 4,000 seats or building a replacement structure.[33] This project would also be privately financed through donations and athletic department revenue, but not with state taxes.[33]"
Megan Benson: Gonzaga's 6000 capacity arena dates to 2004, relatively new, but was paid for by a private donor! GO ZAGS!
Keith Brewster: Duke is also one of the most successful basketball programs over the past 30 years. Cameron Indoor Stadium first opened in 1940. If the new arena seats ~8000 it will actually be smaller than Cameron Indoor (9314)
Robert A Terry: Cameron Indoor Stadium for the Duke BB team is an antiquated arena by any standard and yet is considered on of the gems of college basketball. Cameron is one of the few major arenas that uses backboards suspended from the ceiling instead of anchored on the floor. - that is how old it is.
They finally installed AC in 2004 because of the odor problem - but it is still there.
I think the Blue Devils have done reasonably well ,,, Sorry UK and KU fans.
Susan Elizabeth Hahn: Indiana University - Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall built 1971. Renovated 2018. seats 17, 222 and is consistently sold out
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