Basketball practice facility tidbits

[Harry]

UNT’s push to build a basketball practice facility appears to be picking up some steam. I mentioned a while back that the project is one of a few the UNT athletic department has a committee formed to look into.

Uber booster Ernie Kuehne is on the committee and told me a while back that he will play a key financial role in the project.

UNT has looked into what the best locations are for a practice facility. The committee considered the gym across from the Super Pit that is now used extensively by the university for physical education classes, both in the gym and in the classrooms that are also located in the facility.

The logistics of putting a practice facility in that location didn’t make sense, so the committee has now moved on and has settled on a vacant gym on the old Liberty Christian High School campus that is now a part of the Mean Green Village. UNT converted one of the gyms in that facility into the Mean Green Volleyball Center.

Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2012/08/basketball-practice-facility-tidbits.html/

[LakeTravis]

It seems that plan B is better than plan A.

Mean Green Village makes more sense than on campus.

Closer to athletic dorms

[Harry]

It seems that plan B is better than plan A.

Mean Green Village makes more sense than on campus.

Closer to athletic dorms

Yes but remember the games are in the Super Pit and that's sort of where the basketball guys have traditional been (coaches offices, lockers etc..). I can see positives to both. The biggest thing is I am thrilled that they are doing this and really appreciate Mr. Kuhne's (and others) significant commitments allowing this to happen.

[LakeTravis]

When I talked to Mike Peterson. He said it best.

"We use the super pit maybe once a week for a game.

We use the practice facility everyday."

It will make it easier on the players to get to walking from victory instead of having to find a ride to campus

[KRAM1]

It was mentioned at the Mean green Club Volunteer rep Banquet recently by RV himself that the basketball practice facility is a "go" and on track. Couldn't recall whether he said it would be ready to use in 6 months or that the construction would start in 6 mo. If it is, indeed, a re-do of a Mean green village facility...it might just be ready to go in 6 months. This whole thing is really great and another facilities home run by RV and Company.

[NTGabe15]

Since I used to work in housing I know the basketball players don't live in Victory, they live in Mozart right down the street from the Super Pit. They will have to take a bus if it is built in the MGV.

[LakeTravis]

It might make sense to move them to victory.

[bdan2002]

Here is the facility the ODU plans to open in 2014. It is between $6-$8 Million. The two-story complex will house offices and locker rooms for both the men's and women's programs and will have two side-by-side courts.

[Green Dozer]

It seems that plan B is better than plan A.

Mean Green Village makes more sense than on campus.

Closer to athletic dorms

Basketball team stays in Mozart, at Eagle and UNT Blvd

[NT Alum '04]

I have never visited the volleyball facilities. How are the renovations? Does it feel like a Division 1 program because I imagine the same set up for the basketball facility.

[golfingomez]

how about over 35... next to the pedestrian bridge?

[UNTcrazy727]

I hope they plan to do some MAJOR renovations.

[adman]

What would it cost to for the AD to buy the Super Pit from the school? Then let the school build a new mixed use arena which they can issue bonds for.

Edited August 2, 2012 by adman

[UNT90]

What would it cost to for the AD to buy the Super Pit from the school? Then let the school build a new mixed use arena which they can issue bonds for.

If your gonna do that, just use the money as a downpayment on a new basketball arena., That would make more sense.,

[mean green d]

If your gonna do that, just use the money as a downpayment on a new basketball arena., That would make more sense.,

The university needs to get Mr.Kuehne pushing the baseball agenda as well. He seems to have gotten the basketball practice facility on the fast track awful quickly.

GMG

[aztecskin]

http://www.odusports.com/ot/oldd-new-facilities.html --ODU

ECU http://www.ecupirates.com/facilities/ecu-facilities-williams.html -- plans

UTSA -- http://www.utsa.edu/ucomm/athletics/X.htm -- plans

Southern Miss -- http://www.southernmiss.com/facilities/coliseum.html --plans?

http://www.uabsports.com/facilities/uab-facilities.html --UAB no plans

Tulane http://www.sportsnola.com/sports/tulane/576191-tulane-mens-basketball-holds-first-practice-in-new-practice-facility.html -- new!

Foster Stevens -- UTEP -- http://www.utepathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/utep-07-bbl-fsb-center.html

Tudor Fieldhouse? http://www.riceowls.com/facilities/autry-court.html

LaTech -http://www.latechsports.com/facilities/latc-main.html --Karl Malone court featuring NBA wood that is used . . . on every NBA practice court.

Tulsa -- uses Reynolds? http://www.tulsahurricane.com/facilities/tuls-facilities.html

Quick google searches of the CUSA 13 competition's practice facilities.

[TheWestie]

Am I wrong in thinking that the old LCS cafeteria/gym has been the women's bball practice gym since they created the Mean Green Village? And that softball has indoor batting cages etc in that building. Did I miss something?

I know were talking about building a place for the mens team instead of the Super Pit/Ken Bahnsen Gym/PE Building, but I thought that the old LCS gym next to the volleyball gym was already being used.

Edited August 2, 2012 by TheWestie

[adman]

If your gonna do that, just use the money as a downpayment on a new basketball arena., That would make more sense.,

Well, I wasn't talking true cost. More of a shell game. Something akin to people selling their houses to relatives for $1 type thing. The school as a whole is better equipped to pay mortgages and can use state dollars to build anything non-athletic.

So let's just say The Super Pit has become "too expensive" to maintain. The school sells it to the AD for a fraction of what a new practice facility would cost the AD drops some dough to update. The school in turn uses state money and bonds to build a mixed use facility that might also incorporate City of Denton dollars and become a whiz bang convention center/arena/classroom building. The school in turn makes rent off of any convention that comes to town.

Just me spitballin'. I don't claim to know how any of this fancy financing stuff happens.

[KRAM1]

The university needs to get Mr.Kuehne pushing the baseball agenda as well. He seems to have gotten the basketball practice facility on the fast track awful quickly.

GMG

And, here we have the typical UNT fan response to just about everything......."let someone else do it". Seems Mr. Kuehne is doing quite a lot already...how about some others stepping up to simply join the Mean Green Club and be part of the solution instead of always waiting for someone else to do it...and then complain about what that other person does or how they do it. It does not matter how much, but rather it matters simply "if".

Just a note here: I am not in any way pointing any fingers at mean green D here as I have no clue...nor should I have a clue as it is none of my business...how much or if mean green D donates...my response is just a general response to the many many so-called Mean green fans who make this their mantra..."let someone else do it while I complain, make make negative comments about those who do and while I sit on the sidelines on my rear end making up every lame excuse in the world why I don't help."

EDIT: Just as an example ...I had several people tell me in emails, on the phone or in person that they would join the Mean Green Club during this year's Mean Green Club Volunteer Rep Campaign period only to have them not do so......yep, "let someone else do it".....

Edited August 2, 2012 by KRAM1

[Stan R]

The university needs to get Mr.Kuehne pushing the baseball agenda as well. He seems to have gotten the basketball practice facility on the fast track awful quickly.

GMG

I'm just overjoyed with the fact that someone is actually taking the initiative to get the ball rolling and helping out RV in gathering (donating also) necessary funds for this. From what I gather the space is basically already there (court) and it's just a question of how much to add on. Since we have the open land and infrastructure (electricity, water, etc.) I would imagine we could do a heck of a job for a million, maybe less. If you need lockers and a meeting room or two - you could do that in what - 6,000 sq. feet?? Am I way off in my assumptions/estimations?

Edited August 2, 2012 by Stan R

[Stan R]

I guess the other point being made which I think is critical to our future here is to capitalize on this by adding FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTS. Just because we have tony and TJ and <insert awesomer player name here> doesn't mean that in 4 years we might possibly be back to averaging 2,000 fans per game. Yes we obviously have to win and win big next year but the way to continue forward progress is to.......

YOU GUESSED IT! Show me the money. That means we have to capitalize on the team power gains by putting in concrete capital improvements:

- increasing spending on game day atmosphere (gradually amp up atmosphere by spending the $$$)

- Bling out the practice facility as much as POSSIBLE.

- Jumbotron is a must over the next 2 years MAKE.. IT.. HAPPEN.. I don't want to hear whining about we don't own the facility. BS - MAKE IT SO. Work with the UNT administration to work out some kind of agreement.

- Amp up the concessions. (Options, Quality, Staffing) Come on - with crowds averaging over 4,000 - this should be doable. I stand in the crazy lines - it needs work guys.

[Harry]

I guess the other point being made which I think is critical to our future here is to capitalize on this by adding FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTS. Just because we have tony and TJ and <insert awesomer player name here> doesn't mean that in 4 years we might possibly be back to averaging 2,000 fans per game. Yes we obviously have to win and win big next year but the way to continue forward progress is to.......

YOU GUESSED IT! Show me the money. That means we have to capitalize on the team power gains by putting in concrete capital improvements:

- increasing spending on game day atmosphere (gradually amp up atmosphere by spending the $$$)

- Bling out the practice facility as much as POSSIBLE.

- Jumbotron is a must over the next 2 years MAKE.. IT.. HAPPEN.. I don't want to hear whining about we don't own the facility. BS - MAKE IT SO. Work with the UNT administration to work out some kind of agreement.

- Amp up the concessions. (Options, Quality, Staffing) Come on - with crowds averaging over 4,000 - this should be doable. I stand in the crazy lines - it needs work guys.

I'd like to see the Jumbotron happen this year...it seems possible and it would make a HUGE difference...seems to me the cost of the technology has gone way down...maybe we could cut a deal???

[UNT 90 Grad]

I'd like to see the Jumbotron happen this year...it seems possible and it would make a HUGE difference...seems to me the cost of the technology has gone way down...maybe we could cut a deal???

I think the sound system and lighting are in need of replacement prior to the video board, IMO.

[Dr. Seuss]

as others have stated, it makes sence for them to build the practice facility on campus instead of the meangreen village because they live at mozart... Kinda confused why they wouldnt... The reason why they put victory over at mean green village is so the athletes can be closer to there practice faciliities. So why would you change the idea?

[UNT 90 Grad]

as others have stated, it makes sence for them to build the practice facility on campus instead of the meangreen village because they live at mozart... Kinda confused why they wouldnt... The reason why they put victory over at mean green village is so the athletes can be closer to there practice faciliities. So why would you change the idea?

Wouldn't you then start having the basketball players start living at Victory Hall? That way they are closer to the practice facility as well as to all the other athletic amenities over there. I'm assuming that's the plan. I'm guessing they'll put basketball offices at the practice facility as well.