My teammates and I always talked about what school had the coolest gym in the MIAC, and it was always fun talking about which gyms people liked playing in and which gyms people hated. I think it would be determine (in our own humble opinions ;D) the coolest gym in each conference! Although I am limited to the Upper midwest, I will give my opinions where I can.
MIAC - Has to be Hutton Arena of Hamline University. Not only does it have the looks and the history (http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2016-02-09/first-intercollegiate-basketball-game-was-played-feb-9-1895) (http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2016-02-09/first-intercollegiate-basketball-game-was-played-feb-9-1895))) but it is also very player friendly. I could see some arguing Concordia M'head (but I may be biased ;))
UMAC - This conference might have the worst gyms in d3, but Northwestern's is actually very neat. Not too big but still has the collegiate feel rather than the high school feel. Probably helps that they also have the best attendance in the conference too.
I would love to hear if you guys like this idea and your opinions on the matter!
Quote from: Smitty Oom on March 16, 2016, 12:11:02 AM
My teammates and I always talked about what school had the coolest gym in the MIAC, and it was always fun talking about which gyms people liked playing in and which gyms people hated. I think it would be determine (in our own humble opinions ;D) the coolest gym in each conference! Although I am limited to the Upper midwest, I will give my opinions where I can.
MIAC - Has to be Hutton Arena of Hamline University. Not only does it have the looks and the history (http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2016-02-09/first-intercollegiate-basketball-game-was-played-feb-9-1895) (http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2016-02-09/first-intercollegiate-basketball-game-was-played-feb-9-1895))) but it is also very player friendly. I could see some arguing Concordia M'head (but I may be biased ;))
UMAC - This conference might have the worst gyms in d3, but Northwestern's is actually very neat. Not too big but still has the collegiate feel rather than the high school feel. Probably helps that they also have the best attendance in the conference too.
I would love to hear if you guys like this idea and your opinions on the matter!
Great Idea Smitty. I'll add a pic and the 360 view (if available) for each gym. I don't know if the UMAC has the worst gyms, but it's definitely a unique mix from the 4,000 seat Minnesota-Morris P.E. Center to 3 gyms with bleachers on only one sideline and Bethany Lutheran with their bandbox.
Hamline's Hutton Arena:
360 View (http://www.circavistavirtualtours.com/hamline/HuttonArena.html)
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hamline.edu%2FuploadedImages%2FHamline_WWW%2FAbout_Hamline%2FImages%2Fhutton.jpg&hash=61b6b5a43993c20ca041fe9b21141e8bc80746e4)
Northwestern's Ericksen Center: 360 View (http://www.circavistavirtualtours.com/universityofnorthwestern/Gymnasium.html)
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Funweagles.com%2Fcommon%2Fcontrols%2Fimage_handler.aspx%3Fthumb_id%3D13%26amp%3Bimage_path%3D%2Fimages%2F2016%2F10%2F25%2FUNWSP_Gym_8.jpg&hash=53e25731feeee393f7fe6dc3c737484a79db9820)
Nice topic guys!?
Anyway, I have been to many D1 gyms, but fewer D3 gyms. With regards to NE Gyms, Harvard, with all its money and now high powered HC, has a 2nd floor small gym! Having dumped on my brother's school, I will stick with the NESCAC schools. I will wager that the most beloved gym will be the one at Bates College...a bandbox gym. I will also add Cousens gym as the most unusual gym. That can be seen on the Tufts University website. It was recently the site of a NCAA sectional. The gym had to be renovated in order to meet NCAA standards!
Alumni Gym at Bates College:
No 360, but found this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUFp2ucoMhI)showcasing a little bandbox atmosphere.
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fathletics.bates.edu%2Ffacilities%2FAlumniGymIndoors1391.jpg%3Fmax_height%3D636%26amp%3Bmax_width%3D954&hash=fdc45b227ffacdf2e840a738531551cef237d2cd)
AO, what do you think about the MIAC gym? Obviously you agree with the UMAC gym! Yeah I watched a bit of the games at Cousens gym, very cool and uniqgue gym is right.
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2008/2099022877_57df5526e6_b.jpg)
I enjoy both of those gyms and their old school feels.
MIAC - Hutton Arena (Hamline)
UMAC - Erickson Center (Northwestern)
NESCAC - Alumni Gymnasium (Bates)
Others probably won't agree with me but I like Albion College's Kresge Gymnasium, MIAA. Built in 1925
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CZ_fapjWwAEJ6z2.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CZ_hJ8bWcAEskmL.jpg)
Quote from: Smitty Oom on March 16, 2016, 02:13:31 PM
AO, what do you think about the MIAC gyms?
A quick ranking.
1. Hamline -historic, great sightlines and Dave Wright brings the ambiance on the PA.
2. Concordia-solely based on my experience at high school playoff games in the mid-90s. It's a shame they can't figure out to fill it up for the cobbers.
3. Bethel - bouncy floor, fun crowd
4. Gustavus - big and loud but take away a point for bleachers being too far from the court
5. St. John's - More fun high school playoff games, too empty for most games not involving St. Cloud State or St. Thomas
6. St. Thomas - odd they decided to only let fans enter from the floor and not the 2nd level. Jumbotron currently underutilized. Not much of an upgrade from the old shoe.
7. Macalester - Also liked the old gym better, but the increase in capacity was necessary and top-down fan entrance is nice.
8. Carleton - Didn't play there but looks nice and bright
9. St. Olaf - Pretty nice that all seats have backs.
10. Augsburg - worst visiting team locker room in the MIAC and mostly apathetic students
11. St. Mary's - Never been. If Winona State can draw big crowds, maybe the cards can someday too.
Quote from: sac on March 16, 2016, 03:01:10 PM
Others probably won't agree with me but I like Albion College's Kresge Gymnasium, MIAA. Built in 1925
Purely just an outsider to the MIAA, so understand that I have never visited any of these gyms, but Hope and Calvin have some pretty dang cool d3 gyms it appears. These two and Albion definitely makes the MIAA a power gym conference!
Hope
(https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwjctML5oMbLAhXCmIMKHVGvBi4QjBwIBA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fathletics.hope.edu%2Fsports%2Fmbkb%2Fhistory%2F05Nov19Opening680.jpg%3Fmax_height%3D280%26max_width%3D400&psig=AFQjCNHK3maPmm6FH6vY0BPmuOAT4g-rSg&ust=1458253811627595)
Calvin
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.calvin.edu%2FcontentAsset%2Fimage%2F797bdafe-4c50-4582-95e2-0df2a8be6a72%2FbannerImage%2Ffilter%2FJpeg%2Fjpeg_q%2F85.jpg&hash=ce0423d91a49a07edf97a5b18326fb424a22c01a)
I can't give a player's perspective, but as a fan, I've been to 7 of the 10 NCAC venues and 6 of the 10 in the OAC, and my favorites by wide margins are Kenyon and Capital, respectively. Outside of Ohio, I like Hanover's gym very much.
Salve Regina is in Newport, RI - famous for its historic robber baron mansions from the gilded age. The inside of the gym is pretty normal, but the outside, as with the other buildings on campus, is built to fit in with the town motif. The floor is sunk down a bit from ground level, so it can fit inside a mansion facade. It's pretty cool.
Quote from: David Collinge on March 16, 2016, 07:22:52 PM
I can't give a player's perspective, but as a fan, I've been to 7 of the 10 NCAC venues and 6 of the 10 in the OAC, and my favorites by wide margins are Kenyon and Capital, respectively. Outside of Ohio, I like Hanover's gym very much.
Kenyon's Tomsich Arena:
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww1.kenyon.edu%2Fathleticcenter%2Fimages%2Farena.jpg&hash=e25dd681c9da3be33b5ccf75977f4fdc18c2d7fa)(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.snhuconferences.com%2Fsites%2Funiquevenues.com%2Ffiles%2Fimagecache%2F2015_venue_flexslider%2Fvenues%2Fslideshow%2FBCS-D108-B3-Kenyon-Scout-2-10-06-%28c%29-2006-David-Lamb.jpg&hash=e806e26f666f95a1639e8c535c87f1e83e91af1c)
Capital's Performance Arena:
360 View (http://www.youvisit.com/tour/panoramas/capital?id=30098)
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fy02SHud.png&hash=88273ebcf0a52069435395f1a874a7a432195943)
Hanover's Collier Arena:
360 View (http://walkinto.in/tour/Wy4wZWgxVebygVvW-llVg?scene=38.71443379685702%7C-85.46324827523307%7C-16.063092505862677%7C-15.187681178380336%7C0%7Cmylv0P2E8j0AAAQY5_UQWw%7Cfalse%7CGOOGLE)
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/37/63/7f/37637f6810533ed395ad54b16faef0a5.jpg)
Quote from: Hoops Fan on March 16, 2016, 09:21:57 PM
Salve Regina is in Newport, RI - famous for its historic robber baron mansions from the gilded age. The inside of the gym is pretty normal, but the outside, as with the other buildings on campus, is built to fit in with the town motif. The floor is sunk down a bit from ground level, so it can fit inside a mansion facade. It's pretty cool.
Salve Regina's Rodger's Basketball Gym:
360 View (http://map.salve.edu/map/?id=602#!sv/63909)
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsalve.edu%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fbasic_slideshow%2Fpublic%2Ffc%2Fimage%2Frogers1.jpg%3Fitok%3DE0p-wiYY&hash=39ce39ec27a48ed7ccac18565736326ee3371a19)
Quote from: Smitty Oom on March 16, 2016, 06:47:07 PM
Quote from: sac on March 16, 2016, 03:01:10 PM
Others probably won't agree with me but I like Albion College's Kresge Gymnasium, MIAA. Built in 1925
Purely just an outsider to the MIAA, so understand that I have never visited any of these gyms, but Hope and Calvin have some pretty dang cool d3 gyms it appears. These two and Albion definitely makes the MIAA a power gym conference!
Hope
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.valeotraining.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F03%2Fdevos.jpg&hash=9ca0830a1b2516377aae9b3ad04f33bfd276ed3b)
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.mwcradio.com%2Fmimesis%2F2013-01%2F13%2F32308_427427463989342_1694002710_n_jpg_475x310_q85.jpg&hash=80298c8517926f6048b83761b479e0c38f9c091f)
Calvin
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.calvin.edu%2FcontentAsset%2Fimage%2F797bdafe-4c50-4582-95e2-0df2a8be6a72%2FbannerImage%2Ffilter%2FJpeg%2Fjpeg_q%2F85.jpg&hash=ce0423d91a49a07edf97a5b18326fb424a22c01a)
Fixed the Hope picture
AO and other posters here....great to provide pics of mentioned venues.
Just want to clarify my put down of my older brother's school gym. We are several years apart and are close. Spent a great deal of time in Cambridge, Ma during my student days...at Amherst and MIT. Almost went to Harvard and my brother almost went to Amherst.
Keep up the fine work here....learning a lot.
The University of Chicago's Ratner Center was designed by world-famous architect César Pelli, and its exterior -- which features supporting masts and cables and S-shaped girders -- has won numerous nationally-based engineering awards. The gym itself is distinctive, too, in that the building's ductwork is incorporated into the gym space itself.
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn87.psbin.com%2Fimg%2Fmw%3D550%2Fmh%3D300%2Fcr%3Dn%2Fd%3Dvk9wk%2Fcgn98xdi7ecgtf1a.jpg&hash=93063ac09610828e9854799bad3a15108fac4484)
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn87.psbin.com%2Fimg%2Fmw%3D200%2Fmh%3D200%2Fcr%3Dn%2Fd%3Dp8fw0%2Foc5536zc94xc9vcs.jpg&hash=c0420c5381d3bff1e14e0522391f583440bb3535)
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fd3qi0qp55mx5f5.cloudfront.net%2Fwww%2Fi%2Ffeatures%2FWomensBB.jpg&hash=c7abba5d83e10482db258819ce033a1c2a0a7820)
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 17, 2016, 02:51:55 PM
The University of Chicago's Ratner Center was designed by world-famous architect César Pelli, and its exterior -- which features supporting masts and cables and S-shaped girders -- has won numerous nationally-based engineering awards. The gym itself is distinctive, too, in that the building's ductwork is incorporated into the gym space itself.
Might be worth checking out just to see the first Heisman trophy.
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fathletics.uchicago.edu%2Ffacilities%2Fphotos%2Ffacilities%2FHeisman_Trophy_1.JPG&hash=992423c41e572a34b9bb26c70fdd867cc90f6d5a)
Yep. Jay Berwanger of the U of C won the first Heisman Trophy back in 1935, back when the Maroons still competed in the Big Ten. (What he won was called the Downtown Athletic Club Trophy; the following year it was renamed after legendary football coach and former Downtown Athletic Club athletics director John Heisman.) Berwanger was also the first player ever picked in the NFL draft, which was inaugurated in 1936. The Chicago Bears traded a player to the Philadelphia Eagles for his rights, but Berwanger and George Halas couldn't settle on a salary, so Berwanger declined to become a Bear. A year later the press reported that Berwanger had changed his mind, but that Papa Bear refused to repeat his offer, (https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ES4xAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LuQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1189,3534823&hl=en) and thus the first-ever Heisman Trophy winner never played pro football.
My opinion on the OAC's gyms having been to each of them...mind you we all value different things in gyms. I appreciate uniqueness and the modern cookie cutter gyms are a dime a dozen so I usually don't rank those as high.
1. Otterbein's Rike Center
2. Marietta's Ban Johnson Arena
3. John Carroll's DeCarlo Center
4. Ohio Northern's Sports Center
5. Capital's Capital Center
6. Mount Union's MAAC
7. Baldwin Wallace's Ursprung Gym
8. Wilmington's Fred Raizk Arena
9. Heidelberg's Seiberling Gymnasium
10. Muskingum's Performance Court
Quote from: Fifth and Putnam on March 17, 2016, 03:36:11 PM
My opinion on the OAC's gyms having been to each of them...mind you we all value different things in gyms. I appreciate uniqueness and the modern cookie cutter gyms are a dime a dozen so I usually don't rank those as high.
1. Otterbein's Rike Center
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcampustour.otterbein.edu%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fmedia%2Fassets%2Fcampus%2Frike4.jpg&hash=1bb3247c0caa06d8a65c2d9186b2d5a68dbb1edb)
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcampustour.otterbein.edu%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fmedia%2Fassets%2Fcampus%2Frike1.jpg&hash=071755697c69da80044039251df0f14c389d9a58)
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fotterbeincardinals.com%2Fcommon%2Fcontrols%2Fimage_handler.aspx%3Fthumb_id%3D0%26amp%3Bimage_path%3D%2Fimages%2F2013%2F8%2F28%255C%2FRikeOne.jpg&hash=9b20b4770553a48e4d0496bf596399ac7a5c8b6d)
(https://weedsteeler.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/rike_interior.jpg?w=500)
Otterbein is cool, one of my favorite older gyms. It's been a while since I've been there, and my memories are not so clear, so I decided not to mention it. I'm glad you did.
Where we disagree is Ohio Northern, which I consider to be the worst venue I've ever seen a game in. The snowball-throwing Polar Bear statue is the only redeeming feature I can think of. But as you say, and the point is well taken, to each his own.
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 17, 2016, 02:51:55 PM
The University of Chicago's Ratner Center was designed by world-famous architect César Pelli, and its exterior -- which features supporting masts and cables and S-shaped girders -- has won numerous nationally-based engineering awards. The gym itself is distinctive, too, in that the building's ductwork is incorporated into the gym space itself.
I think the overall facility is much cooler than the competition gym. The ductwork is cool for sure, but it would be a much better gym if they did not have to drape a massive maroon curtain on the East end during competitions.
In the UAA, I would have to show my bias in going with the Washington University Field House. That facility has a history like none other in the conference.
As for the topic, our SLIAC superfan must be on vacation.
There are few cooler Division III gyms in my mind than the Westminster College Gymnasium in Fulton, Missouri. It was built in 1928 and was designated a national historic landmark having hosted Winston Churchill in 1946 in which he delivered his infamous Sinews of Peace speech.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Westminster_College_gym_from_SE_2.jpg)
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 17, 2016, 03:23:17 PM
Yep. Jay Berwanger of the U of C won the first Heisman Trophy back in 1935, back when the Maroons still competed in the Big Ten. (What he won was called the Downtown Athletic Club Trophy; the following year it was renamed after legendary football coach and former Downtown Athletic Club athletics director John Heisman.) Berwanger was also the first player ever picked in the NFL draft, which was inaugurated in 1936. The Chicago Bears traded a player to the Philadelphia Eagles for his rights, but Berwanger and George Halas couldn't settle on a salary, so Berwanger declined to become a Bear. A year later the press reported that Berwanger had changed his mind, but that Papa Bear refused to repeat his offer, (https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ES4xAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LuQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1189,3534823&hl=en) and thus the first-ever Heisman Trophy winner never played pro football.
Meh. Tebow didn't really either. 8-)
Quote from: David Collinge on March 17, 2016, 07:22:08 PM
Otterbein is cool, one of my favorite older gyms. It's been a while since I've been there, and my memories are not so clear, so I decided not to mention it. I'm glad you did.
Where we disagree is Ohio Northern, which I consider to be the worst venue I've ever seen a game in. The snowball-throwing Polar Bear statue is the only redeeming feature I can think of. But as you say, and the point is well taken, to each his own.
My one complaint about ONU is the seats seem sit back so far from the court. Otherwise it has a very old school feel to it and yes the Polar Bear above the court may be the one of my favorite features in an basketball gym. Not something you expect to see going to a basketball game.
Quote from: WUH on March 18, 2016, 10:28:07 AM
As for the topic, our SLIAC superfan must be on vacation.
There are few cooler Division III gyms in my mind than the Westminster College Gymnasium in Fulton, Missouri. It was built in 1928 and was designated a national historic landmark having hosted Winston Churchill in 1946 in which he delivered his infamous Sinews of Peace speech.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Westminster_College_gym_from_SE_2.jpg)
One outcome of the 2016 Presidential Election will be the Winston Churchill bust that President Obama returned to Great Britain.
I am certain that a President Trump or Cruz will quickly ask for the bust again.
The interesting question is whether President Clinton or President Sanders do. (For the first Jewish President, President Sanders, it was Churchill who helped defeat Adlof Hitler.)
In the LEC I like Keene (Spaulding gymnasium), Western Connecticut (Feldman Arena) and RIC (Murray Center).
Western & RIC gain points by having back rest seats throughout the arena, but Western loses points for not pulling out the bleachers behind the basket, not having a big student support section like Keene & RIC do AND this year removing a side of seats. I'd rank Spaulding 1, Murray 2 and Feldman 3.
Quote from: Just Bill on March 18, 2016, 11:14:01 AM
Quote from: Gregory Sager on March 17, 2016, 03:23:17 PM
Yep. Jay Berwanger of the U of C won the first Heisman Trophy back in 1935, back when the Maroons still competed in the Big Ten. (What he won was called the Downtown Athletic Club Trophy; the following year it was renamed after legendary football coach and former Downtown Athletic Club athletics director John Heisman.) Berwanger was also the first player ever picked in the NFL draft, which was inaugurated in 1936. The Chicago Bears traded a player to the Philadelphia Eagles for his rights, but Berwanger and George Halas couldn't settle on a salary, so Berwanger declined to become a Bear. A year later the press reported that Berwanger had changed his mind, but that Papa Bear refused to repeat his offer, (https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ES4xAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LuQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1189,3534823&hl=en) and thus the first-ever Heisman Trophy winner never played pro football.
Meh. Tebow didn't really either. 8-)
Eh... Tebow has a playoff win. Pretty hard to argue he didn't really play. ;) ;D
Quote from: WUH on March 18, 2016, 10:28:07 AM
As for the topic, our SLIAC superfan must be on vacation.
There are few cooler Division III gyms in my mind than the Westminster College Gymnasium in Fulton, Missouri. It was built in 1928 and was designated a national historic landmark having hosted Winston Churchill in 1946 in which he delivered his infamous Sinews of Peace speech.
The Westminster Historic Gymnasium:
1975 interior:
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FrOvuNV7.png&hash=e6baa4369171935f616daec6c95a680c23f958ae)
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nps.gov%2Fnhl%2Flearn%2Fed%2Fdefenders%2Fwestminster.gif&hash=2bccc91c738d0e3d5a40ebed8879b6df6a00205e)
2011 tour (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXMwFyoOXRU)
Portions of Winston's speech (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QuSXZTo3Uo)
2013 halftime (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGGoKdeqYc0)
Quote from: 7express on March 21, 2016, 03:20:20 PM
In the LEC I like Keene (Spaulding gymnasium), Western Connecticut (Feldman Arena) and RIC (Murray Center).
Western & RIC gain points by having back rest seats throughout the arena, but Western loses points for not pulling out the bleachers behind the basket, not having a big student support section like Keene & RIC do AND this year removing a side of seats. I'd rank Spaulding 1, Murray 2 and Feldman 3.
I can get behind a Keene State nomination considering it's the only one on your list I had the opportunity to play in.
Keene State's Spaulding Gym:
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fkeeneowls.com%2Fimages%2Fmbkb%2F2011-12%2FSpaulding_Gym.jpg&hash=7c8b2d0428aa840d15728ad7f9bfd6476eb2a076)
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.keene.edu%2Fksc%2Fassets%2Ffiles%2F2200%2Fimg_midnight08.jpg&hash=48d08de7ee0bc21896e003b596708890c5037fad)
Videos: renovation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qAQHUJBdpQ), team introductions (https://www.instagram.com/p/BCJjh_DKfrV/?taken-at=1804779), recruiting film (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alL_fxcxTXE).
Quote from: 7express on March 21, 2016, 03:20:20 PM
In the LEC I like Keene (Spaulding gymnasium), Western Connecticut (Feldman Arena) and RIC (Murray Center).
Western & RIC gain points by having back rest seats throughout the arena, but Western loses points for not pulling out the bleachers behind the basket, not having a big student support section like Keene & RIC do AND this year removing a side of seats. I'd rank Spaulding 1, Murray 2 and Feldman 3.
Not to be a homer, but I agree with your three picks. ;D
A list of the gyms so far:
CCC - Rodgers Recreation Center (Salve Regina)
HCAC - Collier Arena (Hanover)
LEC - Spaulding Gymnasium (Keene)
MIAA - DeVos Field House (Hope)
** Calvin is Honorable Mention
MIAC - Hutton Arena (Hamline)
** Concordia M'head is Honorable Mention
NCAC - Tomsich Arena (Kenyon)
NESCAC - Alumni Gymnasium (Bates)
** Tufts is Honorable Mention
OAC - Rike Center (Otterbien)
SLIAC - Westminister College Gymnasium (Name?) (Westminster)
UAA - Ratner Center (University of Chicago)
** Washington University is Honorable Mention
UMAC - Ericksen Center (Northwestern)
Feel free to debate these but I was trying to organize what has already been said. Love looking up these d3 gyms!
Somebody mentioned Hanover's gym out in the HCAC...I personally really enjoy both Anderson's O.C. Lewis Gymnasium with Rose Hulman's Hulbert Arena a close 2nd.
Quote from: Smitty Oom on March 22, 2016, 10:17:56 AM
A list of the gyms so far:
CCC - Rodgers Recreation Center (Salve Regina)
HCAC - Collier Arena (Hanover)
LEC - Spaulding Gymnasium (Keene)
MIAA - DeVos Field House (Hope)
** Calvin is Honorable Mention
MIAC - Hutton Arena (Hamline)
** Concordia M'head is Honorable Mention
NCAC - Tomsich Arena (Kenyon)
NESCAC - Alumni Gymnasium (Bates)
** Tufts is Honorable Mention
OAC - Rike Center (Otterbien)
SLIAC - Westminister College Gymnasium (Name?) (Westminster)
UAA - Ratner Center (University of Chicago)
** Washington University is Honorable Mention
UMAC - Ericksen Center (Northwestern)
Feel free to debate these but I was trying to organize what has already been said. Love looking up these d3 gyms!
Not sure where you got Hope ranked top in the MIAA and Calvin being "honorable mention" from the previous posts. I'm guessing that would be highly debated.
Quote from: bballfan13 on March 23, 2016, 12:38:25 PM
Quote from: Smitty Oom on March 22, 2016, 10:17:56 AM
A list of the gyms so far:
CCC - Rodgers Recreation Center (Salve Regina)
HCAC - Collier Arena (Hanover)
LEC - Spaulding Gymnasium (Keene)
MIAA - DeVos Field House (Hope)
** Calvin is Honorable Mention
MIAC - Hutton Arena (Hamline)
** Concordia M'head is Honorable Mention
NCAC - Tomsich Arena (Kenyon)
NESCAC - Alumni Gymnasium (Bates)
** Tufts is Honorable Mention
OAC - Rike Center (Otterbien)
SLIAC - Westminister College Gymnasium (Name?) (Westminster)
UAA - Ratner Center (University of Chicago)
** Washington University is Honorable Mention
UMAC - Ericksen Center (Northwestern)
Feel free to debate these but I was trying to organize what has already been said. Love looking up these d3 gyms!
Not sure where you got Hope ranked top in the MIAA and Calvin being "honorable mention" from the previous posts. I'm guessing that would be highly debated.
Argue - us??? They are truly very different. One is a building created specifically for basketball (DeVos) while the other is a large, multi-purpose arena (Van Noord) that happens to host basketball. Many of the posters who support that school with the multi-purpose building have actually agreed that as a basketball location, DeVos is better.
Quote from: Flying Dutch Fan on March 24, 2016, 08:03:47 AM
Argue - us??? They are truly very different. One is a building created specifically for basketball (DeVos) while the other is a large, multi-purpose arena (Van Noord) that happens to host basketball. Many of the posters who support that school with the multi-purpose building have actually agreed that as a basketball location, DeVos is better.
Agreed. Van Noord functions much better as an event space than DeVos. For basketball, if you can get into the lower bowl to watch, it is very nice and their supporters will boast about their special lighting. However, any seat above the lower bowl is, in my opinion, too far away from the action.
Quote from: HOPEful on March 24, 2016, 12:43:56 PM
Quote from: Flying Dutch Fan on March 24, 2016, 08:03:47 AM
Argue - us??? They are truly very different. One is a building created specifically for basketball (DeVos) while the other is a large, multi-purpose arena (Van Noord) that happens to host basketball. Many of the posters who support that school with the multi-purpose building have actually agreed that as a basketball location, DeVos is better.
Agreed. Van Noord functions much better as an event space than DeVos. For basketball, if you can get into the lower bowl to watch, it is very nice and their supporters will boast about their special lighting. However, any seat above the lower bowl is, in my opinion, too far away from the action.
I see your points, but don't agree with all of them ;) The lighting at Van Noord I believe is a difference maker in terms of look and feel of a professional basketball arena. Also the Van Noord gives the overall impression and feel of a professional arena (suite, second tier, etc). Yes it was designed with other events in mind as well but I believe it sets up very nicely for a basketball game no matter where you sit.
As much as it pains me to say anything nice about Hope / Devos, I do think it is a great basketball facility and yes was designed with basketball being it's sole purpose. The biggest complaint I have against it is the natural light from too many windows for day games. It reflects on the court and I don't think that is a good thing. Other gyms have these issues as well, University of Chicago (has a big curtain though) and Illinois Institute of Technology (hot box in there in the sun and reflections are terrible). But I wonder if they had to do it again if they would keep those windows in there.
And to be nit picky here are a few other things I don't like but they are very minor. Curious to hear Hope posters thoughts.
1. The AV room in the corner has a terrible layout as the people have to look out an awkward side window to view the court. Poorly planned I think.
2. The stands are packed in around the court (closer than most gyms). I might not like how close the students are but that was Hope's decision and it might give them an advantage, so that was smart in my opinion. But the thing I think looks sloppy is they got so close that around the corner endzone the "H" and "E" for "Hope College" gets cuts off by the bleachers. Bad planning?
3. The visitors don't have an exit to their locker without running in front of Hope's bench. Can't even walk behind because the stands are right there. Just annoying as a visitor.
Now please bring on the Van Noord annoyance's as I'm sure there are plenty (some already have been stated).
I do think we are splitting hairs...but that's what we're supposed to do in the offseason right :)
And obviously we are spoiled here in West Michigan by having both of these facilities so close.
Quote from: bballfan13 on March 24, 2016, 04:30:50 PM
Quote from: HOPEful on March 24, 2016, 12:43:56 PM
Quote from: Flying Dutch Fan on March 24, 2016, 08:03:47 AM
Argue - us??? They are truly very different. One is a building created specifically for basketball (DeVos) while the other is a large, multi-purpose arena (Van Noord) that happens to host basketball. Many of the posters who support that school with the multi-purpose building have actually agreed that as a basketball location, DeVos is better.
Agreed. Van Noord functions much better as an event space than DeVos. For basketball, if you can get into the lower bowl to watch, it is very nice and their supporters will boast about their special lighting. However, any seat above the lower bowl is, in my opinion, too far away from the action.
I see your points, but don't agree with all of them ;) The lighting at Van Noord I believe is a difference maker in terms of look and feel of a professional basketball arena. Also the Van Noord gives the overall impression and feel of a professional arena (suite, second tier, etc). Yes it was designed with other events in mind as well but I believe it sets up very nicely for a basketball game no matter where you sit.
As much as it pains me to say anything nice about Hope / Devos, I do think it is a great basketball facility and yes was designed with basketball being it's sole purpose. The biggest complaint I have against it is the natural light from too many windows for day games. It reflects on the court and I don't think that is a good thing. Other gyms have these issues as well, University of Chicago (has a big curtain though) and Illinois Institute of Technology (hot box in there in the sun and reflections are terrible). But I wonder if they had to do it again if they would keep those windows in there.
And to be nit picky here are a few other things I don't like but they are very minor. Curious to hear Hope posters thoughts.
1. The AV room in the corner has a terrible layout as the people have to look out an awkward side window to view the court. Poorly planned I think.
2. The stands are packed in around the court (closer than most gyms). I might not like how close the students are but that was Hope's decision and it might give them an advantage, so that was smart in my opinion. But the thing I think looks sloppy is they got so close that around the corner endzone the "H" and "E" for "Hope College" gets cuts off by the bleachers. Bad planning?
3. The visitors don't have an exit to their locker without running in front of Hope's bench. Can't even walk behind because the stands are right there. Just annoying as a visitor.
Now please bring on the Van Noord annoyance's as I'm sure there are plenty (some already have been stated).
I do think we are splitting hairs...but that's what we're supposed to do in the offseason right :)
And obviously we are spoiled here in West Michigan by having both of these facilities so close.
Illinois Tech's gym is definitely a hotbox and you are right about the fact that when we get the chance to build another one we wouldn't have it be the "all windows" approach. The Keating Sports Center is almost 50 years old and was built on a campus that revered Mies Vander Rohe's mantra of "Less is More." I would have never thought that our gym would be mentioned on a page that celebrates the coolest gyms. No matter how you define cool, we are probably not it. But down the road....
Quote from: bballfan13 on March 24, 2016, 04:30:50 PM
Quote from: HOPEful on March 24, 2016, 12:43:56 PM
Quote from: Flying Dutch Fan on March 24, 2016, 08:03:47 AM
Argue - us??? They are truly very different. One is a building created specifically for basketball (DeVos) while the other is a large, multi-purpose arena (Van Noord) that happens to host basketball. Many of the posters who support that school with the multi-purpose building have actually agreed that as a basketball location, DeVos is better.
Agreed. Van Noord functions much better as an event space than DeVos. For basketball, if you can get into the lower bowl to watch, it is very nice and their supporters will boast about their special lighting. However, any seat above the lower bowl is, in my opinion, too far away from the action.
I see your points, but don't agree with all of them ;) The lighting at Van Noord I believe is a difference maker in terms of look and feel of a professional basketball arena. Also the Van Noord gives the overall impression and feel of a professional arena (suite, second tier, etc). Yes it was designed with other events in mind as well but I believe it sets up very nicely for a basketball game no matter where you sit.
As much as it pains me to say anything nice about Hope / Devos, I do think it is a great basketball facility and yes was designed with basketball being it's sole purpose. The biggest complaint I have against it is the natural light from too many windows for day games. It reflects on the court and I don't think that is a good thing. Other gyms have these issues as well, University of Chicago (has a big curtain though) and Illinois Institute of Technology (hot box in there in the sun and reflections are terrible). But I wonder if they had to do it again if they would keep those windows in there.
And to be nit picky here are a few other things I don't like but they are very minor. Curious to hear Hope posters thoughts.
1. The AV room in the corner has a terrible layout as the people have to look out an awkward side window to view the court. Poorly planned I think.
2. The stands are packed in around the court (closer than most gyms). I might not like how close the students are but that was Hope's decision and it might give them an advantage, so that was smart in my opinion. But the thing I think looks sloppy is they got so close that around the corner endzone the "H" and "E" for "Hope College" gets cuts off by the bleachers. Bad planning?
3. The visitors don't have an exit to their locker without running in front of Hope's bench. Can't even walk behind because the stands are right there. Just annoying as a visitor.
Now please bring on the Van Noord annoyance's as I'm sure there are plenty (some already have been stated).
I do think we are splitting hairs...but that's what we're supposed to do in the offseason right :)
And obviously we are spoiled here in West Michigan by having both of these facilities so close.
Kresge Gymnasium has none of those problems. Built c1925. :)
Quote from: joehakes on March 25, 2016, 10:25:33 AM
Illinois Tech's gym is definitely a hotbox and you are right about the fact that when we get the chance to build another one we wouldn't have it be the "all windows" approach. The Keating Sports Center is almost 50 years old and was built on a campus that revered Mies Vander Rohe's mantra of "Less is More." I would have never thought that our gym would be mentioned on a page that celebrates the coolest gyms. No matter how you define cool, we are probably not it. But down the road....
Looks pretty cool to me. What's the ratio of day/night games typically? As long as the sun doesn't get in your eye when you're shooting I don't think it'd be too big of a deal.
Illinois Tech's Keating Sports Center:360 View (http://www.youvisit.com/tour/iit?loc=trail1:29:1:1&pl=v&m_prompt=1)
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F493RuAB.png&hash=a8ca293b3356bb5ac5cfbef7a67d0e79ec995971)
I really like that gym! Not a whole lot of seating but very unique and definitely think it deserves a nomination on here.
Quote from: AO on March 25, 2016, 12:04:13 PM
Quote from: joehakes on March 25, 2016, 10:25:33 AM
Illinois Tech's gym is definitely a hotbox and you are right about the fact that when we get the chance to build another one we wouldn't have it be the "all windows" approach. The Keating Sports Center is almost 50 years old and was built on a campus that revered Mies Vander Rohe's mantra of "Less is More." I would have never thought that our gym would be mentioned on a page that celebrates the coolest gyms. No matter how you define cool, we are probably not it. But down the road....
Looks pretty cool to me. What's the ratio of day/night games typically? As long as the sun doesn't get in your eye when you're shooting I don't think it'd be too big of a deal.
Illinois Tech's Keating Sports Center:
360 View (http://www.youvisit.com/tour/iit?loc=trail1:29:1:1&pl=v&m_prompt=1)
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F493RuAB.png&hash=a8ca293b3356bb5ac5cfbef7a67d0e79ec995971)
We take good pictures here. ;D We do play several Saturday or Sunday afternoon games, along with try-matches in volleyball. The glare makes it very hard to see the lines on the floor but it is an interesting building. Late in the afternoon when an L train goes by, the shadow runs across the floor almost life sized. It's fun to watch an opposing team see that for the first time. Good distraction if we can make use of it. The sun does play a factor at times.
Quote from: Smitty Oom on March 25, 2016, 12:13:23 PM
I really like that gym! Not a whole lot of seating but very unique and definitely think it deserves a nomination on here.
You are right that it is unique. Originally there was more seating in here, but when the wooden bleachers were replaced several years ago the seating was reduced. There used to be an NBA pro-am league that played here in the summers and they would jam a couple of thousand in here. More without seats than with, but having Michael Jordan and his friends here probably made that no issue.
The lights in the gyms will be changed to LED fixtures this summer which will be power by direct current from solar panels which cover the roof.
We promise to build an even cooler one when we get the chance, but thanks for the nomination!
Quote from: Smitty Oom on March 22, 2016, 10:17:56 AM
A list of the gyms so far:
SLIAC - Westminister College Gymnasium (Name?) (Westminster)
UAA - Ratner Center (University of Chicago)
** Washington University is Honorable Mention
UMAC - Ericksen Center (Northwestern)
Feel free to debate these but I was trying to organize what has already been said. Love looking up these d3 gyms!
It was known as the Westminster College Gymnasium, but that name was changed to the Westminster Historic Gymnasium. I forgot to mention earlier, but Henry Iba played basketball at Westminster and the floor is named in his honor.
Ronald Reagan did not play basketball though the gymnasium at Eureka College has a history as well.
I reference the histories of the gyms though architecture and ability to foster an atmosphere are certainly more important in my mind. History is part of what makes a gym cool though. I'll be back to argue for the Field House on October 9th when Washington University hosts its third Presidential debate on the Edwards-Fahey court. Also, no other gym in the UAA has hosted an NBA game.
I wasn't going to venture an answer to this question, because so many gyms are 'cool' for different reasons...
BUT... here is a question to research during the offseason...
Which gym in each conference is the oldest... the longest in use? This would lead to finding out the oldest D3 gym in the country.. it may be common knowledge, but I don't know the answer.. plus, it would be interesting to find out the oldest per conference....
Quote from: hopefan on March 26, 2016, 03:29:21 PM
I wasn't going to venture an answer to this question, because so many gyms are 'cool' for different reasons...
BUT... here is a question to research during the offseason...
Which gym in each conference is the oldest... the longest in use? This would lead to finding out the oldest D3 gym in the country.. it may be common knowledge, but I don't know the answer.. plus, it would be interesting to find out the oldest per conference....
When I played basketball at RPI 1967-71, we played in the antiquated '87 Gym... it was financed by the class of 1887, and dedicated in 1912. However, the team moved to the Troy-RPI armory in 1973? and recently to it's new home at the East Campus Athletic Facility...
As far as the oldest courts in the SLIAC, I'd have to research, but at a glance, Westminster, Blackburn, Spalding, and Greenville might be in contention. Prin, Fontbonne, Eureka (totally remodelled), Iowa Wesleyan, Webster are obviously out... I would think MacMurray too.... Anybody have any information?
ASC has gymnasiums that are all within the last 50 years.
Louisiana College may be the oldest, late 1960's (HO West Fieldhouse)
The Brownwood Colisuem, home to Howard Payne since the late 1960's at least, was built in 1963.
North Central's Merner Fieldhouse (or, more specifically, the gym contained within it where the Cardinals play, Gregory Arena) (https://northcentralcollege.edu/community-and-visitors/gregory-arena) is the oldest in the CCIW, as it was built in 1931. It's known to friends and foes alike in the CCIW as "the airplane hangar", or just "the hangar".
Quote from: hopefan on March 26, 2016, 06:23:56 PM
As far as the oldest courts in the SLIAC, I'd have to research, but at a glance, Westminster, Blackburn, Spalding, and Greenville might be in contention. Prin, Fontbonne, Eureka (totally remodeled), Iowa Wesleyan, Webster are obviously out... I would think MacMurray too... Anybody have any information?
I'll be surprised if the SLIAC has a gym older than 1928 that is still in use today. I'll do some more research.
Incidentally, the oldest on-campus gym in use in Division I is Rose Hill Gymnasium at Fordham University which was built in 1925, though for obvious reasons, it is far less likely that an old Division I gym would be in use today.
Apropos of nothing, I was looking at the official history of Washington University and read a few things that have probably been discussed here before, but are interesting nonetheless.
The 1904 Olympics included a basketball tournament with a professional division championship comprised mostly YMCA teams and a college division which featured Hiram, Wheaton and Brigham Young. Hiram won the championship over Wheaton (IL), 23-20. This was, by some accounts, the first national (or world) college basketball championship.
The Francis Gymnasium has long been used for recreation only and was removed last year as part of the Athletic Complex renovations.
Spalding's gym doesn't beat Westmin for age, but a neat little writeup.
Derek Smith Gymnasium (DSG) is an on-campus 2400 seat gymnasium located in the Spalding University Center, and is home to Spalding men's and women's basketball, and volleyball teams.
Prior to housing Spalding Athletics, Derek Smith Gymnasium was used as a USO for military personnel during World War II and the Korean War. A little known fact, DSG served as the original training center for world famous boxer and Olympic gold medalist Muhammad Ali. Ali began training in the gym at age fifteen while working in the school library.
2400 in that gym? Less than half could see the entire court ;D ;D
Quote from: hopefan on March 28, 2016, 12:05:45 PM
Spalding's gym doesn't beat Westmin for age, but a neat little writeup.
Derek Smith Gymnasium (DSG) is an on-campus 2400 seat gymnasium located in the Spalding University Center, and is home to Spalding men's and women's basketball, and volleyball teams.
Prior to housing Spalding Athletics, Derek Smith Gymnasium was used as a USO for military personnel during World War II and the Korean War. A little known fact, DSG served as the original training center for world famous boxer and Olympic gold medalist Muhammad Ali. Ali began training in the gym at age fifteen while working in the school library.
2400 in that gym? Less than half could see the entire court ;D ;D
A cool gym for sure, couldn't find many pictures of it.
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fspaldingathletics.com%2Fimages%2F2014%2F3%2F19%2FDSG_Main.jpg&hash=72f28f22bb50332748381d18eb5463cf5bc603c6)
Are there more stands on the other side above the benches? 2400 seems preposterous based on every picture I've seen.
The Alumni Gym at Loyola University Chicago was comparable to the Derek Smith Gymnasium in regards to the design, but they had a lot more bleachers and still had less than 2,000 seats.
2,400 must be the capacity when set up with seats on the floor.
Quote from: WUH on March 28, 2016, 11:50:37 AM
The 1904 Olympics included a basketball tournament with a professional division championship comprised mostly YMCA teams and a college division which featured Hiram, Wheaton and Brigham Young. Hiram won the championship over Wheaton (IL), 23-20. This was, by some accounts, the first national (or world) college basketball championship.
Someone needs to update the stats for 1904 on the D3 vs. D1/D2/NAIA/NCCAA board. And the D3 Championship Belt
TM board.
Quote from: David Collinge on March 28, 2016, 02:55:04 PM
Someone needs to update the stats for 1904 on the D3 vs. D1/D2/NAIA/NCCAA board. And the D3 Championship BeltTM board.
+1 Day made.
Quote from: David Collinge on March 28, 2016, 02:55:04 PM
Quote from: WUH on March 28, 2016, 11:50:37 AM
The 1904 Olympics included a basketball tournament with a professional division championship comprised mostly YMCA teams and a college division which featured Hiram, Wheaton and Brigham Young. Hiram won the championship over Wheaton (IL), 23-20. This was, by some accounts, the first national (or world) college basketball championship.
Someone needs to update the stats for 1904 on the D3 vs. D1/D2/NAIA/NCCAA board. And the D3 Championship BeltTM board.
I hate to be a spoil sport but there was no NCAA in 1904!
Quote from: Ralph Turner on March 28, 2016, 09:33:49 PM
Quote from: David Collinge on March 28, 2016, 02:55:04 PM
Quote from: WUH on March 28, 2016, 11:50:37 AM
The 1904 Olympics included a basketball tournament with a professional division championship comprised mostly YMCA teams and a college division which featured Hiram, Wheaton and Brigham Young. Hiram won the championship over Wheaton (IL), 23-20. This was, by some accounts, the first national (or world) college basketball championship.
Someone needs to update the stats for 1904 on the D3 vs. D1/D2/NAIA/NCCAA board. And the D3 Championship BeltTM board.
I hate to be a spoil sport but there was no NCAA in 1904!
And that D3 world year No.1 was 1974-75....
It would not be impossible to trace the Belt
TM back to then, using NCAA.com.... :o :o
Quote from: AO on March 28, 2016, 01:05:52 PM
Quote from: hopefan on March 28, 2016, 12:05:45 PM
Spalding's gym doesn't beat Westmin for age, but a neat little writeup.
Derek Smith Gymnasium (DSG) is an on-campus 2400 seat gymnasium located in the Spalding University Center, and is home to Spalding men's and women's basketball, and volleyball teams.
Prior to housing Spalding Athletics, Derek Smith Gymnasium was used as a USO for military personnel during World War II and the Korean War. A little known fact, DSG served as the original training center for world famous boxer and Olympic gold medalist Muhammad Ali. Ali began training in the gym at age fifteen while working in the school library.
2400 in that gym? Less than half could see the entire court ;D ;D
A cool gym for sure, couldn't find many pictures of it.
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fspaldingathletics.com%2Fimages%2F2014%2F3%2F19%2FDSG_Main.jpg&hash=72f28f22bb50332748381d18eb5463cf5bc603c6)
Are there more stands on the other side above the benches? 2400 seems preposterous based on every picture I've seen.
Yes AO, the seats upstairs above the benches mirror those on the other side of the court, though a bench for the radio crew takes up some center court space... steps to the court level also take up space on the near end... the thing that really hurts viewing are the large supporting posts upstairs... there aren't many areas of seating where they aren't blocking your view from one angle or another... and there is no way you can see the near corners from upstairs without standing.... still, I love the place... I played in at least two or three high school gyms back in the day that were exactly like it.... and, one rarely has to worry about getting a good seat, as Spalding is primarily a commuter school, and attendance at games is minimal, even at conference tourneys... a shame, as Spalding always puts out a good team at the SLIAC level of play...
Quote from: bballfan13 on March 24, 2016, 04:30:50 PM
The lighting at Van Noord I believe is a difference maker in terms of look and feel of a professional basketball arena... Also the Van Noord gives the overall impression and feel of a professional arena (suite, second tier, etc). Yes it was designed with other events in mind as well but I believe it sets up very nicely for a basketball game no matter where you sit... The biggest complaint I have against it is the natural light from too many windows for day games. It reflects on the court and I don't think that is a good thing...
And to be nit picky here are a few other things I don't like but they are very minor. Curious to hear Hope posters thoughts.
1. The AV room in the corner has a terrible layout as the people have to look out an awkward side window to view the court. Poorly planned I think.
2. The stands are packed in around the court (closer than most gyms). I might not like how close the students are but that was Hope's decision and it might give them an advantage, so that was smart in my opinion. But the thing I think looks sloppy is they got so close that around the corner endzone the "H" and "E" for "Hope College" gets cuts off by the bleachers. Bad planning?
3. The visitors don't have an exit to their locker without running in front of Hope's bench. Can't even walk behind because the stands are right there. Just annoying as a visitor.
My last post on this since the horse is long dead and beaten to a pulp...
1. I never noticed Van Nordt's "special" lighting once until after hearing about it. To me, it makes zero difference in watching the games. If anything, I would prefer natural light to yellow light.
2. The AV room is indeed poorly located for the AV team. For everyone else, it's far away and out of sight - out of mind. To me this seems like a really weird criticism. I have never went to a venue and said to myself, "check out that av room setup!" The end zone being cut off annoys my OCD tendencies, but once again, doesn't really alter how I view the game being played.
3. Whether you like it or not, the stands were intentionally packed around the court to mimic that of the Civic Center. I know many people (us Dutch don't care for change...) were worried about moving to a new building and losing the "charm" that the Civic Center provided. One promise was made that the Dew Crew wouldn't be moved further from the court. I think most Hope fans like this but i could see how a guest would not.
4. IMO, your most valid argument is the 1 exit to the locker rooms. I really dislike how everyone bottlenecks on the west side of the court at the end of the game.
Can we all agree that the worst gym in the MIAA is Kzoo's? :)
Quote from: HOPEful on March 30, 2016, 09:42:15 AM
Can we all agree that the worst gym in the MIAA is Kzoo's? :)
No because the worst is Albion's (historic!) Kresge.
Quote from: KnightSlappy on March 30, 2016, 10:19:02 AM
Quote from: HOPEful on March 30, 2016, 09:42:15 AM
Can we all agree that the worst gym in the MIAA is Kzoo's? :)
No because the worst is Albion's (historic!) Kresge.
But which is the oldest, and how old? I remember (from the 80's) the gym at Albion had seating only on one side, nothing but team benches on the other side... Kalamazoo had limited seating... Alma, lots of seating, but blah decor.. Hope, the Civic Center, so unique... Calvin, big and shiny... Olivet, relatively nice... never went over to Adrian... only have seen Hope's new facility since then, don't know about changes to the rest... never been to Trine....
Quote from: hopefan on March 30, 2016, 12:01:32 PM
Quote from: KnightSlappy on March 30, 2016, 10:19:02 AM
Quote from: HOPEful on March 30, 2016, 09:42:15 AM
Can we all agree that the worst gym in the MIAA is Kzoo's? :)
No because the worst is Albion's (historic!) Kresge.
But which is the oldest, and how old? I remember (from the 80's) the gym at Albion had seating only on one side, nothing but team benches on the other side... Kalamazoo had limited seating... Alma, lots of seating, but blah decor.. Hope, the Civic Center, so unique... Calvin, big and shiny... Olivet, relatively nice... never went over to Adrian... only have seen Hope's new facility since then, don't know about changes to the rest... never been to Trine....
Hope's "new" facility is now only the fourth newest in the league. I wasn't immediately able to find a date for Trine's Hershey Hall, but here are the ages of the others. Trine's is actually the worst, now that I think about it, but it would be a reasonable facility if they turned on the lights during games :-\.
(Historic!) Kresge Gymnasium at Albion was built in 1925.
Kalamazoo's Anderson Athletic Center - 1981
Adrian's Merillat Sport and Fitness Center - 1990
Hope's DeVos Fieldhouse - 2005
Olivet's Cutler Events Center - 2008
Calvin's Van Noord Arena - 2009
Alma's Art Smith Arena - 2012
I think Kalamazoo's gym is older. I'm almost certain the Anderson Athletic Center was built around the old gym but maybe not.
Quote from: HOPEful on March 30, 2016, 09:42:15 AM
Quote from: bballfan13 on March 24, 2016, 04:30:50 PM
The lighting at Van Noord I believe is a difference maker in terms of look and feel of a professional basketball arena... Also the Van Noord gives the overall impression and feel of a professional arena (suite, second tier, etc). Yes it was designed with other events in mind as well but I believe it sets up very nicely for a basketball game no matter where you sit... The biggest complaint I have against it is the natural light from too many windows for day games. It reflects on the court and I don't think that is a good thing...
And to be nit picky here are a few other things I don't like but they are very minor. Curious to hear Hope posters thoughts.
1. The AV room in the corner has a terrible layout as the people have to look out an awkward side window to view the court. Poorly planned I think.
2. The stands are packed in around the court (closer than most gyms). I might not like how close the students are but that was Hope's decision and it might give them an advantage, so that was smart in my opinion. But the thing I think looks sloppy is they got so close that around the corner endzone the "H" and "E" for "Hope College" gets cuts off by the bleachers. Bad planning?
3. The visitors don't have an exit to their locker without running in front of Hope's bench. Can't even walk behind because the stands are right there. Just annoying as a visitor.
My last post on this since the horse is long dead and beaten to a pulp...
1. I never noticed Van Nordt's "special" lighting once until after hearing about it. To me, it makes zero difference in watching the games. If anything, I would prefer natural light to yellow light.
2. The AV room is indeed poorly located for the AV team. For everyone else, it's far away and out of sight - out of mind. To me this seems like a really weird criticism. I have never went to a venue and said to myself, "check out that av room setup!" The end zone being cut off annoys my OCD tendencies, but once again, doesn't really alter how I view the game being played.
3. Whether you like it or not, the stands were intentionally packed around the court to mimic that of the Civic Center. I know many people (us Dutch don't care for change...) were worried about moving to a new building and losing the "charm" that the Civic Center provided. One promise was made that the Dew Crew wouldn't be moved further from the court. I think most Hope fans like this but i could see how a guest would not.
4. IMO, your most valid argument is the 1 exit to the locker rooms. I really dislike how everyone bottlenecks on the west side of the court at the end of the game.
Can we all agree that the worst gym in the MIAA is Kzoo's? :)
I'm glad someone from Hope chimed in, that's what I was hoping for :) Yes, as I mentioned I was being nit picky, but just thoughts running through my head. As for the AV room, I guess I notice because I'm an IT guy and just look for those things.
Yes, Kzoo or Trine's gym is the worst in the league.
I'll hop in on this topic for the GNAC Conference........
In this case its pretty clear that Johnson and Wales Providence is the clear cut winner here. Emmanuel and St. Joes Maine have pretty nice gyms as well but in the GNAC.....JWU takes the cake. It is called the Wildcat Center and if I wasn't so lame with technology I would figure out a way to post a few pictures found online of this beautiful facility
That being said Albertus Magnus "The Nest" is still the toughest place to play!! GO FALCONS!! ;D
(Sorry Guys.....Had to Get My Falcons in here somehow because there facility can't quite make the cut :-X)
Quote from: D3HoopJunkie on April 05, 2016, 12:41:26 PM
I'll hop in on this topic for the GNAC Conference........
In this case its pretty clear that Johnson and Wales Providence is the clear cut winner here. Emmanuel and St. Joes Maine have pretty nice gyms as well but in the GNAC.....JWU takes the cake. It is called the Wildcat Center and if I wasn't so lame with technology I would figure out a way to post a few pictures found online of this beautiful facility
That being said Albertus Magnus "The Nest" is still the toughest place to play!! GO FALCONS!! ;D
(Sorry Guys.....Had to Get My Falcons in here somehow because there facility can't quite make the cut :-X)
The Johnson and Wales Providence Wildcat Center:
(https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/v/t1.0-9/487907_277791285662151_300729446_n.jpg?oh=1448ddcc3812ca5320d270735601b041&oe=57B8E94B)
Promo Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2fiLikftmk)
Quote from: D3HoopJunkie on April 05, 2016, 12:41:26 PM
I'll hop in on this topic for the GNAC Conference........
In this case its pretty clear that Johnson and Wales Providence is the clear cut winner here. Emmanuel and St. Joes Maine have pretty nice gyms as well but in the GNAC.....JWU takes the cake. It is called the Wildcat Center and if I wasn't so lame with technology I would figure out a way to post a few pictures found online of this beautiful facility
That being said Albertus Magnus "The Nest" is still the toughest place to play!! GO FALCONS!! ;D
(Sorry Guys.....Had to Get My Falcons in here somehow because there facility can't quite make the cut :-X)
And Anna Maria's is the worst - unless they've built recently and I didn't hear about it.
Quote from: Hoops Fan on April 05, 2016, 04:34:15 PM
Quote from: D3HoopJunkie on April 05, 2016, 12:41:26 PM
I'll hop in on this topic for the GNAC Conference........
In this case its pretty clear that Johnson and Wales Providence is the clear cut winner here. Emmanuel and St. Joes Maine have pretty nice gyms as well but in the GNAC.....JWU takes the cake. It is called the Wildcat Center and if I wasn't so lame with technology I would figure out a way to post a few pictures found online of this beautiful facility
That being said Albertus Magnus "The Nest" is still the toughest place to play!! GO FALCONS!! ;D
(Sorry Guys.....Had to Get My Falcons in here somehow because there facility can't quite make the cut :-X)
And Anna Maria's is the worst - unless they've built recently and I didn't hear about it.
HoopsFan.......Anna Maria is pretty awful but Rivier and Mount Ida certainly give it a run for its money. I have played and watched games in high schools that have nicer and more updated facilities then these 3 schools!!
Going to have to take Trine out of the "worst gym" conversation shortly.
(Copied from sacs post in the MIAA room today)
Trine announces they will be building a new 3,000 seat basketball facility.
http://trinethunder.com/sports/mbkb/2015-16/releases/20160406uhqfmn
....with a bowling alley
.....and new ice arena with intent to join D3 mens hockey
Does Newbury even have a gym? They played in rented space when I was in school.
For the WIAC it's a tough choice, I think you have three schools that all bring different and interesting things that the others don't.
UW-Eau Claire - Probably the most history of any school in the conference with Zorn Arena. The court is nice and there is a second level of bleachers on both side. One thing about it is that they have a lot of seating but they don't bring in many fans as of lately.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6182/6080929290_1c3647411a_b.jpg)
UW-Stout - Big gym with a pretty nice court, and the only gym in the WIAC to have roll away hoops. Always felt like a bigger environment when you played here.
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fathletics.uwstout.edu%2Fimages%2F2009%2F7%2F8%2Fjfh_bb.jpg&hash=e3fb15b7e38dadc9ba8114c538f6ac59ad01fd53)
UW-Stevens Point - One of my favorite gyms to play in, because it was always a packed house. Have had one of the top attendance averages in D3 for awhile now.
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fathletics.uwsp.edu%2Fimages%2F2015%2F6%2F2%2F%2FQuandt_Pano15.jpg%3Fwidth%3D500%26amp%3Bheight%3D300%26amp%3Bmode%3Dcrop&hash=bdc85be896d22fc62c75bb17fc2135bd944029f2)
UW-La Crosse is decent, but its so big (never many fans) and the floor is like playing on cement.
UW-Oshkosh is nice, but playing there I was never really impressed.
UW-Platteville is cool mostly because it's Bo Ryan's old place, but they did just refinish the floor so maybe that'll help.
UW-River Falls is nothing to write home about, but once they finish construction on their new facilities that'll easily be the best one.
UW-Whitewater is another nice one, but I think Stout, Point, and Eau Claire are all better.
If I had to pick I'd have to give the nod to UW-Stevens Point.
Well... now you have me thinking about following my Dutchmen to Stout on November 18th and 19th for the Wisconsin Stout Tip-Off Tournament :)
But that 8 hour drive though!...
Quote from: HOPEful on August 04, 2016, 03:05:57 PM
Well... now you have me thinking about following my Dutchmen to Stout on November 18th and 19th for the Wisconsin Stout Tip-Off Tournament :)
But that 8 hour drive though!...
Johnson Fieldhouse and the rest of the WIAC have nothing like Hope and Calvin's palaces. Save the gas.
Quote from: Just Bill on August 04, 2016, 09:50:12 PM
Johnson Fieldhouse and the rest of the WIAC have nothing like Hope and Calvin's palaces. Save the gas.
I think I'd consider going a little harder if Stout was any good and/or there was anything to do in Menomonie. Most likely I'd end up driving another hour west to Minneapolis. Maybe Southwest will have a $99 deal going from GRR to MSP? Still bummed that the John Carroll game is on a Tuesday. Would love to head down for it, but it just won't realistically work into my work schedule
The floor at DeVos is being redone...
https://www.instagram.com/p/BI5FGuWAMac/
Quote from: HOPEful on August 09, 2016, 12:37:48 PM
The floor at DeVos is being redone...
https://www.instagram.com/p/BI5FGuWAMac/
Interesting. Maybe they won't cover their letters in the endzone this time :)
Quote from: bballfan13 on August 09, 2016, 02:15:35 PM
Quote from: HOPEful on August 09, 2016, 12:37:48 PM
The floor at DeVos is being redone...
https://www.instagram.com/p/BI5FGuWAMac/
Interesting. Maybe they won't cover their letters in the endzone this time :)
"Yay!!!! Scratch the paint being covered by the bleachers off the list of stupid reasons calvin fans think (incorrectly) that Van Noordt is better than DeVos!" - my response on the instagram photo :)
Def. a smaller font (on second look maybe the space is just better utilized) in the endzones and the anchor is like everyone's center court logo, huge.
Before
(https://www.d3boards.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fathletics.hope.edu%2Fsports%2Fmbkb%2F2013-14%2Fphotos%2FMBB2.jpg%3Fmax_height%3D360%26amp%3Bmax_width%3D600&hash=5f7bac9c7ee39eaaac9160317e078eb6d9a23db3)
After
(https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13934868_10100244275107635_7330480614156163066_n.jpg?oh=654c758accff65f5e67ff5840eb40a2e&oe=58587023)
Floor is not finished yet, so that's the current difference in wood color
Quote from: HOPEful on August 10, 2016, 02:34:30 PM
Quote from: bballfan13 on August 09, 2016, 02:15:35 PM
Quote from: HOPEful on August 09, 2016, 12:37:48 PM
The floor at DeVos is being redone...
https://www.instagram.com/p/BI5FGuWAMac/
Interesting. Maybe they won't cover their letters in the endzone this time :)
"Yay!!!! Scratch the paint being covered by the bleachers off the list of stupid reasons calvin fans think (incorrectly) that Van Noordt is better than DeVos!" - my response on the instagram photo :)
At least spell it right ;)
http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2016/09/palestra-top-125-venue (http://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2016/09/palestra-top-125-venue)
Not sure if you guys saw this story but U of Rochester named to the Basketball Hall of Fame top 125 basketball venues. Very cool that a D3 school was able to make the list! Can't argue with the HoF I think we have to agree that Rochester takes the crown for UAA best gym! Also, can anybody find the fill list of 125? I can't seem to find it and would like to see what else made the cut.
Quote from: Smitty Oom on November 11, 2016, 09:54:21 PM
Very cool that a D3 school was able to make the list! Can't argue with the HoF I think we have to agree that Rochester takes the crown for UAA best gym!
I'll have to disagree until convinced otherwise.
I have never been to the Palestra in Rochester, but I have been to the Palestra at the University of Pennsylvania. The latter is very cool even in photos. But when I look at photos of the Palestra in Rochester, it looks mostly like an average small college gym.
It is great to see an 85-86 year old gym that has stood the test of time, but in terms of history and tradition, in the UAA, I'll take the gym with the 17 national championships between basketball and volleyball and the 5 presidential/vice presidential debates.
I am thankful that the elevated bleachers that were popular in many gyms at the time the Palestra have mostly disappeared.
(https://www.rochester.edu/athletics/assets/images/facilities/2013/palestra3)
If you haven't been there... hard to argue against it.
Quote from: Dave 'd-mac' McHugh on November 13, 2016, 04:39:47 PM
If you haven't been there... hard to argue against it.
It is not
that hard when the only point I am making is that it is not the coolest gym in the conference.
I have been to both the Palestra in Philadelphia and the Hinkle Fieldhouse, but even if I had not, I could make a very convincing argument for the importance of both gyms with photos alone. I cannot do the same with the Palestra in Rochester.
But that is my point... you have been to both and thus your view of photos is influenced by your first hand experience. You have not been to the Palestra and thus you don't have the same first-hand experience describing it through photos. Your first-hand experience is a bias. Plain and simple. I have been to the Palestra and I can tell you there is something unique and different about it that makes it a very cool place to watch games at. And with that said, I am not arguing it is or isn't better than the Philly Palestra or Hinkle, because I have not been there. I am in no position to make the argument and basing it on photos is like saying because I see a headshot of someone, I can determine how good a basketball player they are.
Quote from: Dave 'd-mac' McHugh on November 14, 2016, 10:56:01 AM
I am in no position to make the argument and basing it on photos is like saying because I see a headshot of someone, I can determine how good a basketball player they are.
I respectfully disagree that you can follow the logic from one to the other.
As for my own biases, my point was that I could post pictures of all three gyms and get others to agree that both Hinkle and the Palestra (PA) are both special. If I had my Division I fan-friends look at a pictures of 10 small college gyms, I doubt anyone would notice anything unusual about the Rochester gym except for the old-style raised bleachers and possibly the rear entry hallways.
I trust your judgement that the Palestra is a
very cool gym. It certainly has stood the test of time and that alone makes the gym noteworthy.
UW-River Falls is opening a new facility this year. Looks very nice...
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DFnH84RVwAAlIjT.jpg:large)
Other new gyms opening this year?