Pinnacle Bank Arena

[49r]

https://twitter.com/TheHawk_3/status/360162536223555585

[49r]

https://twitter.com/nfuller23/status/360157990852112385

[49r]

[uneblinstu]

Team gets first walk-thru.  Fans get first glimpse of Tai with the team.

 

[49r]

 

Click Here For Full Photo Gallery

 

 

[Norm Peterson]

Looks like it would set up really well for hockey.

[cipsucks]

Looks like it would set up really well for hockey.

Trev Alberts hates you.

[AuroranHusker]

 

Looks like it would set up really well for hockey.

Trev Alberts hates you.

 

 

That may be true about his disdain for ol' Normie, but I doubt he cares too much about Husker Hockey in its infancy...

[Norm Peterson]

I mean, for an arena that was supposed to be all about basketball and great basketball sight lines and all that blah blah blah, it looks like it sets up well for hockey. 

 

You can almost see in one of the above pictures exactly where the rink would sit. 

 

The people who told us the new arena was all about basketball and designed specifically as a basketball arena were apparently full of

[Norm Peterson]

So, did the plans for the new arena have a place to store the zamboni when it's not in use?

[49r]

So, did the plans for the new arena have a place to store the zamboni when it's not in use?

 

 

Didn't they tell you, Norm?

 

That's where your seats are.  You're riding the Zamboni....

[Concrete]

 

The people who told us the new arena was all about basketball and designed specifically as a basketball arena were apparently full of

Umm...OK? Since you feel the need to call out "The People" (me) who said it was a bball arena first and foremost..

 

 

Yes, absolutely terrific sight lines for hockey.    I think 30%+ of the seats will have partial visibility of the ice.  As I said before, it CAN host hockey but it's not an ideal hockey arena.  Basketball first, everything else second.

 

If you would like to tell my source that they're full of ____ then be my guest.  They might find it a little weird though, considering they designed the thing.

[Norm Peterson]

 

 

The people who told us the new arena was all about basketball and designed specifically as a basketball arena were apparently full of

Umm...OK? Since you feel the need to call out "The People" (me) who said it was a bball arena first and foremost..

 

 

Yes, absolutely terrific sight lines for hockey.    I think 30%+ of the seats will have partial visibility of the ice.  As I said before, it CAN host hockey but it's not an ideal hockey arena.  Basketball first, everything else second.

 

If you would like to tell my source that they're full of ____ then be my guest.  They might find it a little weird though, considering they designed the thing.

 

No no no no no.  I'm not calling out you.

 

I'm calling out people like Marc Boehm who promised us this would be an environment ideal for watching basketball and creating a home court advantage.  An arena specifically designed with hoops in mind.  Sight lines planned for basketball.  I specifically recall them using the words "sight lines."  Fans were supposed to be so close to the floor that hockey ice wouldn't even fit.

 

And just like with the student standing section along an entire side and the two ends, the basketball focus seems to have fallen victim to $$$ concerns.

 

Gotta be able to throw down some ice so that knock-off Disney characters can slide around on skates and crap like that.  Gotta be able to do something with the place when basketball season is over.

 

Oh well.

 

(Why did you think I was calling YOU out, concrete?  Never seen you even post about this that I can recall.)

[Norm Peterson]

Concrete, you're not Marc Boehm, are you?

[nebrasketball10]

 

 

 

The people who told us the new arena was all about basketball and designed specifically as a basketball arena were apparently full of

Umm...OK? Since you feel the need to call out "The People" (me) who said it was a bball arena first and foremost..

 

 

Yes, absolutely terrific sight lines for hockey.    I think 30%+ of the seats will have partial visibility of the ice.  As I said before, it CAN host hockey but it's not an ideal hockey arena.  Basketball first, everything else second.

 

If you would like to tell my source that they're full of ____ then be my guest.  They might find it a little weird though, considering they designed the thing.

 

No no no no no.  I'm not calling out you.

 

I'm calling out people like Marc Boehm who promised us this would be an environment ideal for watching basketball and creating a home court advantage.  An arena specifically designed with hoops in mind.  Sight lines planned for basketball.  I specifically recall them using the words "sight lines."  Fans were supposed to be so close to the floor that hockey ice wouldn't even fit.

 

And just like with the student standing section along an entire side and the two ends, the basketball focus seems to have fallen victim to $$$ concerns.

 

Gotta be able to throw down some ice so that knock-off Disney characters can slide around on skates and crap like that.  Gotta be able to do something with the place when basketball season is over.

 

Oh well.

 

(Why did you think I was calling YOU out, concrete?  Never seen you even post about this that I can recall.)

 

 

The students won't be standing along one side and both ends??

[ajb5856]

The people who told us the new arena was all about basketball and designed specifically as a basketball arena were apparently full of

Umm...OK? Since you feel the need to call out "The People" (me) who said it was a bball arena first and foremost..

Yes, absolutely terrific sight lines for hockey. I think 30%+ of the seats will have partial visibility of the ice. As I said before, it CAN host hockey but it's not an ideal hockey arena. Basketball first, everything else second.

If you would like to tell my source that they're full of ____ then be my guest. They might find it a little weird though, considering they designed the thing.

No no no no no. I'm not calling out you.

I'm calling out people like Marc Boehm who promised us this would be an environment ideal for watching basketball and creating a home court advantage. An arena specifically designed with hoops in mind. Sight lines planned for basketball. I specifically recall them using the words "sight lines." Fans were supposed to be so close to the floor that hockey ice wouldn't even fit.

And just like with the student standing section along an entire side and the two ends, the basketball focus seems to have fallen victim to $$$ concerns.

Gotta be able to throw down some ice so that knock-off Disney characters can slide around on skates and crap like that. Gotta be able to do something with the place when basketball season is over.

Oh well.

(Why did you think I was calling YOU out, concrete? Never seen you even post about this that I can recall.)

Ok gentlemen, lets all get along here. If you look at the picture with the ice installed you notice that the fold-up seating (first 10 rows and floor seating for basketball) on the ends is retracted to get the rink to fit. This arena was built for basketball as a first priority. It is still a civic building so they weren't going to make it so it couldn't do anything but basketball, that wouldn't make sense, and the building would not have been able to be built without the ability to do concerts, rodeos, monster trucks, and yes, Disney on Ice. Concrete, I'm assuming you know Stan Meradith. Here's an interesting read that talks of how the arena was built with time constraints and between train tracks.

http://buildipedia.com/aec-pros/from-the-job-site/ewgg4

And another one. This one suggests that the more upright, basketball-friendly structure came as a result of timing and train tracks. Since the arena had to be squeezed in between train tracks, some active during part of the construction, the roof span is less than normal making the building more upright.

http://www.pr.com/press-release/465936

For those who have not been inside the arena, you're going to be in awe that first time you step into it. It literally goes straight up, moreso than any picture can convey. Standing on the main concourse, at the top row (26 or 27) of the lower bowl, you don't feel very far from the floor at all. And then, of course, the suites, 200-level, and 300-level stack right on top of each other from that point. It's gonna give very nice vantage points for basketball no matter where you sit.

[uneblinstu]

The only other arena I've seen that fits hockey in that tightly is the arena in Phoenix.

 

I'm seriously thinking about crashing graduation to scope out the arena...

[49r]

 

 

 

 

The people who told us the new arena was all about basketball and designed specifically as a basketball arena were apparently full of

Umm...OK? Since you feel the need to call out "The People" (me) who said it was a bball arena first and foremost..

 

 

Yes, absolutely terrific sight lines for hockey.    I think 30%+ of the seats will have partial visibility of the ice.  As I said before, it CAN host hockey but it's not an ideal hockey arena.  Basketball first, everything else second.

 

If you would like to tell my source that they're full of ____ then be my guest.  They might find it a little weird though, considering they designed the thing.

 

No no no no no.  I'm not calling out you.

 

I'm calling out people like Marc Boehm who promised us this would be an environment ideal for watching basketball and creating a home court advantage.  An arena specifically designed with hoops in mind.  Sight lines planned for basketball.  I specifically recall them using the words "sight lines."  Fans were supposed to be so close to the floor that hockey ice wouldn't even fit.

 

And just like with the student standing section along an entire side and the two ends, the basketball focus seems to have fallen victim to $$$ concerns.

 

Gotta be able to throw down some ice so that knock-off Disney characters can slide around on skates and crap like that.  Gotta be able to do something with the place when basketball season is over.

 

Oh well.

 

(Why did you think I was calling YOU out, concrete?  Never seen you even post about this that I can recall.)

 

 

The students won't be standing along one side and both ends??

 

 

Nope.  That has been out of the plans for like a year now.

 

The risers on three sides of the court were 86'ed and instead they went with the roll out sections of individual seats for the entire lower bowl.  Students will sit in the sections directly behind the benches and the south (bowled-in end) basket.

 

Not sure how well it's gonna work out because people sitting behind the student sections are probably gonna get pretty tired of standing up the whole game just so they can see.  It wouldn't surprise me if they end up tarping off the last few rows of the student section like they do at Ohio State so the standing students don't interfere with the bluehairs sitting behind them.  Which is gonna suck because A).  It looks bad on TV and .  It means fewer students along the courtside.

 

I hope I'm wrong about those last few sentences...

[49r]

The only other arena I've seen that fits hockey in that tightly is the arena in Phoenix.

 

I'm seriously thinking about crashing graduation to scope out the arena...

 

Yep.  That's the best example.

 

US Airways arena is a basketball-first multi-purpose arena that was capable of hosting hockey (which they did when Winnipeg first moved their team to Phoenix).  The sightlines were horrible (most seats in one of the ends didn't allow for views of the goal at that end), eventually they built a new arena for the hockey team in Glendale.

 

But for basketball, it's pretty good.

[uneblinstu]

 

Not sure how well it's gonna work out because people sitting behind the student sections are probably gonna get pretty tired of standing up the whole game just so they can see.  It wouldn't surprise me if they end up tarping off the last few rows of the student section like they do at Ohio State so the standing students don't interfere with the bluehairs sitting behind them.  Which is gonna suck because A).  It looks bad on TV and .  It means fewer students along the courtside.

 

I hope I'm wrong about those last few sentences...

 

 

I thought I saw it compared to how they have it set up at Michigan where the risers sit several feet below the base of the seats so when the boosters behind the student section  look at the floor they don't have to stand to see the action.

[ajb5856]

Not sure how well it's gonna work out because people sitting behind the student sections are probably gonna get pretty tired of standing up the whole game just so they can see. It wouldn't surprise me if they end up tarping off the last few rows of the student section like they do at Ohio State so the standing students don't interfere with the bluehairs sitting behind them. Which is gonna suck because A). It looks bad on TV and . It means fewer students along the courtside.

I hope I'm wrong about those last few sentences...

I thought I saw it compared to how they have it set up at Michigan where the risers sit several feet below the base of the seats so when the boosters behind the student section look at the floor they don't have to stand to see the action.

Not gonna repost the picture, but if you go back and look at the picture where all the seating is expanded...you will notice that the end student seats (they are on the end that is totally enclosed and they are actual seats and not risers) appear to be well below the gate/rail dividing the upper permanent seating. That would've been an epic fail had they not done that. I remember the last couple seasons of side student seating at Devaney when the put the giant rolled up mat things to cover the last couple bleacher rows. That would've looked ridiculous.

[Concrete]

 

 

 

The people who told us the new arena was all about basketball and designed specifically as a basketball arena were apparently full of

Umm...OK? Since you feel the need to call out "The People" (me) who said it was a bball arena first and foremost..

 

 

Yes, absolutely terrific sight lines for hockey.    I think 30%+ of the seats will have partial visibility of the ice.  As I said before, it CAN host hockey but it's not an ideal hockey arena.  Basketball first, everything else second.

 

If you would like to tell my source that they're full of ____ then be my guest.  They might find it a little weird though, considering they designed the thing.

 

No no no no no.  I'm not calling out you.

 

I'm calling out people like Marc Boehm who promised us this would be an environment ideal for watching basketball and creating a home court advantage.  An arena specifically designed with hoops in mind.  Sight lines planned for basketball.  I specifically recall them using the words "sight lines."  Fans were supposed to be so close to the floor that hockey ice wouldn't even fit.

 

And just like with the student standing section along an entire side and the two ends, the basketball focus seems to have fallen victim to $$$ concerns.

 

Gotta be able to throw down some ice so that knock-off Disney characters can slide around on skates and crap like that.  Gotta be able to do something with the place when basketball season is over.

 

Oh well.

 

(Why did you think I was calling YOU out, concrete?  Never seen you even post about this that I can recall.)

 

I've been pretty vocal about the arena being bball first, possibly not on this board though.  Sorry for the confusion.  Trust me though, it's a pretty great basketball setting from what I've seen.  Not at all like CenturyLink in Omaha.  They did it right, IMO

[trickey]

Here is a new article with updates of all the restaurants, bars, businesses, etc. including a map of where and approximate opening dates. Helpful overview....sure wish this was here when I was a student.

 

http://journalstar.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/even-as-arena-opens-west-haymarket-will-be-work-in/article_8259fc22-9967-54d7-9441-8148f50267ee.html

[49r]

 

[Norm Peterson]

 

 

 

 

The people who told us the new arena was all about basketball and designed specifically as a basketball arena were apparently full of

Umm...OK? Since you feel the need to call out "The People" (me) who said it was a bball arena first and foremost..

 

 

Yes, absolutely terrific sight lines for hockey.    I think 30%+ of the seats will have partial visibility of the ice.  As I said before, it CAN host hockey but it's not an ideal hockey arena.  Basketball first, everything else second.

 

If you would like to tell my source that they're full of ____ then be my guest.  They might find it a little weird though, considering they designed the thing.

 

No no no no no.  I'm not calling out you.

 

I'm calling out people like Marc Boehm who promised us this would be an environment ideal for watching basketball and creating a home court advantage.  An arena specifically designed with hoops in mind.  Sight lines planned for basketball.  I specifically recall them using the words "sight lines."  Fans were supposed to be so close to the floor that hockey ice wouldn't even fit.

 

And just like with the student standing section along an entire side and the two ends, the basketball focus seems to have fallen victim to $$$ concerns.

 

Gotta be able to throw down some ice so that knock-off Disney characters can slide around on skates and crap like that.  Gotta be able to do something with the place when basketball season is over.

 

Oh well.

 

(Why did you think I was calling YOU out, concrete?  Never seen you even post about this that I can recall.)

 

I've been pretty vocal about the arena being bball first, possibly not on this board though.  Sorry for the confusion.  Trust me though, it's a pretty great basketball setting from what I've seen.  Not at all like CenturyLink in Omaha.  They did it right, IMO

 

No problem.

 

It's just I and a few others have been disappointed to see subsequent diagrams appear to move the fan seating further and further from the court.  The original promises by the athletic dept have not entirely been fulfilled.  It may yet be a very good basketball facility but as I recall, the original promise was that fans would be right on top of the action and there wouldn't be such distance from the fans on the ends.

 

And now it appears this was done so that they could somehow squeeze a hockey rink into the place.

 

I blame Chris Beutler.  Have no idea if it was his call or if he had anything to do with it, but I'll blame him anyway.