Flowers Hall

[brandon]

I was wondering how or if the renovation to Flowers has started or how it is doing? Has anyone seen how it is supposed to look?

[northalaspectator]

It will probably get started after the upcoming basketball season. I was told a new floor had to be in place before the next season regardless of which Division. Also they got to get it ready for ESPN. They might start working on the seating before the current basketball ball season ends. I have not seen any plans as of yet.

[unafied]

I have lived here in Chattanooga for nine years, but last night finally visited the UTC Mocs' basketball arena for the first time. We weren't there for a basketball game (took our daughter to see Disney on Ice), but I tried to look around and get a feel for the place while there. Obviously Chattanooga has some advantages that UNA doesn't have, and they are already a bigger school (enrollment is 11,000+ I believe). But as far as basketball is concerned the Southern Conference and the ASUN are not worlds apart. I feel like we could battle the Mocs for some recruits. 

I've heard some Mocs fans say that the arena is a "dump", but I didn't get that impression at all. It was built in the 70s but seems to be holding up well for its age. Sight-lines are pretty good. Seats are organized around the place in a circle, so I can't imagine there are many bad seats. There are basically two levels, and a concourse surrounds the building with stairs leading to both the upper and lower bowls. Concessions and bathrooms were plentiful. The chairs themselves were all seat-back. I would say capacity is around 10,000, though I honestly don't know for sure. It could maybe use a fresh coat of paint here are there, and there are no luxury boxes to speak of, but overall it's a solid B+. 

I'd say this is a pretty good view of the place (though not my picture): 


Now understand, I'm not saying any of this to rag on Flowers Hall. It has served its purpose for D2 basketball. I know that for most of our fans and administration, a new football stadium is definitely preferred over a basketball arena. You can put a good product on the court no matter where you play, but I do hope that a plan is in place (or soon will be) to move on from Flowers, even if it's 10 years from now. I don't want the attitude that "some day" making the tournament as a Cinderella and getting thumped by a #1 seed is the best we can ever shoot for (no pun intended). 

[brandon]

I feel ya, I happen to be one of the few it seems that still likes Flowers Hall. It needs some major renovation but I love how it feels.

That said, I kinda feel like the days of 10k seat arenas are in the past unless you are a huge Basketball program like Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke and so on, kinda like nobody outside the P5 should really worry about having a football stadium over 60k. 15-30k should be about right for 90% of college football (even some in the P5.

That's part of the reason I am torn about Braly, it could be an awesome stadium, if they would let it be. That's the only reason I would love to see us build a new stadium.

[unafied]

I agree that we don't need 10k seats. I'd say 8000 would be a good number that would sustain us for quite a while. I would just love to see something that is seating-wise more fan friendly (no bleachers), have a dedicated spot for students, and just be more impressive visually. That last point is silly, but it matters to recruits.

[northalaspectator]

My understanding that there will be no bleacher type seats. The seating will probably be reduced from around 750 to 1000 less seats than Flowers Hall now seat. The Student section will be upstairs in the end zone the E Section.
There will be a Enclosed Hospitality Room so VIP and potential recruits can watch a game.

At this time I have seen no plans, but I have heard this being the plans if things don’t change. Most important right now is a complete new floor for the court.

Work to start after the Graduation in May.

[unafied]

'Board OKs $2M Plan for Flowers Hall'

Link

The article says that the board authorized "$2.125 million to replace flooring and seating in the arena, create a VIP area, add video boards, and purchase a mobile production trailer and camera equipment for athletics broadcasts".

The seating is what I'm most interested in. We need to get rid of the bleacher seating, period, IF we plan on using Flowers the majority of the time instead of the rumored agricultural arena. I'm not sure exactly what can be squeezed into the building, but I'd like to see chairbacks all through the upper deck, including closing in the existing open corners up there. The seats in the corners could be angled toward the court. Again - not sure if it's possible, but it would be nice to see. That would make up for some seats possibly lost if the bleachers go away.

[northalaspectator]

The bleacher type seating will be gone. Not sure if they are planning on using similar type chair back that are now in Flowers Hall or more comfortable theater type seats.

I’m more concerned on how much space that (VIP section for club seating during games that would double as an academic center for student athletes at other times will take up) and the space for the broadcast for ESPN. The article mentions that the west end will be for the VIP section and I have heard that the east end will be the student section.

It would be nice if they could incorporate a small concession place upstairs and restrooms.

It is listed that Flowers Hall now seats 3800. From my understanding after the work is finished not counting the VIP area the seating will be under 3000.

[unafied]

Dec 7, 2017 8:16:31 GMT -6 northalaspectator said:

The bleacher type seating will be gone. Not sure if they are planning on using similar type chair back that are now in Flowers Hall or more comfortable theater type seats.

I’m more concerned on how much space that (VIP section for club seating during games that would double as an academic center for student athletes at other times will take up) and the space for the broadcast for ESPN. The article mentions that the west end will be for the VIP section and I have heard that the east end will be the student section.

It would be nice if they could incorporate a small concession place upstairs and restrooms.

It is listed that Flowers Hall now seats 3800. From my understanding after the work is finished not counting the VIP area the seating will be under 3000.

Good to know on the bleacher seating. It's not that I didn't believe your earlier post, I just really wanted to emphasize how I feel about the bleachers 

Say we stick to 3000 for a capacity measuring stick. I went to Wikipedia, just curious as to how many D1 teams would have a smaller arena. I was actually surprised to find quite a few. Interestingly, if we look at strictly current ASUN members, there are two schools that would have smaller homes:

- South Carolina Upstate: 878 (according to this list the smallest in the nation!)
- Jacksonville: 1500

No real reason to include the Big South schools for this, but if we do, there are 4 more there.

The closest to us, sizewise, is NJIT at 3500. Most appear to be in the 4000 - 5000 range. North Florida has the biggest at 5800, which still isn't huge by any standard. 

I guess what I'm trying to say is, as long as these updates modernize Flowers and make the experience more enjoyable for fans, we are least comparable to our current conference mates. I still do NOT think Flowers is the long-term solution for our program, if we want to grow beyond what the ASUN currently offers us. Is the "ag arena" the answer, I don't know. I just hope there is discussion now instead of 10 years from now. 

[brandon]

I think the ag center will be used for any "Big games", games that are expected to bring bigger crowds.

Flowers Hall, in my opinion is a great venue, a very personal experience. It just needs to be brought out of 1970 and into modern times. All chairbacks and video boards are a nice start. Restrooms and food are my concerns. That needs to be addressed first in my opinion.

But I am very excited to see what the future holds.

[unafied]

Dec 7, 2017 11:32:01 GMT -6 brandon said:

I think the ag center will be used for any "Big games", games that are expected to bring bigger crowds.

Flowers Hall, in my opinion is a great venue, a very personal experience. It just needs to be brought out of 1970 and into modern times. All chairbacks and video boards are a nice start. Restrooms and food are my concerns. That needs to be addressed first in my opinion.

But I am very excited to see what the future holds.

Do any other teams float between two arenas? I know you have football examples, like Bama playing big games at Legion Field for years, but can't think of a similar basketball situation. I'm certainly not disagreeing that could happen. I've said it before, but even if the men's basketball team made the move to the new arena, you still need to have a nice facility for women's basketball and volleyball (but heck, let's hope both programs get to the point where even 3000 seats aren't enough for them). 

On concessions, I wonder if the VIP area mentioned in today's article would have food service for all? I'm not sure how those setups usually work. I know "luxury boxes" are typically closed to just those sitting there, but this is a little more ambiguous. It's probably wishful thinking, but yeah, would be nice to see some better food offerings. 

[lions09]

Good to hear some news on this. Even if 3K, it will be cool until that's too small. Until then, it will be easier to make it look full and improve the atmosphere at the game and on TV.

[brandon]

Dec 7, 2017 12:25:47 GMT -6 unafied said:

Dec 7, 2017 11:32:01 GMT -6 brandon said:

I think the ag center will be used for any "Big games", games that are expected to bring bigger crowds.

Flowers Hall, in my opinion is a great venue, a very personal experience. It just needs to be brought out of 1970 and into modern times. All chairbacks and video boards are a nice start. Restrooms and food are my concerns. That needs to be addressed first in my opinion.

But I am very excited to see what the future holds.

Do any other teams float between two arenas? I know you have football examples, like Bama playing big games at Legion Field for years, but can't think of a similar basketball situation. I'm certainly not disagreeing that could happen. I've said it before, but even if the men's basketball team made the move to the new arena, you still need to have a nice facility for women's basketball and volleyball (but heck, let's hope both programs get to the point where even 3000 seats aren't enough for them). 

On concessions, I wonder if the VIP area mentioned in today's article would have food service for all? I'm not sure how those setups usually work. I know "luxury boxes" are typically closed to just those sitting there, but this is a little more ambiguous. It's probably wishful thinking, but yeah, would be nice to see some better food offerings. 

I can't name them all, I know NJIT did it, some teams in the New York area would use Madison Square for defacto home games.

Alabama is doing it now, they will play in Birmingham and Huntsville for home games.

[brandon]

Watching Seton Hall play at their place on ESPN, (not the Prudential Center) it is smaller than Flowers with about the same setup. I think Flowers will be good.

[kperk1959]

Nov 13, 2017 10:59:07 GMT -6 unafied said:

I agree that we don't need 10k seats. I'd say 8000 would be a good number that would sustain us for quite a while. I would just love to see something that is seating-wise more fan friendly (no bleachers), have a dedicated spot for students, and just be more impressive visually. That last point is silly, but it matters to recruits.

I don't know, if, IF we start winning again, that could change. There was a time we could have had six or seven thousand for games if we had more seating and standing room. We were packing them in so tightly the fire marshal stepped in. If IF we generate that kind of excitement in D1, 3,000 or less won't do. However if we are shooting for mediocrity we should leave it as is.