New Robert Morris arena

[Sean Miller Fan]

Here's youtube video of what it will look like:



Pretty ambitious for a small private school with a miniscule basketball fanbase to try to fundraise $50 million. Some Pitt fans think a fairly large public school like Pitt couldn't raise $200-$300 million for a football stadium.

The inside of it doesn't look as nice as IUP or Cal U's new arenas but still a major upgrade from the Sewall Center. I wouldn't mind if Pitt did a 4 for 1 with them once its done. Would be kinda cool to see what would basically be a Pitt home game in a different environment.

Hopefully this allows RMU to join the MAAC, CAA, or Horizon but that is no guarantee.

 

[R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n]

Here's youtube video of what it will look like:

View embedded media

Pretty ambitious for a small private school with a miniscule basketball fanbase to try to fundraise $50 million. Some Pitt fans think a fairly large public school like Pitt couldn't raise $200-$300 million for a football stadium.

The inside of it doesn't look as nice as IUP or Cal U's new arenas but still a major upgrade from the Sewall Center. I wouldn't mind if Pitt did a 4 for 1 with them once its done. Would be kinda cool to see what would basically be a Pitt home game in a different environment.

Hopefully this allows RMU to join the MAAC, CAA, or Horizon but that is no guarantee.

Supposedly now RMU is either building a new arena exactly where the Sewell Centrr is or just doing a major renovation to the Sewell.

I mean it could look close the same as the video if they are literally tarring down the entire old arena, but not so much if they're just giving it a major upgrade....

Nothing is set in stone either way yet for what I've heard.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Supposedly now RMU is either building a new arena exactly where the Sewell Centrr is or just doing a major renovation to the Sewell.

I mean it could look close the same as the video if they are literally tarring down the entire old arena, but not so much if they're just giving it a major upgrade....

Nothing is set in stone either way yet for what I've heard.

Raising $50 million for them always sounded unrealistic, maybe they couldn't do it.

 

[NTOP]

Raising $50 million for them always sounded unrealistic, maybe they couldn't do it.

Oh, so maybe Pitt couldn't raise $200-300 milion (not enough)?? And in Pitt's case...they shouldn't try to do it. Waste of time, energy & $$. Gallagher's not that dumb...except in choosing an AD.

 

[ameoba defense]

Here's youtube video of what it will look like:

View embedded media

Pretty ambitious for a small private school with a miniscule basketball fanbase to try to fundraise $50 million. Some Pitt fans think a fairly large public school like Pitt couldn't raise $200-$300 million for a football stadium.

The inside of it doesn't look as nice as IUP or Cal U's new arenas but still a major upgrade from the Sewall Center. I wouldn't mind if Pitt did a 4 for 1 with them once its done. Would be kinda cool to see what would basically be a Pitt home game in a different environment.

Hopefully this allows RMU to join the MAAC, CAA, or Horizon but that is no guarantee.

The MAAC would be a nice spot for them. Folks might be interested in going out to see them play decent teams like Siena, or Canisius, as opposed to the garbage in the NEC.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

The MAAC would be a nice spot for them. Folks might be interested in going out to see them play decent teams like Siena, or Canisius, as opposed to the garbage in the NEC.

No they wont. They wont go to Palumbo to see good A10 teams and the average yinzer cannot differentiate between the MAAC and NEC, between Canisius and Mount St. Mary's. That said, they bring a good market on paper so they would have a chance. These commissioners dont seem to care if teams have fans and just go by market size (see BC and Rutgers).

 

[R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n]

No they wont. They wont go to Palumbo to see good A10 teams and the average yinzer cannot differentiate between the MAAC and NEC, between Canisius and Mount St. Mary's. That said, they bring a good market on paper so they would have a chance. These commissioners dont seem to care if teams have fans and just go by market size (see BC and Rutgers).

Moving up to the horizon league would be pretty sweet but it might be too big of a step for Bobby Mo idk

Edit: And people don't go to the Pulumbo cuz Duquesne hasn't made the Tournament or been good for nearly 40 years & has only been to the NIT twice since 1981...

If they had a better team with the pretty good competition they play in the A10, more people would show up.

 

[R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n]

Raising $50 million for them always sounded unrealistic, maybe they couldn't do it.

I had heard before that they had at least 25-30 million pledged more than a couple months ago so they were doing fairly well.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Having gone through the college process twice now with student athletes, I don't understand why the campuses around PA, Ohio, NY and NJ suck asthetically. RMU is a decent campus, but all of the architecture is different from building to building. Working from memory here, but the other buildings on campus are 180 degrees different from this proposed facility. Contrast this to the mid Atlantic schools and southeastern schools, and one campus is nicer than the next. It's sucks for kids who want to stay an easy drive from home. This facility is nice, but doesn't seem to fit with the rest of campus.

 

[Pittguy1980]

People can't be bothered to go see top 10 Purdue against Pitt...I have a hard time believing rmu can fill a bigger arena.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Edit: And people don't go to the Pulumbo cuz Duquesne hasn't made the Tournament or been good for nearly 40 years & has only been to the NIT twice since 1981...

Pitt, whose fanbase may be 10 to 20, maybe 50 times larger than RMU gets 3K-4K people for OOC games. How many is RMU going to get for a game against Green Bay? The answer is 1K to 2K because their fanbase is small, they have a small alumni base and there are too many major sports team taking attention away from them.

RMU has the worst possible fan situation: small, private university, playing low level D1 ball in a major pro market. You think Pitt has it bad? Try being RMU. I do hope they get the arena though.

 

[R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n]

Pitt, whose fanbase may be 10 to 20, maybe 50 times larger than RMU gets 3K-4K people for OOC games. How many is RMU going to get for a game against Green Bay? The answer is 1K to 2K because their fanbase is small, they have a small alumni base and there are too many major sports team taking attention away from them.

RMU has the worst possible fan situation: small, private university, playing low level D1 ball in a major pro market. You think Pitt has it bad? Try being RMU. I do hope they get the arena though.

I was dissing Duquesne, not Pitt... lol.


Yeah RMU has a pretty tough situation for sure but an upgrade in facilities (compared to the old school, wooden Sewell Center) can only help get more fans in. Also, upgrading conferences in the near future would also help.

RMU had a home average attendance last year (2015-16 season) of 1,526 up from 1,106 the year they made the Tournament (2014-15).

So it has been in the rise a little bit at least recently.

Playing in an updated/new facility alone could get them to around 2,000 people per game plus a better conference could range from 2,200-2,500 per game or so.

Also, RMU needs to market their brand a lot better too for the basketball games to get more people in.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Having gone through the college process twice now with student athletes, I don't understand why the campuses around PA, Ohio, NY and NJ suck asthetically. RMU is a decent campus, but all of the architecture is different from building to building. Working from memory here, but the other buildings on campus are 180 degrees different from this proposed facility. Contrast this to the mid Atlantic schools and southeastern schools, and one campus is nicer than the next. It's sucks for kids who want to stay an easy drive from home. This facility is nice, but doesn't seem to fit with the rest of campus.

Well in RMU's case let's keep in mind that they were just an accounting school for it's first 40 or 50 years of existence, and then it was a junior college for years after that. So it really doesn't have a long history and a historic campus like many of these other schools do.

 

[R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n]

Well in RMU's case let's keep in mind that they were just an accounting school for it's first 40 or 50 years of existence, and then it was a junior college for years after that. So it really doesn't have a long history and a historic campus like many of these other schools do.

True good point...

They still have some time to evolve into a better school (with more character, & history).

 

[big marty]

They had to upgrade to stay in the arms race of div1 basketball.

 

[pitt-girl]

Well in RMU's case let's keep in mind that they were just an accounting school for it's first 40 or 50 years of existence, and then it was a junior college for years after that. So it really doesn't have a long history and a historic campus like many of these other schools do.

RMU has done a fantastic job elevating itself into a university. Interestingly enough for whatever reason, they made a huge play academically for our youngest. Full ride, guaranteed paid internships for 3 years, housing, etc. It was incredibly generous and they were all extremely nice. He chose otherwise, but it's clear they are being aggressive.

 

[Palm Beach Panther]

Here's youtube video of what it will look like:

View embedded media

Pretty ambitious for a small private school with a miniscule basketball fanbase to try to fundraise $50 million. Some Pitt fans think a fairly large public school like Pitt couldn't raise $200-$300 million for a football stadium.

The inside of it doesn't look as nice as IUP or Cal U's new arenas but still a major upgrade from the Sewall Center. I wouldn't mind if Pitt did a 4 for 1 with them once its done. Would be kinda cool to see what would basically be a Pitt home game in a different environment.

Hopefully this allows RMU to join the MAAC, CAA, or Horizon but that is no guarantee.

That looks as bad as the music sounds. At least our arena stands the test of time.

 

[DayOnePittPanthers]

They need to play hockey there too. It didn't seem based on that video that they're planning to do that.

 

[Piranha]

They need to play hockey there too. It didn't seem based on that video that they're planning to do that.

It would make sense to do a multipurpose facility for hockey as well. Hockey is their best chance to make a big impact in the NCAA.

 

[NTOP]

It would make sense to do a multipurpose facility for hockey as well. Hockey is their best chance to make a big impact in the NCAA.

They have the Neville Island facility. Spent some $$ buying that.

 

[Piranha]

They have the Neville Island facility. Spent some $$ buying that.

An on-campus, top notch facility would give them an edge.

 

[NTOP]

An on-campus, top notch facility would give them an edge.

Why waste all that dough?? It's not like they draw big crowds. And very few sites ANYWHERE are good for both hoops & hockey. Consol, e.g Since those 2 sports play during the same time of the year, better to just build a gym & keep the Island complex.
Are you suggesting that HF isn't a great venue??

 

[R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n]

Why waste all that dough?? It's not like they draw big crowds. And very few sites ANYWHERE are good for both hoops & hockey. Consol, e.g Since those 2 sports play during the same time of the year, better to just build a gym & keep the Island complex.
Are you suggesting that HF isn't a great venue??

I agree...

They get pretty good attendance on the island and it's a good location right off of 79.

Basketball is what needs the upgrade.

Wooden bleachers doesn't help get people in the door for Divison 1 basketball.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

I agree...

They get pretty good attendance on the island and it's a good location right off of 79.

Basketball is what needs the upgrade.

Wooden bleachers doesn't help get people in the door for Divison 1 basketball.

Some of the best times I have had at a sporting event was at a NEC tourney game at Sewell, and the UK NIT game vs Kentucky. It may be a HS gym but it's a great time. I am not an RMU fan but I do root for them. my kid was offered to play and attend there.

 

[R-M-U-h-o-o-p-s-f-a-n]

Some of the best times I have had at a sporting event was at a NEC tourney game at Sewell, and the UK NIT game vs Kentucky. It may be a HS gym but it's a great time. I am not an RMU fan but I do root for them. my kid was offered to play and attend there.

Yea I go to their games anyway...

The gym doesn't scare me away.

But for some people it does matter & having more comfortable & better seats will/would only help.