Official Utah basketball coach candidates thread.

[cougjunkie]

The Huntsman is simply a great college basketball arena. It is now older (1969), but so are Allen Fieldhouse in Kansas (1955), and Pauley Pavilion (1965) now. I've watched games in Allen Fieldhouse and it doesn't look new, but it's a great venue. It has been refurbished a few times, and so has Pauley, pretty recently. The Huntsman is going to need a significant refurbishing soon, but trying to knock the place is just silly smack. If it were not a great arena the Final Four would not have been held there in 1979, nor would a zillion NCAA regionals have been there.

Stop seriously. Comparing Allen Fieldhouse and Pauley Pavilion to the Huntsman Center? Yikes.

[SeattleUte]

Stop seriously. Comparing Allen Fieldhouse and Pauley Pavilion to the Huntsman Center? Yikes.

No you stop. The Hunty is legendary. For one thing, it hosted the most memorable Final Four in NCAA history. LA's comparisons were perfect.

You're all showing your insecurity. Let's talk about that horror you call the Marriott Center.

[cougjunkie]

No you stop. The Hunty is legendary. For one thing, it hosted the most memorable Final Four in NCAA history. LA's comparisons were perfect.

You're all showing your insecurity. Let's talk about that horror you call the Marriott Center.

So because the Pepsi Center has hosted numerous NCAA events, as well as that thing in Dayton those are both legendary as well? These arenas host events like this because of location and access and thats it. It has nothing to do with the venue itself otherwise every game would be held at MSG, Rupp Arena, etc.

Not the Huntsman and its crocheted scoreboard support system, or the carpeting on the ceiling to help the acoustics.

[Top Ute]

So because the Pepsi Center has hosted numerous NCAA events, as well as that thing in Dayton those are both legendary as well? These arenas host events like this because of location and access and thats it. It has nothing to do with the venue itself otherwise every game would be held at MSG, Rupp Arena, etc.

Not the Huntsman and its crocheted scoreboard support system, or the carpeting on the ceiling to help the acoustics.

An impassioned criticism coming from someone who will never have a dog in the fight about historic arenas.

[LA Ute]

An impassioned criticism coming from someone who will never have a dog in the fight about historic arenas.

I am mainly talking about the design of the place, its acoustics, seating, sight lines, etc. Circular arenas were very new back in the day and it was revolutionary for its time. If you're going to knock the Huntsman for being old, then you have to knock Allen and Pauley too, which are even older, but not as well-designed. I am not saying Utah basketball equates to UCLA or Kansas basketball. We do have a great arena, however.

The Jon M. Huntsman Center has been regarded as one of the top college arenas in the nation since opening its doors in 1969. Long recognized as a site of championships, the Huntsman Center played host to the 1979 NCAA Basketball Championship "Dream Match-Up" featuring Indiana State's Larry Bird and Michigan State's Magic Johnson-deemed one of the most successful Final Fours ever held. The men's NCAA regional tournament received a Huntsman Center booking in 1984, '85, and '87, and the NCAA first and second rounds took place in the arena in 1988, '89, '90, '91, '93, '95, '97, 2000 '03, and ‘06. The JMHC has hosted over 75 games in the facility. The Huntsman Center has also played host to nine national gymnastics championships and the 1993 World University Games Trials.

[Top Ute]

I am mainly talking about the design of the place, its acoustics, seating, sight lines, etc. Circular arenas were very new back in the day and it was revolutionary for its time. If you're going to knock the Huntsman for being old, then you have to knock Allen and Pauley too, which are even older, but not as well-designed. I am not saying Utah basketball equates to UCLA or Kansas basketball. We do have a great arena, however.

Having lived in SoCal prior to the Pauley renovations, a lot of the same complaints about that building are echoed today about the JHC. Reduce the paid seating, create some skyboxes where the levels are split and increase the lighting in the concourse and you're off to a good start to making the JHC more modern.

[TripletDaddy]

The dumpsman center is the Provo Temple of basketball arenas.

The design of the Provo temple was and remains fairly unique.

There is a reason why they don't build arenas like the dumpsman center anymore. The sight lines are good in that place, although are there bad sight lines in such a small venue?

[MartyFunkhouser]

The dumpsman center is the Provo Temple of basketball arenas.

The design of the Provo temple was and remains fairly unique.

There is a reason why they don't build arenas like the dumpsman center anymore. The sight lines are good in that place, although are there bad sight lines in such a small venue?

Since when was 15k considered small in college basketball?



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[Katy Lied]

If any Ute fans had doubts about us getting a good hire that will win the press conference, put those doubts to rest. 1320 is reporting that Huntsman told Chris Hill that he will do whatever it takes financially to get the program back on track. I hope Huntsman is a man of his word because we don't just need money for the coach we need some facility upgrades as well.

I believe I posted this last week, thank you.

[LA Ute]

Since when was 15k considered small in college basketball?



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It (the Huntsman) will be the largest basketball arena in the PAC12.

[Portland Ute]

The sight lines are good in that place, although are there bad sight lines in such a small venue?

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

The Huntsman is simply a great college basketball arena. It is now older (1969), but so are Allen Fieldhouse in Kansas (1955), and Pauley Pavilion (1965) now. I've watched games in Allen Fieldhouse and it doesn't look new, but it's a great venue. It has been refurbished a few times, and so has Pauley, pretty recently. The Huntsman is going to need a significant refurbishing soon, but trying to knock the place is just silly smack. If it were not a great arena the Final Four would not have been held there in 1979, nor would a zillion NCAA regionals have been there.

Pauly is so amazing that UCLA is spending $185 million to renovate it. Of course UCLA has to play keep up with USC (brand new Galen Center) and Oregon (brand new Matt Knight), so I doubt that has much of an effect on Uta... oh never mind.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/spor...enovation.html

[LA Ute]

Pauly is so amazing that UCLA is spending $185 million to renovate it. Of course UCLA has to play keep up with USC (brand new Galen Center) and Oregon (brand new Matt Knight), so I doubt that has much of an effect on Uta... oh never mind.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/spor...enovation.html

When was the last time you were in the Huntsman, HFN? Inquiring minds want to know. Have you been in Pauley lately? How does it look? Can you tell us what needs to be done to the Huntsman and what it will cost?

p.s. The cost is down to $136 million. Mere chump change. Looks like UCLA will finance a lot of it:

UCLA's debt service after upgrades to its Pauley Pavilion sports arena would be about $375,000 per month, according to Athletic Director Dan Guerrero. That figure is what UCLA's current debt service is per year.

Ouch. That's a big mortgage. One nice thing Utah has going for it is that we have almost no debt, not having floated any bonds lately. So although Utah's annual athletics budget is around $32 million, we're not all that far behind Cal or Colorado, whose budgets are (I am told) in the mid-40s but who also have $8-10 million in debt service every year. Somehow we will get by.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Can you tell us what needs to be done to the Huntsman and what it will cost?

I would hang giant pictures of Max Hall and Jesus in every entrance. Other than that not much.

You are right though, all is well in Zion. UCLA is just throwing good money after bad, USC and Oregon flushed money down the toilet. Old gyms are what sell the top recruits and coaches on a school. Look at Washington they haven't renovated Hec Ed glorious old gym..oh wait never mind. But look at Stanford with all there tradition and heritage they haven't spent a dime on Maples in the last 10 years...oh wait never mind. I wouldn't change anything.

[LA Ute]

I would hang giant pictures of Max Hall and Jesus in every entrance. Other than that not much.

You are right though, all is well in Zion. UCLA is just throwing good money after bad, USC and Oregon flushed money down the toilet. Old gyms are what sell the top recruits and coaches on a school. Look at Washington they haven't renovated Hec Ed glorious old gym..oh wait never mind. But look at Stanford with all there tradition and heritage they haven't spent a dime on Maples in the last 10 years...oh wait never mind. I wouldn't change anything.

I'm afraid Utah will just have to get by with the arena it has for a while longer. With a little luck it will do. There are other facilities things that need to be done first. But why are you saying nothing needs to change? That doesn't make any sense.

p.s. I'm still waiting for you to share with us your knowledge of the Huntsman's condition and what needs to be done to it, and how soon. We need this information!