Jon M. Huntsman Center to be renovated.

[Portland Ute]

Jon Huntsman, on local news, stated that the Huntsman Center will be undergoing a major renovation in the next couple of years.

Apparently, he's been flying around the country to visit several facilities for ideas and to see if it made more sense to renovate or build new.

Apparently, he and the U. have decided to renovate.

That's pretty big news for the Utah basketball program that needs some right now.

A newly renovated arena in conjunction with the new practice facility ought to help whoever the coach is get recruits to SLC.

In the next 5 years, between the Huntsman, the bball practice facility, RES and other sports facilities, there is going to be a building boom on the U. campus.

[Devildog]

Very Cool!

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

LaUte is going to be furious.

[All-American]

I guess boobs aren't in any more?

[CardiacCoug]

It's about time. Apologies to SU but the hallway around the outside of the arena was way overdue for an update. It's dark, narrow, old looking. Honestly it sort of reminds me of the way my high school halls looked 20 years ago.

[U-Ute]

I guess boobs aren't in any more?

Boobs are always in.

[wapiti]

Will they update the video showing us how to get there?

[Mormon Red Death]

I hope they renovate it like the U of Michigan did with Crisler arena. One thing they did at Michigan is take out the seats behind the benches (they face the camera) and have wooden stands that the students stand on. Gives it a Cameron indoor stadium feel. They also made all the seats cushioned.

They wents from 13,500 seats to a little over 12k seats.

http://www.mgoblue.com/view.gal?id=128059

[SeattleUte]

I hope they renovate it like the U of Michigan did with Crisler arena. One thing they did at Michigan is take out the seats behind the benches (they face the camera) and have wooden stands that the students stand on. Gives it a Cameron indoor stadium feel. They also made all the seats cushioned.

They wents from 13,500 seats to a little over 12k seats.

http://www.mgoblue.com/view.gal?id=128059

oops wrong thread.

[Keyzer Soze]

I just hope they have enough money for matching door handles this go 'round.

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP0vRKVzCuk"]University of Utah - Men's Basketball Intro Video - YouTube[/nomedia]

[LA Ute]

LaUte is going to be furious.

Hey, I think this is great. They need more room for event support and less room for spectators. (The arena needs to be a little smaller - it's the biggest in the PAC-12 and college basketball attendance has been declining nationwide for years now.) Gymnastics can't host nationals because the floor space is too small. It also lacks locker room and media room facilities to host such events. I'm sure all of that's part of the move to update the arena, because it probably affects basketball as well. The place is in very good shape, it's just 44 years old.

[CardiacCoug]

I just hope they have enough money for matching door handles this go 'round.

University of Utah - Men's Basketball Intro Video - YouTube

Nice.

Great idea, LA. I completely agree, you guys might as well modify the basketball arena so it's better suited for gymnastics.

[Moliere]

Nice.

Great idea, LA. I completely agree, you guys might as well modify the basketball arena so it's better suited for gymnastics.

[UtahDan]

I just hope they have enough money for matching door handles this go 'round.

University of Utah - Men's Basketball Intro Video - YouTube

:facepalm:

[UteStar]

If I were Huntsman and I had money trickling out of my ears...I would do something similar to what LA said and make it smaller. I would get rid of the entire upper bowl and put in suites. That would knock out around 4K seats or so.

I would then spend more than the $25 they spent on the material/signs they used for retiring numbers in the rafters. Those things are atrocious.