The future home of Sooner Basketball

[Max Power]

Official capacity, 12,000.

http://www.soonersports.com/facilities/lloyd-noble-center.html

That is probably right, my numbers for both came from wikipedia.

 

[tycat947]

That is probably right, my numbers for both came from wikipedia.

I think it's changed over time. Original capacity was around 10,870 or so and I think it was 11,500 for a while and the last renovation upped it to 12,000.

 

[kev]

The top college basketball venues across the country all have one thing in common. They pack the crowd close to the court. As most of you that have ever attended games in the LNC can attest, the crowd is too far away from the action. This is most glaring improvement that (I feel) Oklahoma should address when it comes to basketball facility upgrades. Whether that is through expanding the field house or renovating the seating structure of the LNC (best option IMO). The program needs a home it can be prOUd of.

 

[mizzOUstu702]

First post is a necrobump...cool!

 

[chuckb]

Seems to me the university and athletic department should focus more on filling the larger facility rather than remodeling a smaller facility. For all the complaints here about the team this season, there have been very few comments from anyone about the low attendance. I get it. The team hasn't been good but half-filled arenas make it more difficult to win home games and recruit players.

Would more fans at some of the games have helped us win another game or 2? Maybe the UT game or the Oklahoma State game? There's no way to know of course but the lack of attendance hasn't helped. This program was in the Final 4 last season, for crying out loud!

 

[hoopsaustin]

I'm very split on the issue. But i think anything to increase the prestige is my bias. I think a packed and feared home court would be the decision for me

 

[coolm]

we've been trying to get them to consider the fieldhouse since the early 90's. never gonna happen. they feel like they can sell tickets for 10.5k ad infinitum, they budget off of that, and thats that. at least it was. maybe Lon can convince them otherwise.

 

[tycat947]

The top college basketball venues across the country all have one thing in common. They pack the crowd close to the court. As most of you that have ever attended games in the LNC can attest, the crowd is too far away from the action. This is most glaring improvement that (I feel) Oklahoma should address when it comes to basketball facility upgrades. Whether that is through expanding the field house or renovating the seating structure of the LNC (best option IMO). The program needs a home it can be prOUd of.

Fieldhouse is not usable for basketball. I sat in upper level during exhibition a couple of years ago and you literally could not see half of the lane below. Whatever happens to basketball facility (and they wouldn't be adding on to LNC this year if they were planning to abandon), OU Fieldhouse will NOT be an option.

 

[tycat947]

we've been trying to get them to consider the fieldhouse since the early 90's. never gonna happen. they feel like they can sell tickets for 10.5k ad infinitum, they budget off of that, and thats that. at least it was. maybe Lon can convince them otherwise.

They do sell season tickets for almost that amount every year. The ticket holders just don't attend.

 

[coolm]

They do sell season tickets for almost that amount every year. The ticket holders just don't attend.

we are well aware of that. problem is this screws over the basketball program.

 

[kev]

They do sell season tickets for almost that amount every year. The ticket holders just don't attend.

Because the LNC doesn't have that college basketball atmosphere. It is more of a civic center than a bball arena. Restructure the seating to put fans right up on the court.


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[kev]

They do sell season tickets for almost that amount every year. The ticket holders just don't attend.

I think it'll be more cost effective to renovate the seating in LNC than expanding the field house.


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[Soonerinkc]

Guess I thought the OP was a slam on the performance this year and that since we've had such a crappy season the fan support would be better at the field house..didn't think it was a serious option...lol.

 

[tycat947]

Because the LNC doesn't have that college basketball atmosphere. It is more of a civic center than a bball arena. Restructure the seating to put fans right up on the court.


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The LNC has plenty of college basketball atmosphere, when people show up! It's not the arena (although not ideal), it's the lack of people. Back in the 80's, LNC was known as a very difficult place to play!

People are a long ways away from court in Carrier Dome, but the 30K that show up make it loud. If there were only 10K showing up for games, it would be quiet and people would say it didn't have a college basketball atmosphere.

OMS has fans right on top of the field but how many times do people complain about lack of crowd noise?

It's not the facility but the people attending, or not attending.

 

[skyvue]

Back in the 80's, LNC was known as a very difficult place to play!

More recently than that, we had the longest home winning streak in the country (texas ended it with a furious late rally that gave them a comeback win, as I recall it).

With due respect to the new poster, I feel an acute sense of deja vu every time this topic is brought up -- and it has been brought up over and over for years, with nary a new argument offered (on either side of the issue).

 

[coolm]

... I feel an acute sense of deja vu every time this topic is brought up -- and it has been brought up over and over for years, with nary a new argument offered (on either side of the issue).

that's how I get about it as well. same argument since 1995.

 

[tycat947]

More recently than that, we had the longest home winning streak in the country (texas ended it with a furious late rally that gave them a comeback win, as I recall it).

With due respect to the new poster, I feel an acute sense of deja vu every time this topic is brought up -- and it has been brought up over and over for years, with nary a new argument offered (on either side of the issue).

Yep.

 

[Mackie McNeer]

It's frustrating when a program like Nebraska has a sparkling new facility (as of a couple years ago) when their old facility was a contemporary of the LNC. One of you billionaires needs to pony up.

 

[Matthew G]

I can tell you right now that OU will not move to the field house. Joe C has even stayed they don't like playing any basketball games there for several reasons. #1 is there's no adequate restrooms, concessions, etc to support it. #2 the locker rooms there can't support basketball games. #3 more facility issues, whether it's the court, AC, etc etc. He's stayed they can't move games there because it's not fit. I'm fairly sure he knows the LNC isn't great, but donors decide what to do with their money, and most care about football, not basketball. Also, he's more worried about fans not showing up, even though they've paid for tickets.

 

[BoulderSooner]

we are well aware of that. problem is this screws over the basketball program.

going to a smaller facility doesn't solve that problem ... lots that buy tickets and don't go now are in the lower level close to the court ... it will be the same thing in a new facility