BB practice facility, suites update....

[ksu_FAN]

per Manhattan Mercury:

Basketball practice facility in K-State's future
Mark Janssen Senior Sports Writer
1/24/2007 1:28:51 PM

Returning to "basketball school" status is going to be costly to Kansas State University and its fans.

Coach Bob Huggins put in a polite plug for a practice facility during a teleconference a week ago. "There's not any question that our people here realize the need for a practice facility,. he said. "It's not a big deal in recruiting, but we need to continue to upgrade our facilities, and we're working diligently to do that."

The most recent meeting on such a facility was on Monday with the Kansas City-based HOK architecture firm.

"We're trying to take a logical sequential look at all our needs for the next 10, 15 and 20 years, and as we speak today, a practice gym and corresponding support areas are near the top of our immediate plans," said athletics director Tim Weiser. "It's difficult to say what that time frame is, but we're working on how we can make this work financially."

Ideally, Weiser would like to construct a limestone "front-door" setting to the west side of Bill Snyder Family Stadium and Bramlage Coliseum. The cost would range between $20 million and $50 million depending on what would be included.

"That's a huge number for us to crunch and make sure it makes sense in the long haul," Weiser said.

"I think our baseball stadium is a great example of the strong message a stone look can send and how it matches the look of the rest of the campus," Weiser said. "We need to find that look for our football and basketball facilities."

In part, the construction would include a practice gymnasium with two basketball courts on the lower level, plus the replacing of the concession and restroom areas on the south end of the stadium. Also being considered are meeting rooms for the student-athletes and a hall of fame setting.

"Our facility (Bramlage) is not just an athletic facility," Weiser said. "We have to work around graduations, concerts and Landon Lectures. I believe that we're one of only a few schools in the Big 12 that does not have a practice facility."
Weiser noted that football has an indoor facility, plus three outdoor fields. "We need to give our basketball coaches more room for individual training and the assurance that their seasons will not be disrupted by other events," he said.
     
Fans will help pay

A portion of the funding for a construction project will come from the preferred seating plans Kansas State is offering.

This year that includes 25 courtside seats priced at $4,000 each, plus the cost of the basketball ticket.

Next year, associate athletics director kurt McGuffin indicates that more courtside seats will likely be added, plus sky-boxes that will be positioned in the top 10 rows of Sections 17 through 21 on the east side of the arena.

The 10 to 12 boxes, for 8 to 10 fans per box, will be priced at $3,000 per seat, plus the cost of the ticket. As with the football suites, a catering and alcohol menu will be available.

"We have a couple very firm commitments and the interest list is growing daily," McGuffin said.

McGuffin also indicated that the row of seats behind press row on the opposite side of the team benches will be sold for $1,500 per seat, plus the cost of the season ticket.

"This is all being driven from a financial standpoint and is an equity issue," Weiser said. "People should be rewarded for their support.


Football improvements

Bill Snyder Family Stadium will be given an extra dose of limestone for the 2007 season. A wall will be constructed around the base of the stadium.

In addition, the 40-year-old wooden bleachers and aluminum chairback seats will be replaced in the lower level of the stadium with all aluminum benches and chairbacks.

"These are the original seats in the stadium," Weiser said. "With the aluminum seats, we ran out of repair parts a long time ago."

That sounds like reduced seats for students.  At a windfall of 240000 to 360000 compared to empty student seats, I suppose thats an easy choice. 

This a big step, but we need to find a way to get the practice facility, etc. done.  And I like the move to limestone for both the Octogon and BSFS, that will be a much better look.

[ksu_FAN]

And kudos to Janssen.  He scooped this one.  That doesn't happen a lot.

[atybimf]

Cool.  Excited to see the finished products.

[rlatta]

I wonder if I could get the wooden bench where my familys tickets are.?

[The Minister]

Will Weiser sell the old benches & seats to season ticket holders who have sat in those for years?  Obvious cash-grab, but it may help pay for a bball practice facility.

When the St. Louis Cardinals tore down Busch II to pave the way for the new one they sold everything that could be removed prior to the demolition, right down to the urinals.  No foolin.

[michigancat]

Cool.

[kougar24]

I like.

I wonder what the "front door" is going to incorporate?

And I love the limestone look on campus and the baseball stadium, so that's definitely a good step to beautifying The Fam and The Bram.

[mjrod]

So.. do they name it "Huggieville Practice Center?"

[pissclams]

And kudos to Janssen.  He scooped this one.  That doesn't happen a lot.

Sorry.  We @ KSUFans.com scouped this one months ago...Anyone remember the KATPAK tower??

[michigancat]

RENDERING LEAKED!

[pwrcatjd49]

[michigancat]

LOL

[pissclams]

HELL YES. Who did those flames?

LOL @ me not knowing how to paste opaque back then!

[Super PurpleCat]

I don't want to sit near the fireballs.

[pwrcatjd49]

I don't want to sit near the fireballs.

as Ron would say "Are you a &@#%in' pussy!?"

[Super PurpleCat]

RAWR!

[Dan Rydell]

And kudos to Janssen.  He scooped this one.  That doesn't happen a lot.

Sorry.  We @ KSUFans.com scouped this one months ago...Anyone remember the KATPAK tower??

I was going to say...this sounded like the Tower of Tim that CrazyCat leaked to us back in October:  http://www.ksufans.com/forums/index.php?topic=4682.0

HELL YES. Who did those flames?

Me.

Do they not use Ahearn for practice anymore?  I remember hearing Huggins make an offhand comment on his coach's show or postgame that they essentially only have two goals to practice on at home, when he was talking about how much they were on the road earlier, and how it kind of handicaps some of what they want to do in practice.

[pissclams]

They quit using Ahearn for practices long ago.  Once the season starts they're in "The Fred" full time.
Off season "work-outs" and pick up games were still held on campus at Ahearn though.

When I was in school they'd roll out the temp goals in "The Fred" and have a few of them around the court to work different stations on.

[Saulbadguy]

Now witness the firepower of this fully ARMED and OPERATIONAL battle station!

[kougar24]

[michigancat]

I hope they also add real banners and eliminate the stupid purple ribbon that wraps around the concourse and says things like "FOUL SHOT", "assist", "Bounce Pass", and "layup".

[Saulbadguy]

I hope they also add real banners and eliminate the stupid purple ribbon that wraps around the concourse and says things like "FOUL SHOT", "assist", "Bounce Pass", and "layup".

[ksu_FAN]

I hope they also add real banners and eliminate the stupid purple ribbon that wraps around the concourse and says things like "FOUL SHOT", "assist", "Bounce Pass", and "layup".

At the time that was done I kind of liked it, but now it looks pretty silly.  It beat the teal and nothingness that was there before, but we've got work to do.  They could do the same type of deal, but use old headlines from papers, new and vitage photos, and other images to give it a better look.  Or put the NCAA and championship info out there and remove the wrap-around in the arena and put up banners for that stuff.

[michigancat]

I hope they also add real banners and eliminate the stupid purple ribbon that wraps around the concourse and says things like "FOUL SHOT", "assist", "Bounce Pass", and "layup".

Take time and look at it next time.  It wraps around the tops of the walls and the soffits that show the section numbers above the doors.  It's pretty funny if you actually read what's up there.

[sonofdaxjones]

Look for banners to return, and the "accoustic" tile with painted banners on it, to be replaced by LED boards.

[Saulbadguy]

I hope they also add real banners and eliminate the stupid purple ribbon that wraps around the concourse and says things like "FOUL SHOT", "assist", "Bounce Pass", and "layup".

Take time and look at it next time.  It wraps around the tops of the walls and the soffits that show the section numbers above the doors.  It's pretty funny if you actually read what's up there.

LOL

I've never noticed that. I'll be sure to do that on Saturday.

[Saulbadguy]

Look for banners to return, and the "accoustic" tile with painted banners on it, to be replaced by LED boards.

So we can be constantly shown advertisements?

Not complaining.  Mo' money.

[ksu_FAN]

The LED boards will be a nice change. 

I'd like to see something up with constant stats.  That's one thing I've always like about the Deva in Lincoln, they have a stat board up on each end of the floor that rotates between team stats and player stats the whole game.

[michigancat]

Hopefully the LED's will make a nice reflection on the floor so it looks like a modern arena on TV.

[Dan Rydell]

After they put in the Suites, the banners, the LEDs, etc., especially with the new floor seating, I think the Bram is going to feel a lot more like a basketball venue.  Now, if they could just do something about the empty space at the ends of the court.