RAC renovation

e5fdny

Heisman
Nov 11, 2002
113,667
52,290
102
Trenton Arena is easier to get to than Pru Center???
As the crows flies (if he is taking NJ Transit) from
NB/Piscataway, yes it is.

But overall I think the Prudential Center works the best overall.

Scheduling though could be an issue compared to Cure Arena.
 

tico brown

Heisman
Oct 16, 2005
43,194
13,203
93
As the crows flies (if he is taking NJ Transit) from
NB/Piscataway, yes it is.

But overall I think the Prudential Center works the best overall.

Scheduling though could be an issue compared to Cure Arena.
I was just saying wouldn’t 129 be a nightmare as the only highway in and out of that area? Plus don’t get me started on that Riverline, where you can see people take a dump or stick needles on the train. Sometimes by the same person at the same time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BlockR

RUPete

Heisman
Feb 5, 2003
26,846
16,117
0
As the crows flies (if he is taking NJ Transit) from
NB/Piscataway, yes it is.

But overall I think the Prudential Center works the best overall.

Scheduling though could be an issue compared to Cure Arena.
One additional advantage of Pru for me is that if I go home from work, I live off the Raritan Valley Line. The return commute would be faster. I can make either one work. Jadwin would kinda suck, but I don’t think that will be an option given its capacity.
 

e5fdny

Heisman
Nov 11, 2002
113,667
52,290
102
I was just saying wouldn’t 129 be a nightmare as the only highway in and out of that area? Plus don’t get me started on that Riverline, where you can see people take a dump or stick needles on the train. Sometimes by the same person at the same time.
I would want Cure Arena for two reasons only:

- political exposure as it’s literally right down the street from the Statehouse…time for some Scarlet Schmoozing. 🍻🥂🍸💰🎩😉

- the 🧊 and the sport you play on it.👍
 
  • Like
Reactions: rume

BigEastPhil

Heisman
Nov 25, 2007
18,600
12,583
66
Trenton Arena is easier to get to than Pru Center???
I think it is. Easy drive off 195 or route 1. I live squarely in the middle between Trenton and Newark ( actually closer to Newark) so distance is not an issue. It’s all theNewark rush hour traffic on McCarter / parking fees / Newark Penn Station filth ( if taking mass transit) to deal with that make a move to the Rock undesirable for me. Trenton is an easy straight ride and I think a less stressful ride when trying to make a 630 / 7pm game. Deep down I’m sure it ll be Newark but I’d prefer Trenton.
 
Last edited:

BigEastPhil

Heisman
Nov 25, 2007
18,600
12,583
66
I was just saying wouldn’t 129 be a nightmare as the only highway in and out of that area? Plus don’t get me started on that Riverline, where you can see people take a dump or stick needles on the train. Sometimes by the same person at the same time.
The same filth that you alluded to on Riverline occurs at Newark Penn Station and wait when our fans have to wait for their once an hour train at 10pm / 11 pm with the residents of Newark Penn Station. Not fun.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: bac2therac

SHUSource

All-Conference
Jun 3, 2001
41,461
3,259
48
I was just saying wouldn’t 129 be a nightmare as the only highway in and out of that area? Plus don’t get me started on that Riverline, where you can see people take a dump or stick needles on the train. Sometimes by the same person at the same time.
My wife rode the RiverLine every day from Trenton to Rutgers-Camden every day for a few years and never reported this. There were some nuts on occasion, but seldom enough that it merited mention over dinner that night. She never felt threatened on this thing, even at all of 5-foot-3.
 

SHUSource

All-Conference
Jun 3, 2001
41,461
3,259
48
The same filth that you alluded to on Riverline occurs at Newark Penn Station and wait when our fans have to wait for their once an hour train at 10pm / 11 pm with the residents of Newark Penn Station. Not fun.
Again, this isn’t even mildly aligned with reality, other than the occasional wait for the train. It’s all easily managed.
 

NBKnight

Heisman
Jul 8, 2008
24,582
15,495
61
What year would this be?

Crazy idea - but what if we went full barnstorming and went all away games?

Work out an agreement with the BIG for increased revenue for that particular year.
Really load up the coffers.
Maybe it can be planned for Griffiths 2nd year?
Wouldn’t the increased revenue from the B1G just make up for the loss from game attendance? How does that load up the coffers?
 
  • Like
Reactions: NickRU714

NBKnight

Heisman
Jul 8, 2008
24,582
15,495
61
You’re one of the twelve in a half empty section most games. Sorry don’t mess with the footprint of one of the best home court advantage s in the country.. Penny wise and pound ffoollish. Don’t do it at Duke, Palestra, Phog, the great basketball pits. It’s what makes the college game better than the pros. Tearing. Down 118 and displacing most loyal fans in RAC was everything wrong with college athletic s. Petrified RU will screw it up.
But we maintained the home court advantage after the 118 conversion.
 

tico brown

Heisman
Oct 16, 2005
43,194
13,203
93
My wife rode the RiverLine every day from Trenton to Rutgers-Camden every day for a few years and never reported this. There were some nuts on occasion, but seldom enough that it merited mention over dinner that night. She never felt threatened on this thing, even at all of 5-foot-3.
Did the daily Camden to Trenton commute for 10 years. To say this NEVER happened on that train is erroneous. Maybe I should’ve used a Go Pro on those rides. Please tell me that that doesn’t happen at the WRTC, Trenton, or even at Newark Penn? The only reason that WRTC is Top 2 worse in NJ is because PATCO’s 8th and Market station is in Philly.
 

e5fdny

Heisman
Nov 11, 2002
113,667
52,290
102
Again, this isn’t even mildly aligned with reality, other than the occasional wait for the train. It’s all easily managed.
That part you have to admit is a little annoying.
But we maintained the home court advantage after the 118 conversion.
IMO that Section never really added to it to begin with…always looked more like an elementary set of bleachers than even a high school one.

Thought it looked terrible on 📺.

That being said I share the same concerns as @G- RUnit does.
 

Lawboy12007

Senior
Mar 15, 2021
622
837
0
No reason this can’t be done over two seasons. You need to build a temporary ticket office on the side or back of the building. The front build out will take a while with foundation and flooring but it should all be on one level. No basement. The conundrum will be the renovation of the present lobby oand second floor into luxury boxes with food service and another 1800 seats. By moving the interview room and opening the space by angulation this is doable. Hoping for 8 25 seat boxes. This should generate around 30-40,000 per game. With 15 home games it’s more than half a million.
 

Scarlet83

Heisman
Feb 4, 2004
9,539
10,699
103
What did we do for the year at Giants Stadium?

Other than the parking situation it sounds very similar to what might happen this time.
Renovating the corridors, entrances and amenities at the RAC is a COMPLETELY different construction project than rebuilding all of Rutgers Stadium in 1993. R Football had to find another stadium to play in.

On the other hand, R Basketball can easily play at the RAC during renovation, just like at Indiana University did a few years back. IMO, playing at the RAC is clearly the safest and most sensible option for R Basketball:

1 It keeps season ticket holders happy.
2 Playing at the RAC allows students to MUCH more easily attend and be crazy.
3 Playing at the RAC keeps our home court advantage for the team for that entire season.

If we play anywhere else, all of the above goes away. Why roll the dice?
 

e5fdny

Heisman
Nov 11, 2002
113,667
52,290
102
Renovating the corridors, entrances and amenities at the RAC is a COMPLETELY different construction project than rebuilding all of Rutgers Stadium in 1993. R Football had to find another stadium to play in.

On the other hand, R Basketball can easily play at the RAC during renovation, just like at Indiana University did a few years back. IMO, playing at the RAC is clearly the safest and most sensible option for R Basketball:

1 It keeps season ticket holders happy.
2 Playing at the RAC allows students to MUCH more easily attend and be crazy.
3 Playing at the RAC keeps our home court advantage for the team for that entire season.

If we play anywhere else, all of the above goes away. Why roll the dice?
Agree.

My question was more of just asking what did they do for season ticket holders that year if we do go somewhere else…

- were you allowed to forgo for the year
- did you keep your priority points
 
  • Like
Reactions: Scarlet83

SHUSource

All-Conference
Jun 3, 2001
41,461
3,259
48
Did the daily Camden to Trenton commute for 10 years. To say this NEVER happened on that train is erroneous. Maybe I should’ve used a Go Pro on those rides. Please tell me that that doesn’t happen at the WRTC, Trenton, or even at Newark Penn? The only reason that WRTC is Top 2 worse in NJ is because PATCO’s 8th and Market station is in Philly.
Well, I did say she never reported it, as in brought that up in conversation with me, which is not quite the same as saying it never happened. It's public transportation, which will typically reflect societal ills, but the atmosphere on that train is not the thing that's going to keep Rutgers basketball from temporarily setting up shop in Trenton, is it?
 
  • Like
Reactions: MiloTalon13

Scarlet83

Heisman
Feb 4, 2004
9,539
10,699
103
Agree.

My question was more of just asking what did they do for season ticket holders that year if we do go somewhere else…

- were you allowed to forgo for the year
- did you keep your priority points
Yes. And that is a difficult question for the athletic department. Pike and R Hoops’ success is growing our season ticket holder base and student support. A lot of season ticket holders live within 30-45 minutes of Jersey Mike’s. If we play somewhere else during construction, we would be rolling the dice on that season ticket holder base. On top of that, what would student support be like? Can we win as many games without any home court advantage all season?

Keep it simple, Rutgers leadership…Let’s just play at Jersey Mike’s.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: ghr and MiloTalon13

MiloTalon13

All-American
Jun 3, 2022
3,979
5,608
0
Keep it simple, Rutgers leadership…Let’s just play at Jersey Mike’s.
I agree. You have from the last game in 2023 to the first game of 2024, how much can you get done in that window? Do it. Then you have from the last game in 2024 to the first game in 2025 - how much can you get done in that window?

If you have to make a window a little bigger - maybe 2-3 games somewhere else but that's it. No full season somewhere else. Please!
 

tico brown

Heisman
Oct 16, 2005
43,194
13,203
93
Well, I did say she never reported it, as in brought that up in conversation with me, which is not quite the same as saying it never happened. It's public transportation, which will typically reflect societal ills, but the atmosphere on that train is not the thing that's going to keep Rutgers basketball from temporarily setting up shop in Trenton, is it?
Yeah well even if she or anyone else did report all the garbage that happens on that or any other line, NJ Transit wouldn’t give two craps about public safety anyway as long as they get their money. 🤷🏻‍♂️
 
  • Like
Reactions: MiloTalon13

RU_DIO

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
15,963
15,709
113
If it makes you feel any better, none of these doomsday scenarios actually happen outside of suburban paranoia.

Neither I nor anyone I know has ever been harassed at Newark Penn Station, and my alma mater has been playing at Prudential Center for almost 15 seasons.

I guess a car could break down anywhere, but is this really something that happens often to you? Even still, your route in and out of the city would most likely be in heavily traveled, busy areas where you're unlikely to be preyed upon by the boogie man. I don't think I've had a car break down on me in almost 30 years.

(Also, the whole point of an arena in Newark - a rail hub - is NOT to have to drive. Some people I know don't hate it, but I'd never do it. And by taking the train, you avoid the $30 parking fee (which is ridiculous, but also totally avoidable).

Oh, and the stench in the bathrooms is pretty much the same as it is at the LBAC. It's a high volume pubic bathroom that probably isn't cleaned often enough. Fortuntely, there are copious bathrooms inside The Rock that are actually rather nice.

I don't care where Rutgers plays, but aside from the likely difficulty of scheduling, Prudential Center is certainly Rutgers' best option, and by a lot.

Beyond that, Trenton is the clear No. 2. The arena is large enough, has no primary tenant to compete against for scheduling dates, and is also totally accessible by rail ... if you choose not to drive, which also isn't to bad there. By train, you can go right down to the end of the Northeast Corridor via NJ Transit, and then take the light rail a couple stops (maybe even one stop? I forget) to a platform about a block from the arena.

Is it perfect? No. Only staying at the LBAC would be ideal. But if there isn't a choice, these seems like the only two viable alternatives. (Could you play the nonconference creampuffs at the Barn? Is there enough seating there? Seems like there wouldn't be, but I've never seen a game there.
The Rock is awesome. The area is terrible.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bac2therac

Eagleton95.99

All-American
Jul 25, 2001
7,511
6,428
113
It would be very smart for RU to play some games in Trenton to build support in the legislature. Have some fanfare. Do a pep rally at the Statehouse or something. Have a reception.
 

richthedentist

All-American
Aug 2, 2001
10,559
7,995
113
It would be very smart for RU to play some games in Trenton to build support in the legislature. Have some fanfare. Do a pep rally at the Statehouse or something. Have a reception.
How don’t we have support already they just gave us 100 million for the RAC and practice facility
 
  • Like
Reactions: MiloTalon13

BlockR

Heisman
Dec 28, 2015
20,837
19,360
113
It would be very smart for RU to play some games in Trenton to build support in the legislature. Have some fanfare. Do a pep rally at the Statehouse or something. Have a reception.
Trenton is a Ghost town after 4pm.There are no Politicos around after 4 pm ,at night or weekend.Many of bars and resturants close early.
The ROCK is the best and easier answer BUT with Satan Hall and Devils games,the schedule dates might not be easy.Im sure everyone will love the Seton Hall banners hanging in the rafters.LOL.
 

RU_DIO

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
15,963
15,709
113
Trenton is a Ghost town after 4pm.There are no Politicos around after 4 pm ,at night or weekend.Many of bars and resturants close early.
The ROCK is the best and easier answer BUT with Satan Hall and Devils games,the schedule dates might not be easy.Im sure everyone will love the Seton Hall banners hanging in the rafters.LOL.
A retired judge I know worked in Trenton for years. They always left the city before dark.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MiloTalon13

RUBubba

All-Conference
Sep 4, 2002
4,856
2,488
113
I'm less concerned with where the team might play for a short time and more concerned with what the long term renovations would be.

I heard from a very connected source that there is/was a plan to move the students to courtside all around the court, a la Cameron Indoor. Awful idea imo.
 

Scarlet Shack

Heisman
Feb 3, 2004
26,089
15,570
73
I still think my concept of the RAC renovations is really what we need

9500-10000 seats is more than we will ever need and my concepts keeps the RAC loud and what makes it what we love about it most, but adding a few luxury boxes up top,

MOST People who want to attend a game in Cameron …want to sit with the fans! Not in a luxury box!!! Same with the RAC …they want to spend 2 1/2 hours in a GREAT college basketball atmosphere …not having wine and cheese

If monitizing the RAC is the goal, get every season tickets sold and start charging higher SASF fees for tickets as the demand warrants …and get supply and demand to match that way.

Messing too much with what makes the RAC the RAC takes away home court advantage and WINS, whixh is a big part of the fan attraction in the first place
 

jerseybird

Senior
Jul 31, 2001
522
558
93
I agree. You have from the last game in 2023 to the first game of 2024, how much can you get done in that window? Do it. Then you have from the last game in 2024 to the first game in 2025 - how much can you get done in that window?

If you have to make a window a little bigger - maybe 2-3 games somewhere else but that's it. No full season somewhere else. Please!
No need to play away for a season. After the last game of the season, partition off the front of the building & start putting in pilings and lay pad for the new front section of the RAC. This work can be done independently from the interior work. Construct temporary structure to the side of the RAC for the ticket windows and temporary entrance doors. Do all concourse and seating work on both sides and back end of the building. As the outside section of the building process proceeds, the next season is played. After the season ends, the finished front section is joined to the RAC and then the work gets done on the box suites and seating in the front section.
 

Scarlet83

Heisman
Feb 4, 2004
9,539
10,699
103
No need to play away for a season. After the last game of the season, partition off the front of the building & start putting in pilings and lay pad for the new front section of the RAC. This work can be done independently from the interior work. Construct temporary structure to the side of the RAC for the ticket windows and temporary entrance doors. Do all concourse and seating work on both sides and back end of the building. As the outside section of the building process proceeds, the next season is played. After the season ends, the finished front section is joined to the RAC and then the work gets done on the box suites and seating in the front section.
Jerseybird Construction Co is hired!
 

Greene Rice FIG

Heisman
Dec 30, 2005
40,437
23,613
0
I still think my concept of the RAC renovations is really what we need

9500-10000 seats is more than we will ever need and my concepts keeps the RAC loud and what makes it what we love about it most, but adding a few luxury boxes up top,

MOST People who want to attend a game in Cameron …want to sit with the fans! Not in a luxury box!!! Same with the RAC …they want to spend 2 1/2 hours in a GREAT college basketball atmosphere …not having wine and cheese

If monitizing the RAC is the goal, get every season tickets sold and start charging higher SASF fees for tickets as the demand warrants …and get supply and demand to match that way.

Messing too much with what makes the RAC the RAC takes away home court advantage and WINS, whixh is a big part of the fan attraction in the first place
This seems to me so obvious.
 

Greene Rice FIG

Heisman
Dec 30, 2005
40,437
23,613
0
How about leave the RAC alone and figure out a solution to get parking deck connected to the RAC. So silly the walk from the parking deck to the RAC. Have to make a decision to take the long way or the short way that has you walking with the traffic. Both ways aren’t covered