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re: Proposal in BR to build large new Arena to replace both River Center and PMAC

Posted on 2/27/24 at 10:47 am to
Posted by Wiseguy
Member since Mar 2020
3626 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 10:47 am to
quote:

1. Parking may be an issue. River center parking sucks, LSU parking sucks, but putting both in the same place has the potential to be a major issue.


They aren’t building two arenas next to each other. There will be one arena and I would assume as other arenas it would only host one event at a time, so it would only need one area’s worth of parking. Now, I agree given BR and LSUs history with parking, it will probably not have enough convenient parking, but it won’t be because they are replacing two arenas.
Posted by FreddieMac
Baton Rouge
Member since Jun 2010
23705 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 10:58 am to
LSU sports should happen on LSU's property. The whole point is to get the university vibe.
Posted by goofball
Member since Mar 2015
17023 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 11:03 am to
quote:

They aren’t building two arenas next to each other. There will be one arena and I would assume as other arenas it would only host one event at a time, so it would only need one area’s worth of parking. Now, I agree given BR and LSUs history with parking, it will probably not have enough convenient parking, but it won’t be because they are replacing two arenas.



Not easy to do this without disrupting traffic/parking at LSU. There will be events there completely independent of LSU. May not work on campus if there are exams, a baseball game, gymnastics tournament, or football game. And we know there isn't great public transit in town so we'll have to rely on parking decks or surface lots wherever this goes.

They need to find a location that is sort of near campus so students can easily get to it, but also has space for parking and hotels for all types of events that could happen there. It would benefit from being close enough to downtown so that all those public parking decks could be used for after hours events. Not to mention close to a bunch of existing hotels.

The Water Campus idea or a location sort of on Nicholson north of campus is an interesting one.....that might actually work for both LSU and the city.

There is space in that area for parking decks and an Arena. There's an unused deck at the Casino right across from Pastime too that could be refurbished and put back into use. Then there is space under the I-10 bridge deck that can never really be anything but surface parking.

So far the Nicholson btw LSU and downtown (closer to downtown) is probably the best spot for what this will be used for.
Posted by goofball
Member since Mar 2015
17023 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 11:05 am to
quote:

LSU sports should happen on LSU's property. The whole point is to get the university vibe.



This is going to be much more than just a sports arena. That's why they want the agreement with the River Center. LSU wants the revenue from hosting events in this arena when there isn't a basketball game. They probably also want to lease nearby space for hotels and restaurants that will depend on regular events there.

Also - LSU has property all over the state, especially in EBR. And they can acquire more land if they need - and quite easily if it's already owned by BRAC or the city of Baton Rouge. All of them seem to have their hands on this plan.
This post was edited on 2/27/24 at 11:08 am
Posted by Indefatigable
Member since Jan 2019
30417 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 11:09 am to
quote:

It’s a new arena & it’s not replacing the River Center or the PMAC. The goal is for the River Center to be more of a convention hall (there are plans to build a convention hotel near the River Center) & the PMAC will eventually be renovated/rebuilt. The new arena will take over for concerts, sporting events, etc.


That would make very little sense. The River Center is obviously staying and being repurposed for conferences and such, but why would LSU build a brand new arena for sporting events AND keep the PMAC? Modernizing it will be very expensive, and unnecessary.
This post was edited on 2/27/24 at 11:15 am
Posted by Dizz
Member since May 2008
15170 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 11:27 am to
quote:

Do not tear down the PMAC…. huge mistake


The athletic department has been wanting to tear down the PMAC and track stadium for years. That land will be monetized some how for football.
Posted by whoa
New Orleans
Member since Sep 2017
4957 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 11:27 am to
The PMAC currently hosts 4 sports teams with 3 being in the same season (MBB, WBB & gymnastics). Throw in LSU wanting to host more concerts, shows & other sporting events and that’s not feasible from November-March.

Keep the PMAC for basketball & you only have to worry about scheduling events around gymnastics (there’s about 6 home meets a year).
Posted by jflsufan
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Mar 2013
4610 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 11:40 am to
quote:

Alabama s Coleman Coliseum


The Plaid Palace
Posted by TygerDurden
Member since Sep 2009
1889 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 11:42 am to
quote:

Sounds like a cool idea but I love the location of the PMAC. Doubt they will place the arena there.


My guess is LSU football machine would love to have the space the PMAC occupies and utilize in some capacity.
Posted by MikeD
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2004
7539 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 11:48 am to
quote:

The athletic department has been wanting to tear down the PMAC and track stadium for years. That land will be monetized some how for football.


The track is on some prime real estate and it’s pretty amazing it’s been allowed to stay in the same spot as money around football has exploded.
Posted by tgrbaitn08
Member since Dec 2007
148031 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 11:49 am to
quote:

Proposal in BR to build large new Arena to replace both River Center and PMAC
Posted by teke184
Zachary, LA
Member since Jan 2007
99598 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 12:18 pm to
quote:

So far the Nicholson btw LSU and downtown (closer to downtown) is probably the best spot for what this will be used for.


Which sounds like the right idea but that area would need some serious gentrification in order for the arena to be secure enough for people to go there.



The positives are it being close to both campus and downtown as well as easy interstate access at least from the west as Nicholson has a direct exit from the bridge IIRC.

Access from the east may need some work as interstate access from that direction either comes down government or detours you straight through the ghetto.
Posted by Indefatigable
Member since Jan 2019
30417 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 1:49 pm to
quote:

The PMAC currently hosts 4 sports teams with 3 being in the same season (MBB, WBB & gymnastics). Throw in LSU wanting to host more concerts, shows & other sporting events and that’s not feasible from November-March.

Dozens of other facilities seem to make it work with zero issues.

And LSU is not building a new arena and leaving the basketball team out of it.
This post was edited on 2/27/24 at 1:51 pm
Posted by CP3LSU25
Louisiana
Member since Feb 2009
51521 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 1:51 pm to
The pmac is a shite hole and doesn’t have any reason to not tear it down.
Posted by Swoozie
Member since Jan 2021
1090 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 2:09 pm to
quote:

Which sounds like the right idea but that area would need some serious gentrification in order for the arena to be secure enough for people to go there. The positives are it being close to both campus and downtown as well as easy interstate access at least from the west as Nicholson has a direct exit from the bridge IIRC. Access from the east may need some work as interstate access from that direction either comes down government or detours you straight through the ghetto.

And Dalrymple desperately needs an east bound I-10 on ramp.
Posted by doubleb
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2006
37906 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 2:12 pm to
quote:

And Dalrymple desperately needs an east bound I-10 on ramp.


Construction is underway
Posted by Swoozie
Member since Jan 2021
1090 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 2:17 pm to
quote:

Construction is underway

Did not know that. Great news.
Posted by doubleb
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2006
37906 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 2:20 pm to
quote:

Did not know that. Great news.

When the I10 project is done, traffic will be able to turn left on a new, improved Dalrymple that gives you the option of continuing West or hooking back East under the main traffic.
Posted by Tigercowboy
Baton Rouge
Member since Nov 2007
4243 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 2:22 pm to
quote:

The PMAC currently hosts 4 sports teams with 3 being in the same season (MBB, WBB & gymnastics). Throw in LSU wanting to host more concerts, shows & other sporting events and that’s not feasible from November-March.


You are aware that throughout the country many arenas are able to do this with ease….

Posted by goofball
Member since Mar 2015
17023 posts
Posted on 2/27/24 at 2:23 pm to
quote:

And Dalrymple desperately needs an east bound I-10 on ramp.



They are building this right now. Should be very nice when it's done in 45 years.
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