re: New LSU Arena - More Details Emerge

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Brother, they are looking to build a brand new arena and revamp the PMAC/practice facility into a better training/administrative area. That’s a commitment to all sports.

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Who is “they”? LSU isn’t developing the new arena, from what I’ve read LSU will enter a lease for the arena and will only be able to use it for games.

This is not a commitment to basketball. This is finding a way to get an arena without making the same commitment to basketball that has been made at Ole Miss, Auburn and recently Alabama.

While it will be newer and no doubt nicer, this is the same thing as South Carolina leasing its arena from the city of Columbia. The schools I mentioned above built on-campus basketball specific venues. LSU isn’t willing to make that commitment.

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LSU isn’t willing to make that commitment.

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once again…..

LSU doesn’t have the money to make a $250M+ dollar commitment.

It looks like the new arena is going to be on campus. Who cares who owns it - if this is the way to get the best arena possible then do it. LSU needs an arena larger than those at Ole Miss and Auburn - look at the crowds gymnastics and women’s basketball draw.

It will never be ready in time.

Yes I do, Baton Rouge is a much larger city than those places. It's good for the city to have a nice biggish new arena to attract all kinds concerts and other entertainment acts.

LSU can use the PMAC/current practice facility area to make huge strides for practice facilities, weight rooms, offices etc. You know the stuff the players use 90% of the time. So the players day-to-day areas get upgraded massively and then they get to play games in a brand new big arena. How is this bad and not a commitment that LSU is making for all programs again?

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They are going to make this a huge flop, aren't they?

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For maybe the first time ever LSU seems to have their shite straight on this one.

The fact that an outside group will be putting up the funds for construction and will be managing non-LSU events gives that group plenty incentive to make the arena first class, maintain the building and bring in top events so they can get return on their investment. Plus this won’t get put off for 10 years due to lack if funds.

To those who say it will back up to the ghetto, just how big do you think this arena is going to be? You could fit every current athletic facility, including football practice fields on the golf course land and still have room left over.

After the Match 13th metro council vote, which will basically be a formality it will be interesting to see what additional info LSU releases. From the radio interview yesterday it sounds like they have a good plan and aren’t going to go cheap with this.

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I think this is a cheaper solution that shows the lack of commitment/support to basketball.

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Alright man, we have very different definitions of support then.

But wouldn't you say it is in LSU's interest to have the best facilities for their student athletes to practice and play in? That's kind of what they are doing here

if you want to host concerts then it will have to be similar to Smoothie King Center with seating capacity of around 20000

Problem is LSU sports will never fill that type of arena even for women's hoops and gymnastics and definitely not men's hoops. Plus Mulkey is closer to the end of her career and who do you hire to replace her.

They really need to re think the track stadium. If the new arena were there, you could connect the PMAC as the practice and admin facility.

I'd be ok with it being out near the river by Alex Box IF and only IF they build a parking structure and add lanes to get in and out.

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When they move to the new Pmac, going to assume that becomes one big parking garage?

Any actual plans to develop the space?

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The PMAC is not getting torn down I think. The teams are still going to have to use it for practice since LSU will only have access to the new arena for a limited number of dates.