Ashley Hodge said:
xiledinok said:
Ashley Hodge said:
What? Why are you saying that? Baylor wants to get away from a special events center and create a unique home court advantage.
The new arena needs to give a significant home court advantage or why do it?
It's not going to be the same once the NBA raids those recruiting classes in three years. The top 30 guys in a classs are going to go pro like baseball. It will be a different with recruiting. The league already is getting the G-League ready for an entire television broadcast package.
If Baylor builds it right with club levels and suite levels and uses the building daily, it will be worth it.
I'm really skeptical of the popularity of a G-League television package. Most of these G-League guys are paid $7k/month which is good money compared to playing for college teams but not when you factor in all the benefits associated with college.
If anything, I think football's days could be numbered and college basketball will become even more popular and a vital part of the college experience. You think about Baylor's most beloved players in recent years: Tweety, Quincy Acy, Ish Wainright, Pierre Jackson, Brady Heslip, JMot, Prince, Royce O'Neale those guys aren't going straight to the G-League.
The G-League will be sold to NBA tv partners. ESPN has to broadcast the WNBA. The G-League talent is solid these days. Gatorade and Nike are good tv partners. The pay ranges from $26k-$49k with 10 day contracts for a few guys. Minor league baseball type salaries and these guys NEED money. It's exploitation but it is what the NBA players want because they want service time for higher contracts and earlier free agency.
I expect 30-60 players to turn pro out of high school in a few years. Recruiting is going to be completely different. I understand your excitement because it will level the playing field recruiting wise. The first 50 guys will be scattered among the NBA and G League.
I agree we need a remodel or new facility. The university does not need a building strictly built only for college basketball.
The new facility needs club and suite levels. It needs to be designed well enough to have an enjoyable game day presentation for the fans and concert goers. I would hope Baylor would let us know specifics. The school needs to realize that it costs $10 million a decade to keep it up to date. Our shelf life needs to be more than the Ferrell Center (30 years).
Our competitors are not building arenas.
Norman's city council is LIBERAL and they shot down those developers dreams for Lon Kruger's Palace in Norman (until the LIBERAL city council gets hammered out by the developers). Ou is in bad enough financial shape that Lloyd Noble might have to be fixed up. The won't even be able to fix the Jimmy Carter of athletic facilities. The popcorn from Elvis Presley concerts are still grinded into the floor.