Mack Rhoades explains the decisions made on the Foster Pavilion

Baylor AD Mack Rhoades provided details on SicEm365 Radio Tuesday about decisions made in conjunction with Waco, and the $700 million updates coming to the city in the coming years. 

What’s it like to finally have the news on the Foster Pavilion out in the open? 

It just feels like the project now is more of a reality than ever before. I'll be probably most happy when we break ground and actually see the construction fences going up and all of that, but the last several days, and then (Tuesday’s) city council vote, they've been really, really important days in terms of this realization of the project and where it will be located. We can now begin to look forward to working on some of the additional details that we need to work on and, and constructing what I think will be one of the best venues in the entire country to watch college basketball. I think we hit it out of the park with with McLane Stadium and we're hoping to do the same with the with the Foster Pavilion.

Why was the decision ultimately made to go with the site across I-35 from campus?

There's a lot to that and there were a lot of different factors that you obviously contemplate and vet. Obviously cost is one of them. When you turn a facility from a basketball only venue to a multi-purpose venue and you change location, that site location is a little bit more complicated, you don't own the land that you're going to build it on. Those additional costs, does that make sense for you?

The involvement of Waco...

Because of what the city is going to contribute it certainly made sense for us. I think about the responsibility that Baylor has to the Waco community and the city of Waco. Can we can partner and do that where we're not compromising anything when we think about our basketball programs and what's best for our student athletes first and foremost and our coaches and still have this partnership and do something or be part of something. You talked about the economic development when this process is completed, not just the pavilion but the other pieces of the riverfront. You think about the benefit that that is for the Waco community, and Baylor, we have a responsibility for that as well. The city has been a great partner in terms of those discussions and conversations.

What the location and development means for Baylor and Waco...

You think about this meshing of Baylor and downtown, and I used the word earlier, vibrancy and creating an area that's adjacent to campus, or an extension of campus now that's really vibrant, going to be active with people. And I think when you're recruiting students, and when you're recruiting student athletes, that plays a factor. Certainly talked to our head coaches about that. Those are all things that you think about.

Safety concern for students going to games...

Obviously, there's been a lot of discussion about, or conversation about safety of going from Baylor campus and I-35, and obviously we wouldn't have considered a project [if that was a major concern]. I think this institution has done an unbelievable job long before all of us have been here, but they've always done an unbelievable job in terms of the safety of our students and so we feel really, really good about that. People actually getting to, our students getting to the pavilion... our residence halls on campus, it's actually closer to that location than it is to the Ferrell Center parking lot. Just a lot of careful thought.

Parking concerns...

Can we can we accommodate parking? Can we accommodate ingress egress? There's a lot of different approaches that you'll be able to take to the, not just off of I 35, but you can get through it other ways. And we feel really confident in terms of the parking with the multiple parking garages and some of the city street parking and surface parking. We'll have as much or more parking available than if we were to build it in the Ferrell Center site. All of those things are certainly part of the consideration. And I think we're headed in a good place.

What led to the decision of having a 7,500 capacity for the venue? 

The number of 6,000 was talked about frequently. You think about Gonzaga, Baylor feels like we've swapped, in terms of that number one spot over the last couple years, or three years, and I think their venue is in the fives. We had a lot of discussion. Quite frankly the six, just gut feel for me, seemed a little bit small. We talked as high as probably 8000. Had a lot of conversation about fixed seats and standing room only. I think we landed in a great place when you think about home court advantage.

Creating a homecourt advantage in Foster Pavilion...

We've talked about it. Big 12 coaches voting about the hardest places to play in the Big 12 and ranking Ferrell Center ninth. You mentioned it. It's a great home court advantage when we fill it up, but unfortunately, we don't do that every game and when you think about your season ticket base, and certainly a good percentage in Waco, but also a good percentage in the Metroplex area and Austin and Houston, so weekday games are tougher or harder for some.

Generating a buzz and high demand for Baylor basketball games... 

Trying to try create this sustainability of having a capacity crowd all 18 home games, versus three or four, and really creating this phenomena, this is the place to be and we can't wait until game day to go purchase a ticket. This is going to be a venue that has unbelievable energy and a great place to be and provide a great home court advantage for both our men's and women's teams.