I won't link it because that's a no-no, but Brand X has an article on A Night with Cougar Athletics, including a short interview with Chun.
There was a quote on Beasley, which I will copy and paste:
"Chun told the faithful that planning is underway for a new basketball complex and arena for the women's and men's teams. Beasley Coliseum is 50 years old this year. He noted that 11 of the 12 schools in the Pac-12 have modern basketball complexes, as do each of the four schools rumored to be on the conference's expansion list. More details on proposed project will be coming in the months ahead."
In a perfect world I would say sure. In the real world, I say NO. Beasley, while dated, is a big solid place with a great location. Renovate it, modernize it, expand the guts of it (who has been in the bowels? I have), sure. But build a new arena? Does that mean tear Beasley down? Or put up a second building elsewhere, which would go where? Out on the golf driving range? In place of the rec playfields?
Idaho's funky new 4,200 seat arena cost $51 million, completed 2 years ago. What are we trying to build? We need at least twice that many seats. Beasley holds 12,000 for basketball, and I am sure that many of you saw it packed during the Raveling, Sampson (at least that Cal game) and Bennett years. When full that place is awesome. We also see it packed during concerts and (my daughter's) graduation.
So what? With declining enrollment, $75 ? million in accumulated athletic deficits not to even mention the Martin stadium debt (2 different things), and an iffy Pac-12 conference future we are going to build a what - $100 million arena? Or $150 million if we are going to raze and replace Beasley?
A big fat nosey from this Coug. I won't give dime one for this insanity.
