Best D2 Basketball Stadiums

[DapperDan]

Re: Best D2 Basketball Stadiums

I remember watching Dave Gilreath as a kid hit jumpers from the tennis court lines on the gym floor. That was about 24-25 feet out and a few years before the 3pt line. Then a few years later, Brian Koepnick and the 3pt line arrived. Amazing scorers to watch as a grade school kid!

The gym seemed huge with all the foldable wooden bleachers. Only time I remember the upper deck bleachers on the west side being used was for the Golbetrotters. Otherwise that wrestling practice area turned into a gym for kids under 12 at a lot of games.

I attended a game there once when Gene Glynn played. I have to say Mankato's facilities all around are awesome. Makes me feel like I was raised on the wrong side of the tracks. Exception may be the football stadium, but if they commit to staying D2 and not dropping football I imagine they will eventually get a new palace for that too.

[NSU4LIFE]

Re: Best D2 Basketball Stadiums

I attended a game there once when Gene Glynn played. I have to say Mankato's facilities all around are awesome. Makes me feel like I was raised on the wrong side of the tracks. Exception may be the football stadium, but if they commit to staying D2 and not dropping football I imagine they will eventually get a new palace for that too.

So, kind of off topic but I read an old article of a big campaign that MSU was doing that was supposed to upgrade football and other fields. I think it was announced like four years ago. Is there any progress on that?

[laker]

Re: Best D2 Basketball Stadiums

I attended a game there once when Gene Glynn played. I have to say Mankato's facilities all around are awesome. Makes me feel like I was raised on the wrong side of the tracks. Exception may be the football stadium, but if they commit to staying D2 and not dropping football I imagine they will eventually get a new palace for that too.

So, kind of off topic but I read an old article of a big campaign that MSU was doing that was supposed to upgrade football and other fields. I think it was announced like four years ago. Is there any progress on that?

We are trying. I'll try not to get into rumors. The first project is the new football locker room. It looks like we have most of the money but I haven't heard anything new for over a month. Second project is a new scoreboard- they evidently don't even make replacement bulbs for it anymore. Third project is the stadium. They would have to raise about 15 million from private donors on that and I don't think anyone is standing in line at this time. Glen Taylor's name comes up but the word from him has been no. Ironically nearby Gustavus can put up a nice new stadium for about 13 million but they don't have all of those state regulations to bloat the cost up to 20 to 22 million. So if anyone wants a stadium named for them- just bring the $$$$$. I volunteer to pay for a restroom so people can think of me as they go........

I just hope that they don't make "minor" fixes to Blakeslee and then drop football. That would be the end of me giving them any money.

[NSU4LIFE]

Re: Best D2 Basketball Stadiums

We are trying. I'll try not to get into rumors. The first project is the new football locker room. It looks like we have most of the money but I haven't heard anything new for over a month. Second project is a new scoreboard- they evidently don't even make replacement bulbs for it anymore. Third project is the stadium. They would have to raise about 15 million from private donors on that and I don't think anyone is standing in line at this time. Glen Taylor's name comes up but the word from him has been no. Ironically nearby Gustavus can put up a nice new stadium for about 13 million but they don't have all of those state regulations to bloat the cost up to 20 to 22 million. So if anyone wants a stadium named for them- just bring the $$$$$. I volunteer to pay for a restroom so people can think of me as they go........

I just hope that they don't make "minor" fixes to Blakeslee and then drop football. That would be the end of me giving them any money.

Don't you have some guy in the NFL? Ha

[laker]

Re: Best D2 Basketball Stadiums

Don't you have some guy in the NFL? Ha

Actually two. Chris Reed of the Jaguars. Maybe if they could get both of them in a room with some big hitters they might convince some wallets to open up!

[MStateMaverick]

Re: Best D2 Basketball Stadiums

I attended a game there once when Gene Glynn played. I have to say Mankato's facilities all around are awesome. Makes me feel like I was raised on the wrong side of the tracks. Exception may be the football stadium, but if they commit to staying D2 and not dropping football I imagine they will eventually get a new palace for that too.

Glynn was quite a point guard for the Mavs. They had a center named Elisha McSweeney that was really good during that era also.
Butch Raymond was the coach at that time, and they played at the U of Kansas and also Nebraska before the NCC season began one year. As I recall, they tied for the conference championship that year.
You're right, very good facilities for pretty much everything except football. I'm hoping the administration's plans are not to go the UNO route and drop football in order to move to Division I.

[laker]

Re: Best D2 Basketball Stadiums

1990 picture of Otto Arena, including that version of Stomper.

[NSU4LIFE]

Re: Best D2 Basketball Stadiums

1990 picture of Otto Arena, including that version of Stomper.

Would be fun to see it all. In fact, Laker, this could be a glorious epiphany. Want to create a book with pictures/stories of any and all gyms that any current or former member of the NSIC played in? I'm sure we could sell a couple dozen, haha

[ddwitte]

Re: Best D2 Basketball Stadiums

Would be fun to see it all. In fact, Laker, this could be a glorious epiphany. Want to create a book with pictures/stories of any and all gyms that any current or former member of the NSIC played in? I'm sure we could sell a couple dozen, haha

This obviously made me think of the Civic Arena in Aberdeen, which raises a question I have been thinking (dreaming) about. I'm pretty sure that the action will be taking place in Maryville on March 10th. However, if by some miracle, the Wolves end up hosting do you have any idea what they would do as the class B girls state tournament is scheduled to be in the Barnett Center that Saturday? Luckily only the 1 day of overlap, but just curious if you had any thoughts.

[DapperDan]

Re: Best D2 Basketball Stadiums

Would be fun to see it all. In fact, Laker, this could be a glorious epiphany. Want to create a book with pictures/stories of any and all gyms that any current or former member of the NSIC played in? I'm sure we could sell a couple dozen, haha

This picture is representative of the "Glory Days" before the internet, 500 channel television etc., when going to a college or high school sporting even was looked forward to entertainment.

[GrifFan]

Re: Best D2 Basketball Stadiums

This obviously made me think of the Civic Arena in Aberdeen, which raises a question I have been thinking (dreaming) about. I'm pretty sure that the action will be taking place in Maryville on March 10th. However, if by some miracle, the Wolves end up hosting do you have any idea what they would do as the class B girls state tournament is scheduled to be in the Barnett Center that Saturday? Luckily only the 1 day of overlap, but just curious if you had any thoughts.

Last year the Emporia women were the No. 1 seed but the regional was played in Arkansas because of a state tournament conflict at White Auditorium.

[NSU4LIFE]

Re: Best D2 Basketball Stadiums

This obviously made me think of the Civic Arena in Aberdeen, which raises a question I have been thinking (dreaming) about. I'm pretty sure that the action will be taking place in Maryville on March 10th. However, if by some miracle, the Wolves end up hosting do you have any idea what they would do as the class B girls state tournament is scheduled to be in the Barnett Center that Saturday? Luckily only the 1 day of overlap, but just curious if you had any thoughts.

I would assume they would be able to move the B girls to the civic arena. Nearly 4,000 seats is enough for the girls tourney. If it were the boys, forget it. They pack in close to 8000 for state b boys.

[MrAugustana]

Re: Best D2 Basketball Stadiums

I would assume they would be able to move the B girls to the civic arena. Nearly 4,000 seats is enough for the girls tourney. If it were the boys, forget it. They pack in close to 8000 for state b boys.

Would be curious to know who gets final say in terms of breaking agreements/contracts, etc. on that. Augie obviously doesn't own the Sioux Falls Arena like NSU owns/runs the Barnett Center, but that's why Augie wasn't able to host the Regional at the Arena in 2014-15 or 2015-16...a sportsman's show was already contracted during the dates of the Regional and Augie had to adjust as a result.

Would be curious about whether NSU gets to just boot the girls' tourney because the Barnett Center is theirs or if they'd have to work something else out.

Also depends on whether or not the Civic Arena already has something scheduled for that weekend. Some non-Northern fans should get together and schedule something at the Civic Arena for those dates now just to be sure. :)

[NSU4LIFE]

Re: Best D2 Basketball Stadiums

Would be curious to know who gets final say in terms of breaking agreements/contracts, etc. on that. Augie obviously doesn't own the Sioux Falls Arena like NSU owns/runs the Barnett Center, but that's why Augie wasn't able to host the Regional at the Arena in 2014-15 or 2015-16...a sportsman's show was already contracted during the dates of the Regional and Augie had to adjust as a result.

Would be curious about whether NSU gets to just boot the girls' tourney because the Barnett Center is theirs or if they'd have to work something else out.

Also depends on whether or not the Civic Arena already has something scheduled for that weekend. Some non-Northern fans should get together and schedule something at the Civic Arena for those dates now just to be sure. :)

Then they will just move it to Golden Eagle arena ;)

If you'd like to send some of that Sioux Falls money on up, that's be great.

I have no idea on this stuff, but it is very curious. Especially as Aberdeen continues to fend off the sharks to protect any state HS events, you wonder if moving the girls to another arena would "offened" some or not. But, this discussion is getting close to way too deep.

[Purple Mav Man]

Re: Best D2 Basketball Stadiums

I would assume they would be able to move the B girls to the civic arena. Nearly 4,000 seats is enough for the girls tourney. If it were the boys, forget it. They pack in close to 8000 for state b boys.

If South Dakota is as PC as Minnesota, there is no chance they boot the girls HS tournament if the boys also play there. That would cause an uproar about it not being fair that the boys get a 'better/bigger' arena than the girls. And believe me, common sense as far as crowd size/demand mean nothing. The girls HS hockey tournament in MN has to be at the Xcel Center because the boys is there too. Ridder Arena at the Slew of M would be a much more appropriate place, and where the Goofer women play hockey. They do play the losers bracket there at least. BTW, is losers bracket still appropriate or does that hurt feelings too??!? :)

Long way to say, good luck in this day and age.