Let's fix the Fieldhouse
Basketball is happening today! We’ll talk ball soon. Let’s make a shot!
Yesterday, KU sent out a press blast about forthcoming improvements to Allen Fieldhouse. These changes make a lot of sense, and here’s the long-and-short of them, according to KU:
Enhanced concessions and new LED lighting to elevate and unify all concourses, including an all-new premium “Jayhawk Pub” concept on the second level, which will have a variety of food options and expansive space for Jayhawk fans to meet and connect while at the fieldhouse.
A new and expanded Rally House Team Store in the Booth Hall of Athletics that will feature a flexible mezzanine space above it.
Reimagined and expanded premium hospitality spaces, including the donor atrium, which integrates into Allen Fieldhouse, as well as the Naismith Room.
Enhanced seating opportunities to include additional chairbacks and accessible seating.
Important investments into the in-game experience, including a new center-hung scoreboard, LED sports lighting, a new sound system, new digital signage and upgraded Wi-Fi.
A lot of this feels like no-brainer stuff: improving infrastructure, making the fan experience better and complete with more options to experience game days, better seating overall, and more options for deep-pocketed Jayhawks fans to get their VIP on. I’m all for it! It’s good! Fieldhouse Improvement Good for Jayhawks.
I have a few notes, though. The press release doesn’t mention the students at all—outside of a vague quote that tacks the word “students” onto a list of people whose lives will be improved by a more modern AFH—and that is unsurprising.
KU has been at war with the students ever since the AD’s (petty!) decision to yank seats in 2014. It’s a cold-hearted decision that, if I were a student now, would have me question the merits of the tedious camping tradition when every bar on Mass Street has 10 4K TVs. When a KU sell-out is in jeopardy, I get the sense that the students unfairly absorb the blame. Yes, I’m sensitive to this, because I was once a student at said university.
The point of my blog today is solutions-based, though. What if I told you that… the upcoming renovation could change all of this. My ideas, bulleted below!
yank the corner seats and focus on making every seat in the barn as good as possible. No one wants those corners, they suck and are a liability to the celebrated sellout number.
Lol nothing about air conditioning?!! There should be air conditioning, although it was always at least a little funny to just roast alive during midday weekend games
Stole this idea from my mom—move the accessible seating to the mid-tier walkway, more in line with how it’s done at virtually every pro stadium in sports. I would guess that we could use an accessibility upgrade anyway. This opens the behind-the-bucket seats to the students.
The atmosphere at AFH can be stiff. In the lower level, it’s a little bit of a wine-and-cheese crowd, befitting of a legacy institution like the Fieldhouse. Letting the students get down lower not only revives the spirit of the Fieldhouse, it builds a bridge to the next generation of student. The university exits because of the students! Why are we making things so hard on them?
Money, I know. I don’t think money is an issue right now!
Stop goosing the sell-out number. My fandom is not affected by this arbitrary count!
That’s all for now. We’ll be chatting today during the game… join us!
