Grading IBA

[Kung Wu]

IBA game was great!

My only nits are these, and they aren't that big of a deal:

Question: Did anybody else have trouble finding somewhere to sit/stand and eat? Every single table in our area was taken, and we were an hour early just so that we could eat. We ended up eating at our seats, which sucked big time. We didn't see any small standing-only tables.

As for the scoreboard, it appeared as though it was a programmable scoreboard. So I think they could easily upgrade to have stats -- and desperately need to -- without any hardware modification at all.

Never seen a men's rooms with those long of lines. The beer floweth over.

[WuSlamaJama]

Forget IBA for basketball. We were three rows from the top and it didn't even feel like we were at a basketball game. It was cold and quiet most of the time. We were totally disengaged. If they tell you there is not a bad seat in the house, then they didn't sit where we were. The scoreboard blows by not having any stats on it at all and our sight was blocked by the construction to where we couldn't have seen the stats had they been there. They didn't even have the lights on the court during warm-ups. I'm surprised the guys could even see the basket to practice. I would prefer the Shox never go back there. The atmosphere is much better at Koch. Had we lost the game I'll bet more people would not want to play there.

[ShockTalk]

Forget IBA for basketball. We were three rows from the top and it didn't even feel like we were at a basketball game. It was cold and quiet most of the time. We were totally disengaged. If they tell you there is not a bad seat in the house, then they didn't sit where we were. The scoreboard blows by not having any stats on it at all and our sight was blocked by the construction to where we couldn't have seen the stats had they been there. They didn't even have the lights on the court during warm-ups. I'm surprised the guys could even see the basket to practice. I would prefer the Shox never go back there. The atmosphere is much better at Koch. Had we lost the game I'll bet more people would not want to play there.

Probably very true.

[n8]

SEATING - B-

I'm a student and arrived about 5:30, after the crazy campers got let in, but before most showed up. I tried to sit on the floor picking a spot on the aisle to maximize my viewing angle, but my meager 5'9" wasn't cutting it. I found that out the hard way the first time the fight song was played during warm-ups. I moved back to the second row where the bleachers started and with short people in front of me combined with the EMPTY back three rows of floor seats, I had a reasonable view (about head level with the 6'4" guys). I think that IBA should center the court more on the floor, so it has a few rows of floor seats on either side. This would keep the student requiring elevation to see from being pushed quite so far back from the action.

CONCESSIONS - A-

I like the variety in the concessions available. Prices are concession prices (I actually thought the chicken strip basket I got was reasonable for $6.75). I've been to Disney a couple of times, so the sticker shock doesn't get to me much. The soda cups should be larger, however.

ENVIRONMENT - B+

I agree that no stats on the scoreboard is unforgivable. They have to do something about that. Halftime game stats were also absent, another issue that needs to be addressed. The top scoreboard should be able to fit the stats the Koch scoreboard has without much trouble. A simple redesign and making the team logos smaller will fix that.

I thought the crowd was excellent. It took a few more thousand people screaming to approach Koch-level noise, but we know that nothing funnels sound down the court like the Roundhouse. I've not had the breadth of experience that some posters here have with noise at games, but this certainly ranks in my top five (having attended regularly in the past 4.5 seasons).

OVERALL - B+ (but I believe the potential for an A is there)

I think it's a fantastic place to play and I wouldn't mind making the trip downtown a time or two(given a proper -read solid BCS- opponent).

[newshock1234]

Does anybody know why the Ala Mater was not played last night?

[shox1989]

Does anybody know why the Ala Mater was not played last night?

It probably was, you just couldn't hear it. :lol:

[Kung Wu]

Does anybody know why the Ala Mater was not played last night?

It probably was, you just couldn't hear it. :lol:

It wasn't technically a home game, was it? Was it a neutral site game?

[pinstripers]

It was a home game.

[Ricardo del Rio]

I must give attaboys (substitute "attapersons" for the liberals) to the employees. They were very courteous and helpful. Actually, I would say they were outstanding.

The search is a waste of money and ticks off many folks. Terrorists or bad guys would defeat the half @ss search in a heart beat. "Duh, do you have a pocket knife on ya?"

[Aargh]

I'd rather pay $6.25 for a 16 oz. adult beverage at IBA than pay $3.25 for a 12 oz. bottle of water at CKA.

If the price of the beverage was a deal-breaker, I'd just stay home where it's REALLY cheap. If the concession prices are too much for you, don't spend money there.

There are some places where you have to ignore prices. Arenas are one of those places.

CKA is one of those places, too. $3.25 for (essentially) a glass of water is not a situation where you want to consider value or cost/benefit considerations.

[1972Shocker]

From Bob Lutz' Eagle Column:

In the arena's christening as a basketball venue (sorry Harlem Globetrotters, you don't count), the arena was the star. Which is saying something, considering Tulsa and Wichita State played one of the best basketball games of the season, with the Shockers rallying late to pull out an 82-79 win.

I have to disagree with Bob here. The arena was OK, but the game itself was IMHO far and away the star.

[shox1989]

From Bob Lutz' Eagle Column:

In the arena's christening as a basketball venue (sorry Harlem Globetrotters, you don't count), the arena was the star. Which is saying something, considering Tulsa and Wichita State played one of the best basketball games of the season, with the Shockers rallying late to pull out an 82-79 win.

I have to disagree with Bob here. The arena was OK, but the game itself was IMHO far and away the star.

I totally agree with you (and NOT Lutz). The game and fans were fantastic, the only redeeming quality about the arena was the alcohol.

[1979Shocker]

Looks like they'll be doing something about no stats.

http://www.ksn.com/news/local/story/Intrust-Bank-Arena-sees-basketball-success/jizvvQilE0ivk-yuGMQFBQ.cspx

After Tuesday night's game, arena officials say they have some improvements to make before the women's tournament comes to town. They include changes to the statistics to the scoreboard, upper level lighting and parking.

[wu_shizzle]

Classic Bob, always the Contrarian.

[Speed]

My holiday tradition is dodging drunk in laws. And I may have made a drunken post or 220. But after reading I didn't realize the importance of alcohol sales.
A weekend game would be nice. I wouldn't have to run from work to the game and could linger in Old Town before & after the game.